Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-05-26
HOLT TO BE HANGED.
The Death Judgment in the Bedford
County Rape Case Affirmed,
July 30 Named as the Fatal Day.

The judgment of the Circuit Court of
Bedford county, in the case Of the State vs..
Jordan Holt, was affirmed by the Supreme
Court yesterday. The prisoner, SOang
negTO man, wore a stOlid appearance, and
was unmOYed at the announcement of the
decision. He is evidently a very ignO-
rant fellow. The victim of his passion was
a white girl.
The opinion, which was prepared and
read by the Chief Justice, is confined main
IL to a simple and lucid statement Of the
revolving facts Of the case:
Jordan Holt vs.. the State'-JOrdan Holt
was tried in the Circuit Court Of Bedford
county at ;he April term, 1875, upon an in
diCtment for a rape upon Susan L. Cleve-
land, and convicted Of the offense. He was
sentenced to be hanged and has appealed to
this court. .....
Susan E. Cleveland proved that she was
thirteen years Of age and lived at home with
her mother and step father, L. NJ. Patter-
son. She left her Inc on an Grand for
her mother, going g. the house Of J. A.
Cunningham at 10 O'Clock a. NJ, and
started on her return home, when, Just as
she entered the open field, about half a
mile from home, she saw defendant, Holt,
in al adjoining woods lot, pull of his coat
aud hat. In a few minutes she turned and
saw defendant Holt Immediately behind
her, and before she could speak TO him, lie
grasped her and said, cd damn you, if
you scream, will cut your throat; that he
then forced her TO the ground and, not
withstandiHg her circumstances and pHy-
steal efforts to prevent him, he committed a
rape upon her person. He then released
her, warning her that if she informed upon
him, he would kill her, emphasizing the
threat with an oath. She wentimmediate-
ly home and informed her parents Of the
outrage; that she suffered much pain in
consequence of the violence to her person.
She was so sore that the next morning she
could not walk; that she was bruised on
her stomach and other parts Of her body.
it occurred in a cOrn-field. She said she
knew defendant, and had known him for
three or four months, and pointed him out
in the courtroom.
L. NJ. Patterson proved that he was al
home when his daughter returned;' she re-
lated the facts of the outrage; she suffered
for several days; her clothes were torn.
Bradley G9rJrill proved that he saw mud
on the back and hips of Susan and on the
knees Of Holt; he proved that the girls
character was good.
J. a. CUnningham-tha he had known
Susan from her childhood, and that she was
of irTeproachable character.
This was all the material evidence. The
defendant introduced none.
Upon this proof, under a charge in all re-
spects uneXceptiOnable, the jury found the
defendant guilty. l. is clear that they
could have found no other verdict. The
guilt Of the defendant is clearly made out,
and the judgment is affirmed.
NICHOLSON.
SENTENCE.
The prisoner will De delivered to the
Sheriff Of Bedford county, who will cOnfihe
him in the jail Of that county until Friday,
the Both day of July, 1870, when he viii
be taken, between the hours 10 o'clock a.
NJ. and 3 P. NJ, to a gailows, to be erected
within two miles Of the courthouse at
ShelbyviIle, and there hanged by the neck
until be IS dead