Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1922-03-01
SENSATION IS SPRUNG
IN CIRCUIT COURT
BY PROSECUTOR
STATEMENT IS READ
STREAToR MISS WHO ACCUSED
FOUR MEN OF DRUGGlNG AND
THEN AsSAuLTING HER. 40.
MlTs SHE PERJUREo SELF BE.
FORE GRAND JURY.

The story told by sixteen year old
Bertha Hodges. of Sreator, last July,
which stirred the entire county. was
shattered as completely as a piece of
fragile glass this morning when
States Attorney Harry r. Kelly, Shcr-
in c. S. Ayers and Probation Onlccr
Lannia Ausscm appeared in the cir
cult court and presented evidence
which resulted in the nolle of the in
dictments against William Schenlpr
Erwin Nichols, Arthur Schallhamcr
and Tobey Mushro, four wen known
Streator young men
The quartet were indicted by the
October grand jury on charge Of
attacking Bertha, after She had p.
formed the county authorities that on
the night of June % she had been
drugged and attacked by the -four
men, following a public dance in
Streator An four have maintained
throughout the case that they were
innocent.
Action Explained by Kelly.
The states attorney speaking for
the guardians of the county law, ey-
planned to Judge Eldredgc that the
four men were indicted on Bcrtha's
story. He went into the details Of
her testimony before the grand jury
explaining how the girl had told shs
was drugged in the Nichols saloon
IN Stroator and then taken into @
taxi out in the country where she
was attacked
Mr. Kelly then explained that sub,
seQuently to the Indictment, Bertha
in his Office in the presence of Shcr
if Ayers and Miss Aussem, told him
that the testimony given before the
grand jury was false He alleged
that she said she was with the men
on the night she claimed. but that
she was not druggod, intoxicated or
forcibly attacked
He alleged that she later made
statement which was signed in the
presence of Miss Aussem and Mr.
Ayers.
Sheriff Ayers and Miss Aussem
both took the stand and testified to
having heard the girls denial of her
testimony before the grand jury, and
to having witnessed the statement
which was presented to the court.
The Statement
The indictments against the four
We're then dismissed
Bertha's statement as presented TO-.
the court eXonerates the. men of the
serious charge held against them
1t reads as follows:
81 left the dance hall with Slick
4 1, l,;.
brothers saloon. Slick Nichols and
| entered the back room Of that sa-
loon in which place | drank small
glass of liquor The liquor that |
drank was not forced upon me and
the drinking Of said liquor did, in
no way, intCXiCate me or cause me
to be doped and that | remember dis
tinctly everything that was done in
[ the said saloon of Slick Nichols At
NerF this above described act | left
SHE saloon in company with William
Nlheffler. Erwin Nichols, alias Slick
TdChols, Arthur SchatIhamer and
andny Mushro and entered a taxi cab
tle drove out to the American Bot
and works. | entered the cab myself
that remember distinctly everything
the bwas done After getting out at
ChanitOttle works we walked over to
consents grove. This was with my
way. + and was not forced in any
fore in fhe statement that | made be-
ing untr1egard to being intoxicated be-
Gated coae as I was not in an intoXi-
to do anypdition and was not forced
above m6hing against my will by the
Erwin Nidtioned William Scheffler
Arthur Schools, alias Slick Nichols,
7 was at thnhamor or Tobey Mushro
sixteen yeaRt time over the age Of
myself and tn and all acts between
were with my above mentioned boys
force The fir consent and without
me which was I statement made by
purpose of shiehntrue being for the
Now In Tring myself"
Bertha was givainnu School,
county court amen a hearing in the
girls school at Gt committed to the
after her story firaeva, a short time
of the authorities. came to the ears
Auto Thieves I
Ray Stevenson aiken to Prison.
who were senteU and James Kelly
of from two tcfced to serve terms
state penitentia'fifteen years in the
convicted on a ry when they We're
automobile in charge of stealing an
weeks ago. ythe circuit court two
sere taken from the