Payette County ID Archives News.....Vice Upheld by Jury February 5, 1904
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Patty Theurer seymour784@yahoo.com January 30, 2006, 1:53 am

Payette Independent February 5, 1904
Payette Independent
Payette, Idaho
Friday, February 5, 1904

VICE UPHELD BY THE JURY

Infamous Woman, Accused of Heinous Offense, Acquitted on Second Trial.

In the second trial before Justice Smith of the case of the State of Idaho vs. 
Ida Chase, charged with admitting and retaining within a house of prostitution, 
a minor, one Mary Wise, which was called last Friday afternoon at 3 o’clock, 
the jury on Sunday morning returned a verdict of not guilty, much to the 
profound disgust of the great majority of Payette’s citizens.  

As was outlined in last week’s Independent in the account of the first trial, 
the evidence for the prosecution was strong and seemingly conclusive in every 
particular, and was placed before the jury in an able, clear and concisive 
manner by attorneys Coxe & Bryan, acting for the state, but all to no purpose.  
Ten of the jury, the requisite number to return a verdict, either could not or 
would not be convinced of the fact that the woman Ida Chase had been guilty of 
one of the most revolting and damnable crimes of which the human mind can 
conceive—that of attempting to drag down to her base level the life of a young 
girl, scarcely past childhood—and so they serenely cast their votes for an 
acquital of the vile had, who had been brought before the bar of justice, and 
in so doing, whether or not they realize it, sanctioned the right of any lewd 
wretch to enter the sanctity of any home and attempt to induce innocent youth 
to leave a life of purity and virtue for one of infamy and shame.

It is unnecessary for the Independent to comment on the case at any length, as 
there is no need for stirring up public sentiment over the matter, and all know 
exactly where the paper stands upon it, not influenced in the least, but proud 
of the knowledge that it is backed by the people of the community almost as a 
unit.  As conclusive evidence of this, is the fact that 60 jurymen were 
subpoenaed before 12 could be secured who would announce themselves to be 
unbiased, and it must be apparent to all that the great majority of those who 
were dismissed had thoroughly made up their minds as to the guilt of the 
defendant and were conscientious enough to say so, although they would no doubt 
have eagerly grasped an opportunity to have sat upon the jury feeling free to 
have voted for a conviction.  It would seem as if the men who voted for an 
acquittal, did so upon the grounds that the case was hatched up as a 
persecution against the Chase woman, and they, not wishing to further it, 
willingly shut their ears against the law and the evidence.  However, as their 
motives cannot be analyzed with the absolute knowledge that no injustice has 
been done, it is useless to attempt to do so.  It will suffice to again say 
that the verdict was far from being a reflection of public sentiment, and if 
the backers and sympathizer of those engaged in running the house of 
prostitution by the bridge imagine they have gained a victory, they are greatly 
deceived.  To the contrary, by so openly and infamously encroaching on the law 
they have stirred up a whirlwind of public opinion which will envelop them and 
wipe them off the face of the community before the dust clears away.  

The first step toward this end was taken on Tuesday afternoon when County 
Attorney W. A. Stone filed with Justice F. A. Smith a complaint against the 
woman Ida Chase, that she was maintaining a house of prostitution, contrary to 
law.  The woman was arrested and placed under bonds but upon affidavit being 
filed by her attorney, Ira W. Kenward, asking for a change of venue on the 
grounds that an unprejudiced hearing would not be had before Justice Smith, the 
latter dismissed the case, there being no other eligible justice in the 
precinct.  This, however, does not end the matter by any means, and it is 
probable that other steps will be taken within a very short time, but which 
cannot as yet be made public.  


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