Berry had been faced with disturbing the peace — which he settled by investing a evening in prison and surrendering the $700 seized from their pouches.
Chuck Berry poses for a portrait circa 1958. Michael Ochs Archives
That event paled in contrast, but, with all the instance brought later on that year, as he had been faced with breaking the federal Mann Act — also referred to as the White Slave Traffic Act — which forbids transporting females across state lines for “prostitution or debauchery, or even for virtually any immoral function. ”
The target under consideration had been a 14-year-old waitress and prostitute who Berry found whilst travelling in Mexico and cut back to St. Louis to exert effort being a hostess at their Club Bandstand nightclub.
Berry — who later on advertised the lady told him she was 21 — fired her after several days, after which it she ended up being busted for prostitution and told the cops that Berry repeatedly had intercourse together with her as they had been on the way, including in the rear of their Cadillac.
Berry ended up being convicted by the all-white jury and sentenced towards the maximum 5 years into the slammer by Judge George Moore, whom told him “I have experienced your type before” and denied him bail pending appeal. Read more →