The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-05-28
THE MODERN LUCRECE.
A DRAMA WHERE THE CHARACTER
OF TARQuiN
Was Taken by the Scion of Wealthy Bal
timore Family-A Story That Is a
Poor Comment on Mary
land Chivalry.

BALTIMORE, May 2S.-If polite society
can possibly be shocked its cheeks must nave
crinisoned at the nature of the evidence
ELECTED Tuesday in the trial of young James
Graham Pearre for attempting to assault
Mrs Estelle Kirkland in the Albion hotel
Long before the case was called the court |
room was thronged by an audience that
have far better graced White House re-
ception than criminal courtroom. They |
drove up to the door in their stylish equip |
ages, and struggled and jostled each other
to secure the best possible places for hearing
and seeing, and when the case was called
the assemblage settled down, with look OF
pleasant expectancy upon all countenances,
as if something rich was to be heard, and
they were not disappointed. The plaintiff
and defendant were present in court, the
latter neatly dressed and moderately
composed. The lady is about So, and is a
pretty woman. She was necessarily very
much embarrassed and could not hold the
book while the oath was being administered.
When she was lead to the witness seat she
trembled like leaf and the tears streamed
down her cheek; frequently during her
story her agitation was so great that the ex-
| animation had to be suspended.
| In answer to questions about her domestic
affairs, she went on to say that she was
| alone in the world, with no father, no
mother, no brothers to care for her, ana
| that her husband had long since left her.
| Here she became very much agitated, and
amid her sobs she passionately exclaimed,
| "Oh, oh, if had had father or brother
he wouldn't have dared to insult me-" Con
tinuing, she stated that on the night of
the assault she received a note, asking if she
was home. Supposng some gentleman ac-
auaintance had written she replied
yes. No one came up, however. She denies
that she ever received a second note asking
if her room door would be left open when the
bearer returned, and it was upon the sup
| posed favorable answer to this that Pearre
attempted his dastardly deed. The elevator
, boy who carried the note acknowledged here
that he failed to take up Pearre's second
note, and when asked by Pearre, about Il
that night, what answer there was to it, he
| was half asleep, and may have said yes,
not Knowing what he was saying.
at 1890 o'clock, and, being very tired after
the long days journey, slept soundly, AND
knew nothing till about o'clock, when she
awakened, and, startled with horror, she
P saw the form Of O man sitting on the edge
o Of her bed. 1t was dark, and she could no
:. | at first tell who the party was; but as hi
e turned his head the light from the window
: | was Pearre. She sprang up in bed, almos
frightened to death, and exclaimed, M.
5 Godl What are you doing here"
y He replied: "You know what | am her
II for, and ! intend to accomplish my purpos
70 before leave"
h "Never," replied the witness; never"
m Witness then proceeded to narrate the de
tails of the assault, which caused a profoun
sensation in the courtroom, and awakene
much indigna ton among the friends of tn
lady. Many of the things testified to it
not possible to publish. She stated that b
r. threw himself on the bed, and that sh
IL fought to release herself from his grasp. Sh
IS. told him she would scream if he did nc
a leave the room He laughed at her, an
"a said that he had pistol in his pocket an
"A would shoot any one who came to her assis
90 ance He said further that if any one can
ny and found him there they would not b
lieve that he had come without her perml
OF sion He acted like mailman and SCENE
utterly reckless as to consequences. 81
struggled with him with all her strength, al
,at in her efforts to escape him her clothir
,ks was torn almost from her body. She r
peatedly appealed to him to spare her, b
ng he paid no attention to her, replying only
the coarsest words. With all due justice
Ugh the lady, and although the testimony W
given amid sobs and tears, her descripti,
me Of her trying ordeal suspiciously remind
one of similar scene of yore between TIC
80. duin and Lucrece, so graphically describ
BY Shakespeare. In her agony she exclaime
"For Gods sake, for the sake OF your moth
and sisters, who are virtuous wome
ing LET me GO; YOU will ruin meW S
cried. She successfully resisted him, no
str ever and, growing still moro furious,
nm said: u have pistol in my pocket a
both Of us shall dis.n She made one desp
ate effort to throw him from her, and s.
8 30 tha1 Cnr and hr