The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-01-17
he is NOT GUILTY
ROssville Man Discharged on
the White Slave Charge.
Testimony Did Not Show That
He Had Purpose in View.
PARENT SHAKES FIST At HIM
Scene in Court Room When the
Case Is Dismissed.
Judge Mcclure Delivers a Most
Scathing Criticism.
PARENT SHAKES FIST At HIM

The voice of Mrs. Bigham Uhl, of
Grove, was raised in protest and de-
spair this morning when Chauncey
Sommers. of Rossville, charged with
wronging her young daughter, was
discharged by Judge James a. Nc
Clure in he first division of the dis
trict court
The girls father, a Grove elevator
and grain man. shook mis- fist at Som
mers as the latter was leaving the
court room.
1T is fortunate for you, young
man." he exclaimed angrily. that
laid down my gun and let the law take
its course"
Sommers stopped to murmur a word
OF appreciation.
Co on cried the indignant
father. Go on and don't bother me.
Remember. something will happen if
1 ever catch you around my place
again. And Sommers left the room,
while the mother shaking trembling
finger at him, bewailed the fate that
led her. she stated, to raise up daugh-
ters for married men to ruin"
Criticised BY Court.
Before discharging Sommers, Judge
Mcclure delivered a scathing criticism
OF his alleged act in taking Bernice
Uhl On u 120-mile automobile ride,
lasting from 3 o'clock at night until
. O'Clock next morning, one night LAST
=
sympathy for Sommers chat he dis
charged him, but because of the law
which forbade him to give the case
to the jury.
Inc defendant has placed him
self subject to the most severe criti-
en-" said Judge Mcclure, and the
girls parents are certainly justified in
their Indignation. But the testimony
in this case does not show that he
transported the girl for the purpose
charged. Therefore counsePs de-
murrer to the information will be sus-
tained."(
it was charged that Sommers. a
married man. who ran a garage at
5sossS lille for his father, took Bernice
Uhl for an auto mobile trip from Grove
TO Topeka, thence to Mayetta and
thence back to Grove on July %, leav-
ing her home about-9 o'clock at night
and not returning until next morning.
Only Hugs and Kisses.
On the witness stand the girl testi-
fled to these charges, and while ad-
hitting that. Sommers, Rugged and
kissed her. emphatically denied that
he had, by word or act. made any i'm
proper suggestions. The statute pro-
Nides, it was held, that the transporta-
ton must be for this purpose in order
to convict the defendant.
II was shown that Bernice Uhl had
worked in the Sommers home the
first week in March, 1919, while Mrs.
Sommers was sick in bed, and that the
love scenes had been enacted at that
time as well as during the automobile
trip. When the couple returned the
morning after the eventful night, Uhl.
il was said was awaiting them. Som
mers leaped from the car and ran, it
was declared.
The fact however. that the girl
stoutly maintained on the witness
stand that no improper acts had been
done, and that no one had heard him
say anything prior to the ride which
might show evidence of an immoral
purpose, won for the Rossville man
his freedom. 1t was even shown that
he had not asked the girl to go with
him, but had merely stated he would
abe after her at o'clock" which, it
was held. could not be construed as
inducing, persuading or enticing, as
defined in the white slave law.