Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-04-01
ABDUCTION AND SEDUCTION.
Beni. Alien Boune Over.

4 0Cnls \ AFoAn0 OEGf.
The case of Benz. Allen, a eolored min
lister, charged with the abduction and So.
duction OF Mary Chapman, a handsome
mulatto girl, was tried by Justices Cassetty
and Creighton yesterday, the entire day
being occupied with the case. Messrs. Dodd
and Guild appeared for the defendant. the
prosecution being represented by w. g. and
John Brien.
The first witness examined was Marion
DORM, the stepfather of the girl, Mary
Chapman, who testified that she disappear-
ed Tuesday night, 18th of March. The
next Monday he heard that she was in
Louisville, and sen Larry Ryan for her. and
he brought her back the Thursday follow
ing. BE became acquainted with the defend
ant, who is assistant pastor of the church wit
ness belongs to. He was a frequent caller
at the house of witness where he had been
well received on account of his position i'm
the church. Allen said his wife was work
ing OUT and that he felt lonesome some
times, and for that reason he was told to
make himself perfectly at home with the
family of the witness. At one time wit
ness had remarked to defendant that if he
ever knew of a man taking advantage of
Mary, he would shoot him, to which Allen
replied that he would be perfectly right in
doing so. The girl is between 10 and 20
years old. About two weeks before she
went away her mother had whipped her on
Aliens account.
Detective Watson testified that Allen
had admitted to him that he bad been init
mate with the girl.
Catherine Dorm, the mother of Mary
Chapman, a bright-looking colored woman,
testified that she had worked hard to give
Mary a good education and had earnestly
desired to raise her right. She got &C
quainted with Allen at the time of the last
conference. He is assistant pastor of st.
Johns Church, on Spruce street. She went
TO class meeting Tuesday night, the 18th,
and after searching around found her
trunk was gone. Then she went to see
Mr.. Morgan, a young man to whom she
was to be married. She took the new
dresses she had been having made TO get
married in. A few days after this Mrs.
Sneed, a neighbOr received a letter from
Mary, dated at Louisville, and from this
letter her Whereabouts was asceitained and
she was sent for. The night the girl dis
appeared, Allen came into class meeting
about half past nine. When the class was
dismissed, Allen pronounced the benedic-
tiOn.
Henry Sneed testified that Allen had ex-
hibited in his presence a letter which he
said he had received from Mary Chapman
since she left home. His wife also received
a letter from her, in which she stated that
she had changed her name to Julia Parrish,
for fear that inquiries would be made about
her. She sent her love to Allen. The let
ter was read in evidence by counsel for
The witness heard the girl say,
before Christmas, that she was going to
leave home, saying her folks didn't treat
her right.
Mary Chapman testified that she has
known Allen since Christmas; that he is a
married man; he came to see her frequent
ly; that he had a great deal to say about
how he could do with girls; that ne asked
her to come to his house; that she refused
at first but stopped in n day when she was
passing; that after he had gained his object
he told her thai if she married or told of
what had occurred, he would kill himself,
showing a loaded revolver. He then urged
her to go away and finally secured her a
place at Louisville and sent her away tell
her to write as soon as she reached that
and that he would get a divorce
his wife and come up and
marry her. She received, while in Louis
vile, two kilograms from Allen, after send |
ing him the letter. The first one read,
-'The DEVILS after u.s." and the second
warned her that Detective Ryan was after
her with her photograph, and that detect
ives in Louisville had been telegraphed to
and that she must leave at once. Her step |
fatlier gave her so a few days before she
to get her wedding clothes with.
Allen promised to send money to her at
Louisville. Allen told her to stick to !
everything he had told her to, saying that
be would lose his religion and everything |
before he would give her up; that be |
had fixed himself and her so that she
couldn't get away from him.
Several witnesses were then introduced
y the prosecution in order to establish the
-OOd character of Mary Chapman.
In 1.-THE afternoon, a large number OF wit
leSSes testified to the good standing and
heretofore irreprOachable character of
Allen. 1t was shown, however, that he
lad been expelled from the Baptist church,
TWO years since, and that he then
Oined the Methodist church. He had
'een engaged in preaching, at times, for
everal years. He has also been employed
IS a servant at the Maxwell House, where
Re gave good satisfaction and was consid-
red a faithful, reliable servant.
He is of light color, has a very intelli-
,ent appearance, and is of medium size.
The girl is small, good looking, and is well
She told her story without hes
but also with becoming modesty.
As she entered the court room, when called
,s a witness in fbe mo-niug che waS oivau 4
/ seat directly facing Allen, TO whom, upon
down, she nodded and said, "How
you, Benz"
At the conclusion of the evidence, the
,ourt was addressed at some length by the
counsel for either side, and after a short
consultation, announced that the testimo-
" was Of such a character as TO warrant
he binding over of the defendant. His bail