Three Years In Jackson

THREE YEARS IN JACKSON

ARTHUR STARR, ALIAS GUNONG WAS SENTENCED.

His Mother Made A Plea For A Light Sentence to the Court. 

The trial of Arthur Stark, alias Gunong, who has been in jail for six months awaiting the scene of today, is at last over. 

He was charged with attempt at rape upon Miss Edna Reade, a young school teacher of Lima, who bears an irreproachable reputation.

Miss Reade was put upon the stand and told her story in a straightforward, decisive and altogether modest manner. While boarding at the home of A. J. Easton, Stark came there and hired out for the summer as a farm hand. Shortly after midnight on Saturday morning. April 21, Stark entered her room in a nude condition. She awoke and started to scream. Stark grabbed her by the throat and threatened to choke her to death if she made an outcry. He told her that she ought to be his wife, and stated that he loved her. Stark had been there only three weeks, But up to the night before the attempt either Mes. Dixon or Mrs. Mains had slept with her. These two women left on Thursday, April 19. On the night in question Stark, remained in the room until nearly daylight, using every plan to accomplish his purpose. He pleaded, threatened and used force, but the young lady would not submit. Finally, to get rid of him, she promised that he could come again some other night.

Stark left the room, and she went down stairs as soon as she could dress herself and told Mrs. Easton what had occurred. She told Mrs. Easton that she wanted to see her parents. They came Sunday, and she went home with them. Monday she was so sick that she could not leave the home, and Tuesday she made the complaint against Stark.

Attorney Stivers tried, on cross-examination, to make it appear that she did not strenuously resist the advances, but he failed to shake her testimony at all. On cross-examination it was brought very forcibly that Mr. and Mrs. Easton slept down stairs and in an entirely different part of the house, so that the noise in Miss Reade's room would not be likely to be heard.

Mrs. Easton swore that Miss Reade and Arthur Stark had nothing but a speaking acquaintance, that there was no signs of any familiarity between them, and that this had never occurred before. Mr. Easton learned of it after breakfast and discharged Stark, who left Saturday afternoon. Attorney Stivers asked for a recess. He surprised everybody by announcing that the defense would offer no testimony.

The jury went out at 1:45 p.m., and after an hour and a half's deliberation returned a verdict of guilty with a recommendation of mercy to the court.

The defendant's mother made a plea for the boy on account of insanity in the family, his father being now confined in an asylum. But Judge Kinne said he must protect, society, and sentenced him to three years in the state's prison at Jackson.