The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1884-09-23
Deputy United s tates Marshal
Gregory arrives with
q Prisoner.
Il. G. Dickson Going to Dan
vile to Answer the Charge
of Abortion.
Miss Dollie Ward, Farmers
Daughter, Proves the Victim
OF q Fiend.

II seems that Sedalis and vicinity are
not the Ouly places in the land where
seduction is practiced. Yesterday morning
4. S. Gregory, a deputy United States
marshal from Danville, Illinois, arrived
in this city, from Parsons. Kansas, having
in charge 81. e. Dickson, whom he was
taking back 10 Danyille, on the charge IF
atlemp pied abortion, The story, as told by
the marshal and prisoner, is As follows:
The unfortunate girls name is Dcllie
Ward. Her parents and the Dicksons
lived neighbOrs, near twelve miles from
Danviile. The girl and Dickson were
raised together, the families being on the
most intimate terms, and the children
allowed to run together without the least
suspicion of anything Of serious nature
resulting from what was at frat supposed
to be pure friendship.
As the children grew older things began
to change and the parents Of both parties
supposed the children would be married,
as Dickson paid closer attention to Miss
Dollie and at one time vowed that be loved
and intended to marry her. They went 70
church together, buggy riding of evenings,
and, In fact, where one was found the other
was pretty sure to be.
Dickson's intentions were by no means
good, however, as the sequel proved. Ooe
day last July Miss Ward was taken vio-
lently i'll and IL was feared she would die
before medical aid could be summoned.
When the doctor arrived he mace an ex-
animation of the young lady and informed
the young lsdy's unhappy parents that
their daughter was suffering from an at
tempt to commit alteration.
About the time this announcement was
made public Dickson turned up
missing, and of course suspicion at once
rested upon him. Miss Ward, however,
refused to say that Dickson wss the guilty
man, and not until she had suffered sever
al days of untold agony did she admit it.
Then she said that Dickson had seduced
her, and with the aid of disreputable
physician of that vicinity, had attempted
TO commit abortion on her person, but
failed.
Marshal Gregory was placed 10 posses
sion of the facts and assigned the tssk OF
ferreting out Dickson's hiding place and
bringing him to Justice. Ii was some time
before he could find any trace of Dick
son, but finally received word that he Va
at Parsons. The willy marshal went
thither and returned with his man yester-
day, and is now taking him back to the
scene of his crime, to prove his innocence
or be proven guilty.
Dickson firmly denies that he attempt
an abortion, although he admits having
been criminslly intimate with Miss
Ward. He also says that he was not
the only one with whom he had been init
mate and declares he will prove his asser-
ton whenever his case comes up for trial,
When asked why he left 80 suddenly
after the fact had been made known that
abortion had been attempted, be replied
that he did not leave on that account.
He had been intimate with the young lady
and she had threatened 10 sue him for SCI
duction and baslsrdy. He also says that he
does not believe abortion was attempted at
all and that this is only ruse to get him
back to Dsnville and give Miss Ward
chance to bring suit against him.
Marshal Gregory informed the reporter
that Miss Ward was young lady who had
always been loved and respected by all
who knew her and never before had even
so much as s hint been made detrimental
to her character. Although she coald not
have been called handsome, still
she was good looking, being 10 years old,
Just the age when all that is true and
noble in q woman's character is plainly
set forth, and when she is the most confd-
ing, and it is no wonder that Dickson had
an easy task in gaining her confderoe and
betrsying her.
If he is innocent of the crime, which is
certainly one Of the most heineOus on
record, then let jury of twelve competent
men set him Alright before the world, and,
on the other hand, il he is guilty, let that
same jury say so, and assess his punish
ment at all the law allows in such cases.
She had never been out of the county
where she was born and raised. In Dick
son she placed implicit confidence, and he
betrayed that trust. Now she il s ruined
girl; can never sgain hold M her head,
look the world in the face and say she is
without stain upon her name.