Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-04-03
WORsHAM-c CHURCHILL CASE
Strange Statement by the Alleged
Yictim-The Defendant a Good
PrOmpter Of the Witness.

This morning the case of the old
man W. B. Worsbam was called in the
Criminal Court and the evidence of wit
nesses begun. Mr.. Worsham was in.
dic;ed some time ago for alleged en-
ticement of his step-daughter, Mary
Churchill, to a house for the purpose OF
seduction. The case has excited some
interest and aroused quite a feeling
against the defendant, who seems to be
about sixty years Of age. The step
daughter, Mary Churchill, is only twelve
years of age, but from the manner in
which she testified this morning has evi.
dently seen something Of human affairs.
The girl was, as the court remarked, IAN
adverse witness" for she vas slow to
answer the questions of Attorney Gen.
ersl Wright, but most apt in replying to
those of the defendants lawyer. AT
times Mary Churchill would shed
tears and bow her head as if in shame,
but this did not prevent her noticing the
prompting Of Mr.. Worsham. The de-
PENDANT would not only nod his head but
make signs with his eyes and hand to the
girl when she was about to answer a
question. What effect, if any, this
prompting by the defendant had on the
witness we do not know. Mary Churc.
hill testified that one day while returning
from school she met her step-father, W.
B. Worsham, on Court street and accom-.
panied him to q negro woman's estab.
lishment, which he told her was an "out.
side boarding. house" She consented to
60 there upon promise hat he would give
her a dress. While there no criminal
conduct was engaged in, according to
her statement. On eEoss-examination.
Mary Churchill stated that she went tC
the house at the i~nstigation Of a mar
named Townsend, who lives in Coving,
toe, he promising to give her a sill
hat. She stated hat Townsend tolC
her to play with her step-father,
and if she would do this he (Townsed,
would get her mother and take them tC
Mississippi to live With him. she more
over stated that the arrest and statement
that Worsham had acted in the manner
alleged in the indictment was a Job cen,
cocted by Townsend in order to get Wor
sham sent to the penitentiary so that be
CTownsend) could get possession Of her
mother. The witness says that Town
send stated hat if she went with Wor.
sham to the house they could so man
age as to have him convicted and
sent to the p%enitentiary, and that part Of
the agreement between her (the wituess)
and Townsend was uttered in the pres.
ence of her aunt, Annie Marsh, of Mar.
ket street, since the arrest of Worsham,
and Townsend had seen her and told her
what statement to make to the recorder
and police.ehief, and that this is the rea.
son she did make certain statements
eliminating the defendant. In addition
to this the girl said that Townsend haC
tried to induce her TO leave the city
when he found what she wat going t
testify to. The evidence of the girl wa!
listened to with breathless attention, ex
cept by a few officers of the court anC
spectators who we're amused by the man
ner in which the defendant prompted tn,
witness. At the present writing the evi
dence Of other witnesses is being heard
The case is a curious one.
The case was dismissed and the pris
oner held to answer for incest.