Idaho County free press., 1923-10-25
TERM IN
PRISON GIVEN
BLACKSMITH
Sensational Testimony Intro
duced in Case Involving Two
Young Grangeville Girls
Man of Bad Reputation Will
Have Plenty of Time in Pen
to Think Over His Deeds

A term of from fifteen to thirty-five
years Imprisonment at hard labor in
the state penitentiary, at Boise, was
the sentence pronounced upon Lem
Binnion, 80 years old, Grangeville
blacksmith, by Judge w. F. McNaugh-
ton, in district court, in Grangeville,
at Thursday afternoon, following
conviction of Binnion of rape, by
jury in district court, at Z :45, Wednes-
day night.
Said Judge McNaughton, in impos-
ing sentence:
"a murderer is dangerous to So
ciety; hOrse-thief is dangerous
to society but a rapist, where his
practice is to rape little girls in
the neighborhOOd is perhaps the
most dangerous of all. | there
fore sentence you to the county
Jail, and from there to be taken
to the Idaho penitentiary, at
Boise, to serve from fifteen to
thirty-five years at hard laborP
Binnion placed his hat on the side
of his head, and with a swagger,
walked from the courtroom to the
Jail below.
Binnion, who has been in the coun-
ty jail for the last two weeks, will
be taken to Boise within few days
to commence serving his sentence.
Prior to being brought to Grangeville
to stand trial, Binnion had been in
the county Jail at Lewiston, taken
there following his arrest, early in
August by Sheriff Eller, who declared
at the time he was afraid the prisoner
might be lynched, and decided to take :
him to Lewiston for safe-keeping.
TRIAL is SENSATIONAL
Triar of Binnion, which began We'd
nesday morning, was the most sensa-
tional in Idaho county district court
i'm recent wears. Binnion was charged
with two crimes of rape, it being al
legged that his victims were Gladys
Rose, IA years old, and Pearl York,
also IA. Both are Grangeville girls.
He was tried on the charge involving
the Rose girl. The second charge was
continued, following his conviction.
The courtroom was filed with spec
tators during the trial. The crowd
eagerly followed details of the affair,
and took particular pains to not miss
a single word of the startling testi-
mony that was introduced by the
state. At the opening of the trial,
Judge McNaughton excluded minors
from the courtroom and instructed
Sheriff Eller to permit no minors to
enter. The greater part of the curl
GUS audience comprised men, ranging
in age from 81 to 50, but there was
a sprinkling of women, gathered to
hear the sensational and to a large
extent unprintable testimony.
Difficulty was encountered in secur-
ing a Jury to hear the case, five of
the Jurors declaring they had formed
an opinion from what they had read
in the newspapers and from what they
had heard.
The crime was alleged in the in
formation to have been committed IN
the Park house, Grangeyille,> on July
21. The state, however, in introduc-
ing it's evidence, fixed the time at
July 2S, one week later than recited
in the information.
FATHER FIRST WITNESS
Edward Rose father of the girl in
the case. was the first witness for the
state. He testified that he was
laborer on the section, and that he
was the father of nine children, of
whom Gladys Rose was one. He said
Gladys was 10 years old on Septem-
ber 3, last.
Mrs. Louise Rose, mother of the
girl, was the next witness. She tes-
titled to the age Of the girl, and then
related how Pearl York, a friend of
1 her daughter, and Gladys had gone
from the Rose home to the postoffice
on the Saturday night for the even
ing mail She said they returned
home about 10 at night
! There was little cross examination
of the first two witnesses, by Atty.
! M. Il. Hattabaugh, counsel for Bin
nion. Court here recessed for the
noon hour. Mrs. Rose was recalled for
moment at the opening of the af-
( ternoon session.
When her mothers testimony was
completed, Gladys Rose was called to
] the stand. Prosecuting Atty. L. ID.
Fogg left his chair and stood between
the girl and the jury. Speaking in
low voice, the county prosecutor
questioned the child.
A hush fell over the courtroom, as
the girl began her story. The drop
CONTINUED on last page)