The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1867-10-16
Singular close of a Seduction
Case.

; marriage, and having refused the
only atonement--marriage-for the
injury he had done her, has been
on trial since Monday upon the
criminal charge. One of the
points relied upon by the prisoner
to secure an acquittal, was belief
in his ability to prove theprevious
unchaste character Of the girl.
For this purpose he introduced a
witness named Alfred Haight;
who testified to criminal acts, but
when, however, he came tobe sub
ieeted to cross-examination, he so
contradicted himself as to, satisfy
all present that he was telling &
wicked and deliberate falsehood.
I He left the witness stand. and
proceeded to the vestibule Of the
Court House, where he heard eX-
pressions of belief on all sides that
be had -periurcd himself, and 9th
er remarks not very compliment
tary to his character. Soon al
terward he expressed a desire TO
make q full and free retraction OF
all he had said in regard to the
young lady upon the witness
stand. Tie news Of Haight's cor
fession was received with perfect
astonishment by the. counsel of
Hoyt, who at once determined to
Withdraw from the case and leave
the prisoner to his fate.
They visited in Jail and in
formed him of the sudden turn at
fairs had taken, and of their ina
bility to do anything more in his
case. The young man was some
what dumbfounded at first, but
soon regained sufficient composure
to propose an offer of marriage.
The counsel encouraged the sug-
gestion as the only means OF es-
| cape left to him from the State
prison, and when the Court reas-
sembled in the afternoon-atter
Haight had publicly withdrawn
his cvidence-made the offer to
the District Attorney and MIR.
Beach. They were not entirely
pleased with the proposition, but
submitted it to the young lady.
She consulted with her friends
they opposed the marriage; two
sisters very estimable and worthy
ladies, who had nobly stood by
the unfortunate girl through all
the solemn hours the trial, be-
seeched her with tears not to
marry the prisoner under circum-
stances such as had been dcvel-
oped on the trial, but the poor,
wronged, and injured girl-with a
mothers tender love for her mise
ry and a heart not yet dead to the
unworthy cause of all her misery
gave such reasons for the step
that silenced counsel. friends, re-
latives, and all in their opposition
to the union, and consented to
the marriage.
Meanwhile, while these whis-
perings and negotiations, conduc-
ted, with sobs and tears, were 60
ing on, the vast audience in the
court room remained silent and
interested spectators of the scene,
Scarcely q person in the assem-
bly, at first approved the union ;
but whom it was at last known
that tho young girl had consented
to rescue the object Of her hearts
Youthful affections from a prison,
all suddenly reversed their judg=
ment-lovc won the victory over
reason-and hearty applause
greeted the appearance Of Rev
| DIR. Baldwin, who had been sent
to perform the ceremony. Ihe
young man, a prisoner but mo
ment before, walked over to his
bride, and few words passed be-
tween them the Reverend Doc
tor took his position on the right
of Judge Robertson, and the young
couple presented themselves at
the altar. The Judge was the
frs to break the stiffness OF
the solemn scene. He remarked
that the conclusion Of the trial
could not but be regarded as for
tunate for all parties concerned.
1t would seem from the evidence
in the case, that the defendant
had been misled by the falsehood
of certain parties, and had mis-
trusted the integrity and fidelity
Of the young lady. A witness had
been produced here tending to
confirm such an impression, but
ne has come into court and made
a full and free retraction OF bis
evidence in regard to the virtue
and character Of the complainant
and the defendant has become sat,
isfed that he has been mislcd. and
desires to make all the reparation
in his power by public perform