Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 110, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 May 1919 — STEWART MOORE ACQUITTED OF SERIOUS CHARGE [ARTICLE]

STEWART MOORE ACQUITTED OF SERIOUS CHARGE

Stewart Moore was acquitted in Judge Anderson’s court at Indianapolis Friday of a Mhnn act charge lodged against him by Lake county officials in April. Absolute vindication in every way was given him, the judge finding that there was not the faintest trace of evidence to show that he was guilty of the serious charge which was launched against him. John Huber, a Lake county constable, was the only one of the several indicted who was found guilty and was given a two year term in the Federal prison at Atlanta, Ga. Mr. Moore was working as achauffeur in Hammond, at the time Esther Plunkett, >a seventeen year old Illinois girl, came to Hammond and took up her residence at a boarding house where Stewart was staying. Later she lodged Mann act charges against the landlady, Huber and two other men by the names of Taylor and Thompson. Moore was not named at tlwit time. The four named were taken to Indianapolis and placed in jail, while Moore came to Rensselaer. A week or so later a government official came to Rensselaer and placed Moore under arrest, following his having learned that Moore was a boarder at the place where the Plunkett girl stayed. He was charged with having induced the girl, along with those placed under arrest, to come to Indiana. At the trial Judge Anderson gave the ex-clerk of Lake county a severe tongue lashing when ‘the latter appeared as character vntness for Huber. The judge has become disgusted with the actions of Lake county individuals, as more have appeared before him from that county than from any other county in the state, and anyone sent before him from that county must show mighty good evidence of his inribcence to escape. It appear# that Moore was a victim of circumstantial evidence and that he was in no way guilty of the charge placed against him.