Mary Gleim was the leading and most successful madam in the Old West days of Missoula, Montana, owning eight brothels in 1890.
19 Facts About Mary Gleim
2.
John Mary Gleim came from a wealthy St Louis family and enjoyed drinking and gambling.
3.
The couple lived in San Francisco and New York City, where Mary Gleim was reputedly included in the "Rogues Gallery" of New York's most wanted felons.
4.
Mary Gleim set up brothels one after another in West Front Street and ruled them with a fist of iron, becoming the "Queen of Missoula's Bad Lands".
5.
Commonly known as "Mother Mary Gleim", she was one of Missoula's characters and eventually owned a considerable number of properties in Missoula and elsewhere.
6.
Mary Gleim appeared frequently before the county judge on various changes arising from her drunken rages, including verbal and physical assaults.
7.
Mary Gleim appeared frequently in the civil court for refusal to pay contractors and to evict tenants who could not pay their rent.
8.
In January 1892, Mary Gleim was convicted of assaulting two priests.
9.
Mary Gleim asked a group of priests for a candle to light in Latin.
10.
Mary Gleim was fined $50, but because she had previously fail to turn up for court forfeited bonds and the fine totalled $736.30.
11.
Mary Gleim was held in the county jail while awaiting trial.
12.
Mary Gleim had taken a supply of liquor with her into the jail.
13.
At her trial, future Governor of Montana, Joseph M Dixon, was the prosecutor and Gleim was defended by Judge Newton W McConnell and Joseph K Wood.
14.
Mary Gleim's lawyers launched an appeal in November 1894 but this was turned down by the District Court of Missoula.
15.
In October 1895 Mary Gleim was released from jail pending a retrial.
16.
Mary Gleim died of influenza in West Front Street on 22 February 1914.
17.
Mary Gleim died without a will and as her husband John had died in October 1896, her niece and nephew inherited her fortune.
18.
Mary Gleim's estate included property in Missoula, Ignatius, Ronan and Canada.
19.
Mary Gleim left explicit instructions for her burial in the city cemetery.