STOUT, Dr. W. R.
Source: Weekly Argus News, Feb 17, 1894 p 6
Hillsboro is badly torn up over a racy scandal and the gossips are in clover up to their eyes. The parties involved are Dr. W.R. Stout and Mrs. Charles William and Mrs. Charles Bowers. Stout denies that he has been guilty of any unprofessional conduct and claims that it is all a blackmailing scheme but the Veedersburg News says the people of Hillsboro take a different view of the matter. The News adds: Williams believe there was an improper intimacy existing between Stout and his wife and for that reason acted as Stout said he did. He also accused his wife and she, as he has stated, confessed that Stout had poured out a tale of love and admiration to her when she was under his medical care and that having attended her while was so ill that none thought she would recover his ability as a physician was such as to bring about her recovery; in short he saved her life and for that reason felt as if she should accept his devotion in any manner that he might bestow it. In the accusation that a strong man’s mind had overcome a weak woman’s will, Williams says that his wife confessed to him that Stout had attempted to kiss her and attempted to take improper steps, but she declared that he had never accomplished his desire and as we understand during their talk she also stated that he had made the same advances to Mrs. Goldie Bowers, wife of Charlie Bowers. Williams went to Bowers and the four had a meeting, when Mrs. Bowers confessed it to be true, stating that the reason she did not inform her husband was that the doctor made the advances in his office and that she tore away from him with scorn, swearing that if he ever again repeated the attempt that she would inform her husband. Williams had already sent his wife to the home of her father ‘ere the last conversation and confession was made, and Bowers the next morning took his wife to her home in Montgomery County, her father coming after her household goods the first of the week. In Hillsboro there is a vast amount of talk in regard to the affairs, gossip having several other accusations to make against Stout, though none could be traced to any reliable source and are perhaps the outcome of the above trouble. While the two men seemed to have acted hastily they claim the fear of worse than what the women have confessed has so blighted their once happy homes that they considered it best to do as they have for the present.
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Friday, 8 December 1899
The case of the state vs. Dr. W. R. Stout, of Covington, was formerly dismissed Wednesday in the Parke Circuit Court by Judge Stimson, of Terre Haute, on the motion of the prosecuting attorney. Stout was indicted here several years ago for complicity with Phil Hauk in causing the death of Grace McClamrock, and after Hauk’s conviction was granted, a change of venue by Judge Harney.
The case went to Rockville and was tried before Judge White, the jury disagreeing, two jurors holding out for conviction against the rest. Before the second trial Judge Stimson, of Terre Haute, was called in to preside and the trial was over except the arguments when the judge was taken ill. He was down for several weeks and the jury was discharged. It developed, however, that the jurors would not have convicted.
A third trial was never set and the prosecution simply wore itself out. The Rockville papers espoused the cause of Stout and it was clear he could never be convicted. It was agreed to drop the thing some time ago. Stout was present Wednesday in court and no doubt feels relived now that the last formality is over.
Although released, he will always rest under an awful suspicion, and the majority of people will always believe that he was freed because he was not proved unquestionably guilty rather than because his innocence was shown. If Dr. Stout is really innocent, he is a terribly wronged man. However that my be, the prosecution of this case will doubtless have a wholesome effect and will ten to check, in some measure at least, the alarming prevalence of a most heinous crime.