New-York daily tribune., 1859-07-09
4 DASTAR9LY CRIME.

Fre~ The IsxiAgt0a fhy.J Ooserr>f,
Tie 'TiAl q! X. III. Champ for rape upon hss dssf
brothers Wife ,ermins,ed last week with verdict of
The jury prcrouncing him guilty, and afhxing bs pun
ishmert al hieen years impn-onment ~ me Pen'-
tar'isry.
Ii has been the theme of eonverssion in al circles
arAa mser OF the most serious thought and deepest
ns.lsraiion, with young and old. The anastoral
deed produced sensation in the public mind a. the
time of the occurrence, which has scarcely been al
layed by the termination Of the protracted legal in
ytstgaion ard the though just verdict OF the
intelligent juiy.
The earnest efforts Of the abiest and slcqaeu.
council tnat coud Dc ob aimed. failed 10 establish even
shadow of doubt a. 10 the gull, Of the accused; and
feeling of relief evidently dfused throughout the
cr,wded court room when the decree OF the jury
announced by the court The case bad been removed,
by be change of venue, from the county IN which the
offeuse committed, Ia AVOID the eAcItement that
there existed snd thereby secure air and impartial
hearing. Ths, hearing was had. and the result = an
nounced above.
The facts elected by the investigation sre, a. nearly
a. can gather them, briefly as follows: Ars. Sslie
Champ, upon whom the crime was committed, is the
WIDOW of the brother of the sccusei-a lady Senty-
eight Years of sge the mother Of four chiren, and
has been widow six years iu person. she aitrac-
ve-slerder in iorm, rather above the median hight.
with ceca cy chiSeled face chestnut hair, me eyes,
ard the air OF moc,st, intellectual lady, accustomed
% good society liz her youth she had been accounted
beautiful. FIom her binh she has resided in Bourbon
County, where she has sustained character Of the
H
red man. with a wife and children living, and his
residence is also in Bourbon County 10 the vicinity
of that of the widow. lie X q stout, athletic man,
oi fire appearance, about ID years of age Being her
brother.n law ana paying her affairs some attention,
he was. At all times, welcome visitor to her house,
and she regarded him in the light Of a friend, whoeo
advice ana counsel might be implicitly trusted. ,.f
Both said to be in good circumstances, Il not
wealthy. Three days before this shameless and dia
bolcal occurrence, ne accompanied her to pie mic in
the neighborhood when riding alone with her. he
used language offensive 10 her feelings, and shock
ing 10 her sense of morality and virtue that she re-
pulsed him scornully; and after tha.
guarded in her intercourse, and kept much poss
be aoof from him. On bright June morning, while
. IN pursuit OF her domestic duties Mr.. Champ was an
uounced, and she politely received him al the door OF
her hOspltabe house. He took seat in the hall the
lady seated herself the opposite side, when aftsr
the customary sautatIons had been nierchanged, she
informed him that she expected company that day. and
had preparations for their reception aud enter
taument TO superntend. This apoogetc invitation 10
him retire mad not the desired effect, he imnsd-
ately said: Il wish to your parlor curtains,
as intend TO buy Sc, like them if they plesse me.
VIII you show them to me r 80 sooD," said the
lady Z" as give some directions 10 the cook, viii do
So. but have little time 10 spare just now. t.
Upon her return they proceeded together TO the par
Tor, and when reaching the window she attempted 70
open the shutter t. better adm. the lght upon turn
ing her head she discovered that the door had been
closed by Champ, who had now approached cose 20
her. She asked him if the curtains not hand
some They are beautiful" said he, "but not half
beautiful as you are, and in an instant his strong
arm epcrced her waist, while with the other hand he
applied vial to her Her senses deserted her
and she knew until, when recovering, she
found herself stretched upon the floor, and her
pursuer rising from her. The lady terrified and faint
eeby staggered to the door and in an attempt 10 call
for assistance, fell; again che rose and moving few
PAGES, fell second time. Champ in the meantime,
had skulked from the scene OF his guilt.
This man returned TO confront his victim, that he
might hear himself denounced by her lips and his
dsmning deed proclaimed in the presence Of terrified
Witnesses lie declared her to be crazy, snd endeav-
ored to impress this opinion upon the bystanders. Tho
poor woman in her agony turning to relative, said:
" Robert Champ has ruined me-I am ruined wom-
" ans get the gun and shoot me- Robert Champ, get
" out Of my house,
The lady remained in q state Of great prostration for
several weeks aiterthe occurrence Indeed, from the
feeble in which she tottered from the Court
House, after relating from the witness stand the pain
fu story Of the terrible and aggravated wrong she had
sustained it would seem that she had not yet wholly
recovered. The above is briefly the history of this
markable case CLEANED It from the facts devel-
Oped al the trial,