EDWARD A

IDAHO DAILY STATESMAN – BOISE, IDAHO - DECEMBER 18, 1904

EDWARD A. LANCASTER MUST SERVE SIX YEARS IN PRISON FOR RAPE

The supreme court has affirmed the judgment of Judge Steele of the district court of Idaho County in the case of State vs. Edward A. Lancaster, appellant. Lancaster was convicted of statutory rape and sentenced to a term of six years imprisonment. The contention of the appellant was that the court erred in failing to require the clerk to state the plea of the defendant to the jury and also in admitting evidence to prove other like offenses committed by the defendant on the prosecutrix prior to the date of the specific offense for which he was tried.

In the opinion of Chief Justice Sullivan, concurred in by his colleagues, the court holds that there are exceptions to the general rule in criminal cases which is that where one specific offense is charged, the commission of other offenses cannot be proven for the purpose of showing that the defendant would have been more likely to commit the offense for which he was on trial. The proof of other offenses than the one charged in the information is not admissible for the purpose of proving this distinct offense, but to show the relation of the parties and as corroborative of the prosecutrix testimony concerning the particular act relied upon for a conviction.

IDAHO DAILY STATESMAN – BOISE, IDAHO - MARCH 29, 1905

GIRL CONFESSES TO PERJURY

Admits She Swore Falsely Against Edward A. Lancaster

A Grangeville dispatch says” Considerable comment has been aroused by the turn affairs have taken regarding t he Edward A. Lancaster assault case, which probably means that Lancaster will escape the six year penitentiary term imposed on him by Judge Steele. Lancaster’s case was first called at the September term of the district court, and was prosecuted by Estella I. Tefft, his sister-in-law, and by the girl’s father, resulting in the jury being unable to agree. At the February term he was found guilty and sentenced to six years.

The girl swore during both trials that Lancaster was the father of her child. Lancaster is well-to-do and since his conviction has languished in the county jail here, and has taken his conviction very hard. A motion will be made before Judge Steele asking that he be admitted to bail.