Convicted of Keeping A Disorderly House

Judge Endlich's court was crowded to hear the case against WIlliam Miller and his wife Kate, 712 Spring, charged with keeping a disorderly house and selling liquor without license, on Sunday, and to minors.

Daniel F. Vandermuth, 1152 9th, was the prosecutor, and his daughter, Mattied, aged 14, was the first witness. She testified that she visited the house frequently during the past year; was induced to come there by the Miller woman; notes were sent to her from the Miller house; she saw high kicking, straddling, men dressed in women's clothes and women dressed in men's clothes during the skirt dance. Beer was served to those present. It was taken from kegs on the bar. Wine was also served. She saw card playing; saw no money paid for drinks.

Rebecca Finkbone corroborated the testimony of Mattie and added that  she saw a girl stripped by one of the men. She added that a club had its headquarters in the house and that the front room was used for the purpose.

Samuel Saliday, a neighbor, residing ar 722 Spring, testified that there was shouting and fighting at the house on Saturdays ngihts and on Sunday; that he was annoyed by the disturbance, and saw men and girls go there on Saturday nights and Sunday mornings and come out drunk. Officer Clemmer told the same story.

Mrs. Kate Miller testified that she rented the front part of the house to several yougn men for a club house. She admitted that there was a fight on one occasion, but denied that she enticed girls. H. O. Schrader, counsel for the Millers, changed his plea to guilty on the charge of keeping a disorderly house. No evidence was shown to substantiate the charge of selling liquor without license, and the court ordered the jury to render a verdict of not guilty on this count and placed the costs on the county.

The husband and wife were sentenced to $10 fine and 9 months.1

• 1. Reading Eagle, 12/17/1897