Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 227, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 September 1913 — WOMAN CLEARED; MAN RELEASED [ARTICLE]

WOMAN CLEARED; MAN RELEASED

. \ —IElsie Harkrider Innocent of Charge of Running Immoral Resort— Hamilton Discharged. The case of the State of Indiana vs. Mrs. Elsie Harkrider, who was charged by her brother-in-law, Ben Smith, with running a house of ill repute, was tried in the circuit court Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning, and resulted in an acquittal for the woman after the jury had been out but a few minutes, during which time they took three ballots. The first resulted in 10 for acquittal and 2 for conviction, the second stood 11 to 1 for acquittal and the third was unanimous for acquittal.

- The state did not make out a very good case against Mrs. Harkrider, although several neighbors testified that her reputation was not good, but there was lacking evidence of specific acts that justified her prosecution. Her husband, Cleve .Harkrider, who has been absent for four or five weeks, returned to stand by his wife through the trial. He has been at Onarga, 111., he says, working for his brother. He declares that he did not leave her with the intention of permanent separation and that they were in correspondence during his absence. It was brought out in the testimony that Harkrider and Clarence Hamilton, who was named as the co-respondent, had been business partners and as such had kept some of their tools for painting and paperhanging at the Harkrider home and Hamilton had gone there for business reasons. Since Harkrider had been abesnt there was evidences that he had been at her house only* three times, once to make settlement with her for money due her husband, once to take her mail to her and once at night to offer her protection. This was on the occasion of the visit of the officers, who searched the house at the instigation of Mr. Smith. She claimed that he did not enter the house at all on that occasion. Mrs. Harkrider took the witness stand in her own behalf and she claimed that her brother-in-law had been very bitter in his attitude toward her for several years, caused by a quarrel, the cause for which, she was not allowed to tell. Mrs. Harkrider stated that there had been no improper relations with Hamilton nor others. On cross examination she told of going to Plymouth to secure employment and said that it was a coincidence that Hamilton went on the, same train and that they stopped at the same rooming house. She said they had separate rooms. She said that Shesler arrested Hamilton on the street at Plymouth Hamilton had his two children with him. These were the children that he had gone to Plymouth, or Pretty Lake, nearby, to bring home with him. After he was arrested the children were taken back to Pretty Lake to be with their grandparents?”

Mrs. Fred Yeiter testified that she had not associated with her sister, Mrs. Harkrider, much for several years, saying that her husband had opposed her doing so. She said . that her sister’s reputation was bad. In the argument Attorney Leopold for the state said that Mr. Smith’s motive was to get rid of his sister-in-law in that neighborhood, because her conduct brought discredit on the family. In addressing the jury, Attorney Parkinson, for the defense, upbraided Smith for the prosecution and treated him to a severe criticism for his vindictiveness in the matter. The case attracted a large crowd to the court room and Judge Hanley rapped them to order Monday afternoon a»d instructed the deputy sheriff to march any person before him who was guilty of laughter or distubance of any kind. This followed a ripple of giggling that ensued when Ben Smith named two or three persons who had called at the Harkrider home since her husband was away. The verdict of “not guilty” was brought in a few minutes before 12 o’clock and Judge Hanley at once discharged the defendant and ordered that Hamilton, who had continued in jail while Mrs. Harkrider’s case was being tried, be reelasea and the case) charging him with frequenting a house of ill fame be dismissed. During the first afternoon of the trial, Mrs. Ves Richa ’ds, now of Laporte, mother of Clarmce Hamilton, sat with Mrs. Harkrider, while Mr. Harkrider sat with her attorneys. J. A. Dunlap and W. H. Parkinson. Attorney Frank Davis, of Brook, assisted Attorney Leopold in the prosecution. Mr. Harkrider states that he does not know what he will do, but

rather expects to remain here and says that himself and wife will at once take up their residence together.