The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1883-05-11
AsAD COURT SCENE.

surrendered himself to the court in Uar.
rodsburg, and in doing so made the follow
ing touching statement:
"May it please your Honor, know it is
not customary on occasions of this kind for
the person appearing before the court to
make any statements Of the facts, but
ueem 1t due to myself, the position occu>
py, the community in which I have lived
so long, aud who have SO often honored me
that should say something in reference
to this unfortunate affair. l need not point
to my long life aud unblemished charactcr
tor honor before thi. people as a jus,i6oa.is.
OF what do, but do feel that they should
know from me, or hear fir ,m me, portion
at least of the his story of the case Last
December, being called to Washington by
the duties growing out of my position,
was accompanied by my wife to Cincin-
natl, and being anxious to get to Washing.
ton as soon as possible, left the city on Mon
day the same day of my arrival there, and
left her with friends. The next day Mr..
Davis, the deceased, came to Cincinnati,
aud having met her upon the street, regis
tered himself at hotel, aud learning from
her aud the lady who accompanied her that
she was stopping at the ST. Clair Hotel, he
t'liowed her there, where he registered
himself again under an assumed name, and
took room. He then took her out. and
having pli:d her with drink against the
protest of her friends, until she was utterly
besotted, well knowing her iu6rmity in
that reg rd, continued his application I'm
til ho carried her to his room, debauched
her, made her the victim, in her uufortu.
nate condition, of his degraded lust, then
turned her out to wander where she would
until picked up by the night watchmau and
carried to her friends. Having accomplish
cd my dishonor, he left the house before
breakfast. While l had been inf,rmcd
before of some of the facts relating to her
intoxlcation, and that he was the cause of
her public exposure AMI degradation at the
httel, did not know the extent of the
wrong until on Tuesday night last, as l
aaSg fsRa sSHas when hSs sfgs Rad dkS klSSpia peS def a9
my family: | do not believe that will re-
ceive the censure of this people, but what
ever is the will of the court will bow to
and bear with, as becomes good citizen.
This has broken up and destroyed my home
relations, my peace and happiness. My
daughter, dearcr to me than all else on earth,
ia an exile from home, an outcast from soci &.
ETY.. She has sobbcd hersell'to sleep on my
bosom under this great calamity, plrt #
which she only knew This blood is but
feeble atonement for her tears, and if lie
had hundred lives all Of them would not
atone for this great wrong. For the first
time, this morning | met him, aud | feel
that did what every man who has j home
which he loves, aud daughter dear to him.
would do if he has the courage to defend
them from wrong In this expect and feel
that | will receive the sympathy of the good
and virtuous, and now submit to the action
Of the court"
There was profound silcrce in court
and few dry eyes Will, Mr. Thompson was
speaking.
Judge G y Hardin said at is per-
haps improper in me, occupying the posi-
tion of Judge, to express to Mr.. Thomp-
son the sympathy feel for him as man.
Under my official duty am compelled to
hold him to answer any charge the graud
jury may find. will allow him to give
bail in the sun of $4,000"
Bail was Immediately given. There is
intense sympathy for Mr. Thompson, though
Davis was very popular. Davis has wife
";1 '"; childrHn H. "": 81" oG ~~"--
old, and Mrs Thompson is 40. He was
proIiuently connected. His widow is step.
daughter of Gov Robson, of Georgetown,
Ky. The case went to the grand jury
to-day.
Mr. Thompson is a native of Harrodshurg,
and is 3S years ofa age. lie is by profession
a lawyer He was elected to the Forty
sixth Congress and was reelected to tho
Forty-sevcnth Congress as a Democrat
receiving ii ,249 votes, against 12,004
votes for Fry, Republican. Davis was
grocer but had sold his stock and was
about to 60 to Chicago.
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PREACnlNa VS. PRAorIcE.- .-"Dis