Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1875-03-26
THE FIRST SEDUCTION LAW TRIAL

THE FIRST SEDUUTl0N LAW TRIAL
GREAT INTEREST IN THE CAsE-A CROWD
ED CoURT-HOUSE--A BOY OF SEVEN.
TEEN IN THE PRISONERS BoX-A GIRL
OF TWENTY ON THE SrAND-PAINFuL
sCENE-A SENTENCE TO THE STATE
PRISON-LEGAL ARGUMENTS,
&C., &C., &c.
The first trial in the State under the
ton felony, punishable by Imprisonment
in the penitentiary, took place i'll tie Cir
cult Court of Augusta on Monday As
the case was new one under tile code, it
excited a great deal of interest, and the
courtroom was densely crowded. the space
reserved for the bar being filled with men,
bers of the legal profession, and Judge
Hendren of the County Court occupying a
seat on the bench with Judge McI.augl-
lin, the trial Judge. Outside of the bar.
and crowded even up to the Judges seat.
was a mixed and dense crowd of people of
every calling in life-merchants, doctors
clerks. mechanics, and pretty much every
body else that could get in. The galleries
were densely crowded with colored peO-
ple The parties to the case were VIM
NJ. Taylor. charged with the seduction of
Mary Catherine Cameron Hess in the
month of November, 1873, both parties
being residents of the county.
THE ACCUsER.
Miss Hess was a young lady 20 years Of
age, though she looked like a child, with
an unusually petite figure, with blonde
baby face, and full head of regular gold
en- hair which fashionable woman would
give small fortune to possess. Her fea
lures were small but regular, and a height
ened color on taking the witness stand
made her what boy would call a beauty.
and what man would call very pretty
woman. She had on black velvet hat, q
BRIGHT striped shawl, brown founceu
dress and light gloves and parasol. She
gave her testimony with modesty and
frankness. but in so low tone that it was
with difficulty she could be heard by coun-
sci or Jury, except on one occasion, when
a question of counsel would have led t.
the conclusion that she was a wanton.
when she raised her head with her eyes
blazing and exclaimed with fury of en-
ergy. II swear before God I never did!''
During all of her questioning she sat with
her eyes fixed on the floor. drawing figures
on the floor with her parasol. maintaining
a silence so long between her answers as
to take on the color of obstinacy. At the
astounding of some of the most painful
questions by counsel the scene was pites
o7s. the eager eyes of a thousand men
filed with prurient curiosity strained to
catch a glimpse of the poor mite OF girl
sitting with downcast eyes, her cheek
afane, and the perspiration standing il
heads on her forehead; to hear her answers.
which were so low that they had to be re-
heated bv the Commonwealth Attorney
to the Jury. At one time, after full mi
mute of agony, she broke into weeping.
which the brutal crowd took with disap
,pointment. having expected something, II
use their vile language. ''richer" than That
Sometimes, when hard pressed by the OPP
rosino counsel. she answered with touch
,of yivacity almost amounting to pertness
but she only smiled once, and that was
during the reading of the love letter III
which ssDear Birdy'' occurred so fire.
auently; but the smile faded out quickly
nc she recollected the difference between
:, We days when that was her pet name, and
tho scene in the courtroom now. ting
bench near the witness stand was the
,ootho of the girl, who kept her face ou-
r;ed in her handkerchief, weeping until
49, two saxne for herself TO take the stand.
THE ACCUSED
WV NJ yEaylor, the accused, was
large Young faEaow of seventeen with
frank and rather good-looklng race. Win
. low forehead. the only defect IN 1t. lie
was quite gay during the examlr atlon.
$50 1anohed and talked with two or three
- bic friends wf,o were near him. Not
far from him stood his father, Frank ray
lor. who appeared deeply interested IN tHe
matter evidently viewing it III a gravel
light than tie Roy.
THE JURY.
The following gentlemen composed bne
Jury to try the case: VIZ
Rusmisel. VIM. Heiser, y. W.
Hlair. W. Ellison, J. w. Weade' y. NJ
Grove Geo. K. Coiner, W. A. Freed,
Thos. Cox, James ". Patrick, WIN. %.
Gallaher and Thos. Bruce-eight married
and four single, and a large majority
Young men.
THE EVIDENCE.
The witnesses testified, as far as then
evidence is fit for print, as follows: Miss
Hess testified that she was 2, years or age
that Taylor was constant visitor, ano
that on the 18th of November she was
ruined by him, having been engaged TO pe
married to him for some time previous
that she became mother in the following
August. and that with that exception she
had been a chaste woman. She denlee
having received any warning from thf
father of Taylor to stop excepting com
my, with his son-that he was too young
r. marry. and that if 'fanything hap
re,eo'', he should never marry her. Int
mother of Miss Hess confirmed that pof
Hon Of her testimony with which in TIN
nature Of the case she could be familiar
The t,o,emon wealth's Attorney then real
three love letters from the boy to the CIR
acknowledging chat he was the autilor o
her ruin and assuring her of his determl
nation to marry her's'if he had to die Tn
next minute In them he begs her no
to kill herself, and tells her that he ''can
vvrite for tears The letters were full Q
affeetionate expressions, such as ''Oh, nov
love youi'' and son. my dear blrdy !.
heine repeated some fifty tires, and til
crowd seemed by their Slaughter to I'M
much amusement in their reading.
The father Of the prisoner gave plai
statement; of what he knew about it. say