A Midnight Death at a Disorderly Resort—and a Jury That Cleared Everyone

W. Bien, a former resident of Old Town, met a violent death at Ione Saturday evening, in a disorderly resort conducted by Gladys Bien, claimed to be his wife. The couple conducted a place in Old Town, which was wiped out in the big fire in the restricted district last July, and lately have been conducting a resort at Ione.

About midnight on Saturday Bien came to the house and had an altercation with the woman, and she called for assistance from those who were in the place. Six men were present and all responded to the call for help from the woman. Bien resisted the advance of the crowd, and in the scrimmage that resulted the crowd surged towards steps leading into the kitchen. There were but two steps, but all fell in a heap with Bien lying face downward in a pool of blood near the stove, his neck having been broken by the fall.

Six men and three women were arrested by the officers and held until Tuesday, when, after the arrival of Prosecuting Attorney Kirkpatrick, a coroner's inquest was held and the whole bunch discharged from custody, the jury holding that they used no more force or violence than was brought to bear against them by Bien, and that they were in no way criminally liable for his death.

The body was taken to Cusick for burial Wednesday.