The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1872-05-10
SEDUCTION TIE FIRST DE.
GREE.
An Amorous Georgia Parson TO
Pine In Prision for Ten Years.

The Atlanta (Ga) Sun of the 18th
ult. gives the closing proceedings OF
the trial OF Rev. Myram ID. Wood,
for seduction, ~ follows:
Yesterday morning, about $50
o'clock. the jury qualified 10 try the
Rev. Myram ID. Wood, charged with
seduciug Miss Emma |. Chlvers, re-
turned II verdict OF guilty. The pris-
oncr's counsel Immediately made
motion for arrest of Judgment and
new trial, the motion to be heard with
in thirty days, during the vacation OF
Court.
The Judge then asked if he had
anything To say why the sentence
should not he pronounced, and Wood
arose aud said:
Il desire, in the first place. to re-
affirm, very soleTnnly, all / have pre-
viously said during the course OF this
trial. / affirm that everything in the
indictment. charging me with crimi.
nality with Emma ]. Chivers, is false
| reatiirm it in the most solemn man
ncr in which | can speak.
In the second place, have thought
as far as the State of Georgia was con-
cerned, or its officials in this prosecu-
ton. in this public manner, they have
done nothing but from sense of pub
lie duty; and l further accept. with
all my heart, the issue presented by
the gentlemen for the prosecution;-
that we shall meet more solemn tri-
bunal, before an impartial and just
Judge, who knows the truth, and that
all the facts OF this case will be seen
in clearer and purer light.
Il wish to say, as SAID before, that
| arm lawabiding citizen; and what
ever may be the issue, shall never
attempt to elude tho virdict of the
issue, whatever it may be-"
The Judge then. in a most impress
sive manner, addressed and sentenced
him to ten years Imprisonment in the
penitentiary, stating that he was legally
convicted and it became his duty,
however unpleasant, to pass the sen.
tence of law upon him; that the cer-
tainty of punishment and the nature
OF the newly discovered testimony had
persuaded him to reduce the former
penalty.
The prisoner, at the announcement
of the sentence, betrayed no extraor-
dinary emotion, but rather preserved
calm selfpossession.
The Atlanta Constitution, referring
to this case, says:
1.-The evidence is too sickening and
disgusting to be given to the public
especially where it is likely to fall in
to the hands of the young. To be-
lieve the testimony Of the young lady
preferring the charges against Rev
| NJ. d. Wood, OF seduction, one is
compelled to believe the accused q
moral monster-a whited sepulchre-
an adept in scoundrelism.
ITO give credence to the testimony
Of the defense, one must believe the
accuser equally as bad as the accused
The mind is bewildered and confused
and faith in humanity is almost oblit
Grated if one should believe either;-
and the mind falters in selecting the
side to believe. The accuser is &
young lady of remarkable intellectu
al development and culture; fine pe,,
so,saeJ and, on the witness stand, the
4 equal of any lawyer. The accused
bore the reputation OF an earnest
jealous and eloquent divine, of rare
probity and piety. His walk was cir
cumspect. That these two should ap
pear in the character OF accuser and
accused, and develop facts SO heart
rending; that they should for so long
time carry on their evil conduct an6
| give no outward Indication of theil
inward deprayity, passes our finite
conception. Time will give us an ex
PLANTATION of what is now mystery