Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1920-02-19
AGED ASSYR|AN TO KNOW
FATE PROBABLY
THIS P. N.
CHARGES FRAME:UP
ACCUSES GIRL AND MOTHER OF
TRYING TO EXTORT MONEY
FROM HIM, WHILE DENYING
ANY ILLICIT RELATIONSHIP
WITH LE.MiNCED CHILD.

Evidence tending 10 uroye That h
was tho victim of an lXtOr'iunisl plot
o., in street yernaculdr, ii "tramcup,'
~nlem Sophia. aged Streator A>syriar,
today at his trial for statutory rape
preferred by the parents o. lj-Yrar
old Melia lacot,, also an Assyrian,
uied to show jury in the Circuit
Court that he was innocent of any
Wrong.doing With the simple.miuded
little Nelia Al the same time h.
tried to convince the jurors he was
he victim OF plot thrCHsh Which
relatives Of the child hoped to "ehak,
down a few hundred dollars, using
he criminal courts as a lever to con-.
pei payment of large sums TO them
At the hearing today il wa brOugkt
ont that the complaining witness was
Il child of undeyeloped mental capac
ties what at one time was an inmate
in the home for feehle-minded at lin
coin The story related on the VII
ness stand Yesterday b, the girl was
denied in toto by the defendant who
said no such events as described by
the prosecuting Witness occurred "
his home Cn the day five years ago
when the attack is alleged to have
taken place.
The case was brought to close late
this afternoon with attorneys for bo'h
sides making their closing argument.
The state demanded punishment TO
the full extent OF the laW for the de
fendant, while the defense insisted
that Sophia be turned loose.
| oU o'rlnpLy This ,lttprrn1n ~
Spencer, Strcator Justice Of the peace,
was asked to take he stand. AMI told
about the case. Several months after
the crime was committed. he said. .
warrant was issued Tor the arrest Of
Sophia, who was taken before him for
trial He told OF several incident
which occurred during the trial at his
couly in S,reator.
The last witness for the defense was
SCrhias son. At that time. June
1915. he was in Detroit, Mich, work
ing and knew nothing OF the case.
Several witnesses for the defendant:
took the stand and related what they
knew of the case The first to take
the stand was Adele Cordig. a cousin
of the complaining witness She said
hat at the time of the alleged crime
her mother was engaged in the sale ot
tomato plants. bread and such things
and that she delivered or pedd]ed
them in a small cart about the city
She also said that she and her cousin .
often went arCnnd together and ped
died their wares
Miss ELLA Reid, principal Of the
Streator public schools, was the mex
witness to take the stand She was
asked whether or not there was any
provisions made by Illinois for the
care Of defective children j., ,
those who are feeble minded. sac in
formed him that there was--tha' |
Amelia was sent to Lincoln. H., to a
school for the mentally deficient she |
was sent there by the court, she stat
ed Miss Ried said she was posi- i've |
that the complainant was feeble mind |
ed, as it required three ana onehalt !
years for her 20 get out OF the pri
mary grade into public school. She
also said that she had no knowledge !
of figures. but she could read. but not
understand what she read.
George Belford, an assistant state's |
attorney with headquarters in Strea
tor, took the stand and related some
interesting data in regard to the case.
Robert Smith, eX.deputy cOuny clerk,
was next asked to take the witness
chair.
,Seleme Sophia, the defendant in the
case. then testified and was examined
by Attorney Arthur Shay
How old are YOU asked the at.
torney.
Wi h the aid of 'an interpreter hoI
stated. "Seventy-tve years.
DO you know Selma Jacobs, the
mother of Amelia?'
Yes" he replied
Did you ever have any business
with herr"
Yes; loaned her 500 one time
Then again she wanted TO borrow
$500 and | would not give i to her
Any other business" asked the at
torney.
No" he replied.
''Do you remember the time when
,hev came to your house,
Yes"
when was IL" asked Mr.. Shay.
In the last part Of March, 1915"
Did they ask you to buy any
thing?" asked the attorney.
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