Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1922-01-20
BERTHA GORDON ADMITS
TALE OF ASSAULT
WAS FAKE
NAMES SIX YOUTHS
CoNFEssEs TO JUDGE REcK SHE
MADE UP" RAPE CHARGE TO
CLEAR HERSELF OF TROUBLE
CASE is CONTINUED AFTER
TESTIMONY is HEARD.

Bertha Gordon, IT, Sunday nights
author Of a meIodramatic story Of
lure and rape, which resulted in one
youth being arrested and a thorough
search inaugurated for two others ac.
cused by the young girl, was i'm the
county court this morning TO defend
herself in a delinquency charge being
heard by Judge Reck
Bertha admitted TO the court that
the story she told the police after al.
most being trapped by her sister, who
became suspicious of her appearance
and conduct was patched up fabri-
cation to sneld herself from blame
after she had accompanied the boyd
to a deserted spot near the l. & VI.
canal and there submitted herself to
the trio witout sruggle. She freely
confessed that her appearance behind
the collector Office on Columbus
street and the Tayaging that took
place there was at her own free win
and consent Sine denied she was
forciby dragged and oyerpo%ered and
then made to submit to the youths.
Names Six Youths.
On the witness stand she namad
six West and South Ottawa lads as
having participated during the past
six months in her ruination. Those
she named were Harold Quinn
August Goetsch, Russell Ham, Dewey
Cavanaugh, Floyd Cayanaugh and
Charles Evers Each OF the accused
boys were called to the witness stand,
and all, except Quinn, confessed they
had at some time or another since
last summer, had immoral relation
ship with the girl Quinn stuck to his
story that he did not see the
girl SUNDAY night or that he had had
any improper relations with her at
any time. He said he saw her Tues
day or Wednesday nights when a
gang Of boys were crowded around /
her on the canal and again on Sun |
day afternoon.
Girl Taxes Witness Stand.
Bertha was first to testify. She
said she was II years Old and that
she had been working on the Frank .
McEwing farm until recently. Ac-
cOrding to the story she told the /
court she had been visiting with her
sister, Mrs Sara Hermicella on North .
Columbus street Sunday night and |
that shortly after 9 O'Clock she started |
downtown. When she came to the |
Washington square she was approach |
ed by Harold Quinn and two other
lads. After q brief conversation she !
stated that she walked back to the
canal with them and went in back OF .
tbp,,
added that Quinn called her by name
and that none of the three boys used |
any force upon her, She stated that
she wiltully and without and resis-
tance submitted to them on two ocCa-
sons that evening. She told assistant
States Attorney Ernest Poole that
she knew what she was going there
for.
Clothes A Give Away.
Bertha then told the court that she
went to her sisters home Her clothes
were covered with burrs and We're in
a very disorderly condition. The girl
then testified that her sister asked /
her what was the matter after which /
she admitted the entire story of the
Sunday night episode. When ques-
tiDlIbu DIS W NUGtutI sue IdN Sttu /
Quinn before Sunday night she said .
that she was talking to him Sunday
afternoon at the Canal and that he
wanted to take her to a movie show
August Goetch. 20. of South Otta-
wa, a resident on the Bloomington
road was named as her first assaiIant
Bertha said in her testimony that one
night last summer she met Goetch on
the south side and that he walked I
home with her She stated that he .
forcibly attacked her that night.
Denies Attack.
Goetch however when he was given /
the stand denied that he ever attack
ed the girl and that she submitted on
her own free will He stated he had .
been with her on three different oc-
casions.
Russell Ham, Dewey and Floyd /
Cavanaugh and Charles Evers also .
took ,he stand and admitted that they /
had at some time during the past .
taken liberties with Bertha and that /
she submitted without being forced |
Denies Being With Girl.
Quinn was the last one to take the .
stand. He Genied that he was with |
Bertha Sunday night Quinn said that (
he went to the show at the Apollo
theatre with Nick Warren. Vincent /
Dougherty, John Dekreon and Hugh |