When a raid netted 25 defendants for violating prohibitory laws (selling booze), the defendants plead not guilty. Perhaps their chances of acquittal were slim, but they would try anyway.
From the Arizona Daily Star, Friday, July 7, 1916:
25 RAID VICTIMS PLEAD NOT GUILTY
Cases Set for trial Before Judge O’Connor Week of July 19
Pleas of not guilty were entered in the superior court yesterday by the 25 persons charged with violating the prohibitory law, arrested in the recent raid by Sheriff Forbes. Their trials on more than 40 charges were set by Judge O’Connor, of Santa Cruz county, beginning July 19.
C. C. Roller, charged with gambling also pleaded not guilty and his trial was set for July 27. Several other cases for other charges were also set.
Attorney J. D. MacKay, representing one of the defendants had not yet had a preliminary hearing. The motion was overruled. The defendants were arrested on bench warrants from the superior court and their cases were not tried in justice court as usual.
The cases were set as follows: July 19: John Baker (six cases). July 20: C. and H. Phillips (four cases), Felix and Joe Mendibles (two cases). July 21: Ed Miller (two cases), Rico Sarraco, Joe Sarraco, John Green and Joe and Rico Sarraco (two cases). July 22: Pedro Juarez, Jesus Salcedo, Chas. Van Width, Jack Anderson and R. O. Nailor and W. Pearce. July 24: Tom Dorrell (two cases, Bascom Reed, Henry Meyers and Leonardo Corrella. July 25: Al Williams (three cases), A. A. and Geo. Lames (two cases). July 26: Lee Durnell, Ed McFarland, Minnie Davis (two cases, Minnie Davis and Ed McFarland. July 27: C. C. Roller (gambling), Ramon Bufando, Mariano Pacho.
Cases on charges other than violating the prohibitory law will be tried as follows: July 28: L. R. Staehle, forgery; Sylvestre Romero, grand larceny; C. K. Crawford, passing bad checks.
In the case of the State vs. Jimenez, the defendant pleaded guilty and was given a sentence of one year in the state penitentiary.
The trial jury for the trials will be drawn Monday according to an order made by Judge O’Conner yesterday.
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We have a bit of trouble calling these men "victims." Prohibition might have been short-lived law, but these people were arrested for engaging in illegal activities at the time. There must have been some probable cause for the raids.
In other news, a man was assaulted with a blow to his head while sleeping. In a way, he was blamed for this because his associates said he was taking a risk for sleeping outside, but it was June in Tucson and there was no air conditioning. While the Morgue Lady would say he should exercise caution, the blame falls solely on the assailant, not the victim.
WONG’S ASSAILANT MAKES HIS ESCAPE
Unknown Man Unsuccessfully Tries to Murder Dairy Employe
After a hard day’s work yesterday Sheriff Forbes and deputies were unable to capture the would-be murderer of Wong San, Chinese laborer at the Hess dairy, in the southwest part of town on Nineteenth street. Wong was struck a terrible blow in the head while sleeping on the outside of his house, but will recover. The assailant escaped around the corner of the house and is being trailed.
The assault occurred early Thursday morning.
Wong, with another Chinese workmen, occupies an adobe shack on the opposite side of the road from the dairy. He is a devotee of the custom of sleeping outside the house, although he has been warned many times by his companion of the danger that he ran from tramps and wandering Mexicans. He still persisted, notwithstanding the repeated warnings, and Wednesday evening went to bed as usual outside while the other Chinese slept inside.
While Wong was asleep the unknown intruder crept up and delivered a terrific blow on the head with a club, believed to be stolen from the El Paso and Southwestern railroad. He was rendered unconscious by the blow, and the miscreant, evidently starting to investigate the house, found that another Chinaman was inside and then feared to continue his attempt to rob the house. It is believed to have been about 1 o’clock Thursday morning when the blow was struck.
About a half hour later the other Chinaman awoke and was attracted by the low moaning of Wong, who had now recovered consciousness. He hurried out, and finding out what had happened, rushed across the road, roused the Hess family, who phoned to the police station. Bicycle Officer Sullivan was dispatched and later Sheriff Forbes and deputies went to the scene of the outrage in an auto.
Wong was unable to tell anything about the matter. His forehead was opened up and badly lacerated. He had bled a great deal. He will recover, however, the doctor states.
Tracks of the intruder were followed and officers hope to capture the man.
