Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1884-03-29

The Naked Truth.

j. Robbins, a ~well-known attorney and
journalist, charged with assault upon
Lulu and Dora McCrellis, two young
girls, a most dramatic scene occurred in
the criminal court yesterday. After a
great deal of evidence entirely unfit for
publication, Lulu McCrellis testified that
she had seer certain marks upon Rob-
bins body, on his arm the figure Of a
woman, and on his hip a house that
these were blue and had been tattoed
into his skin. Dora McCrellis, her
sister, corrooorated this statement in
detail, and said further that she had
seer upon Robbins back two red marks,
about six inches long, which he had
told her were birth marks.
The prosecution rested its case at this
point, and ". w. Turner, for the de.
tense, rose and said that he would prove
by physical facts that the witnesses for
the prosecution had invented n wicked
and criminal lie. Il now instruct yr.
Robbins" he said, ito strip before that
jury, exhibit himself naked from head
to foot, and If there is any such mark on
him as either of these girls describe, let
him go to the %penitentiary for the rest
of his life" Robbins Immediately Jump
Ell from his chair and commenced TO
strip before the jury.
I'VE object to this dramatic ~scene,'
said Kittrell for the prosecution.
Hadn't You better wait until the case
is closed ?' asked the court.
mo, sir" replied MIR. Dudley, Of the
defense. snow is the time. before we
leave the court room; we have that
right"
"Very WELL" said the judge, II shall
allow it. Let the girl withdraw until
the jury examine him." and the brazen.
faced creature left the stand, for the first
time showing signs that her presence of
mind had left her. Robbins then strip
ped and subjected himself to a rigid ex-
animation at the hands of each juryman
and each Of the attorneys for the prose.
cution. Not mark could be seen; no
scar, in fact there did not seem to be a
bleinish on his skin. The girl was then
called in and told to point out the marks
she declared we're there. As Quick ms
thought. and with her eyes flashing
with subdued rage and anger, she re-
piled: "They are not there he wash
ed them of. IT must have been paint l
saw on him" "Do yon see any Of
them 2" asked Kittreli. "No, they are
ali gone" she answered. Robbins then
dressed himself and again took his seal.
Counsel for the defense and prosecu-
ton addressed the jury, the latter in
timating that he would not believe any
thing the two girls might swear to in
any case. The judge then charged the
jury. He said
-. the close OF this case it becomes
my duty to instruct you. ! will not
comment OF the testimony it is too in
famous to SPEAK of. / will only say
this: God forbid that you should ever
be called upon to witness another exhi-
hilton like that which has just transpir-
ed in this court room-such another ex-
hihiticn Of moral deprav:ty &c has been
exhibited to you. The entire case rests
upon the testimony Of these two girls.
No conviction can be had on testimony
that is not credible-where a witness
has told palpable falsehoods to material
matter, the evidence of such q witness
is utterly worthless. That is just this
case" Tie Judge then fully advised
them as to their duties, and said: II
might in this case directly instruct you
what verdict to return, but your CON-
non sense Is sufficient to guide you.
You will now consider your verdict"
All but one Of the jurors wanted to re-
turn q verdict from their seats, but one
wanted to retire the jury vent out and
Immediately returned with q verdict of
mot guilty" Robbins was immediate
y discharged, and thus ended this very
remarkable trial.