Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-06-22
FATHER QUINN ACQUBTTED.
After Hearing the Tcssimcny Agatuss
Him the Prosecution Gives Up she
Case.

Correspondence Of THE EVENING STAR
ALEXANDRIA. Va June %.
Much interest was shown here yesterday after
noon In the trial OF Father Quinn OF ST. Mary's
church, who was charged before the Corporation
Court with having committed a rape on Rose
Pruitt, eleven-year-old girl A large crowd as
sembled about the courtroom. Mayor Downham,
accompanied by Justice May, who was called In
70 assist In the settlement OF any legal point which
might be raised, were seated on the bench. Then
the reporters were admitted, and soon afterward
VIM. Pruitt and his wife, father and mother OF the
child, and their three children entered the court
and were given seats in front OF the mayor Father
counsel, Capt George A Mushbach, occupied seats
at the LETT of the presiding judge.
THE LITTLE GIRLS STORY.
The little girl was the first witness called She
was examined by Leonard Marbury. the common
wealth's attorney. She gave her name ana age
and said she lived at Slater's In the country She
said she knew Father Quinn
Ibid he come TO see your" asked Mr. Marbury.
'No Sir, said the witness, she came out ia the
country 10 get the cool air."
.'Tell when you saw him and what transpired.-
81 don't know what you mean, said the witness
"What happened when you saw him?"
81 was down at the river shore" she said, "when
he came down there. He pulled on his hat and
coat and sat down under tree. Presently he got
up and went around the shore, my brother and
sister following him. He again took his hat and
coat on and sat down under another locust tree
lie ran US, but they got away and he caught me,
threw me down and assaulted me. lie put his
hand over my face while he assaulted met This,
she said, occurred last Friday. Father Quinn, she
said, was In the habit OF coming out there and
usually spoke 10 her.
ON cross-examinatlon the witness was asked II
she knew several boys, but Mr. MarOury objected,
and the testimony was excluded.
Capt. Mushbach said that unless he could pursue
that line OF examination he did not desire 10 ask
any further questions.
OTHER TESTIMONY.
DIR. NJ. W. O'Brien testified TO the condition OF
the girl and said he did not think that she had
been ravished. He found nothing that Indicated
that any violence had been used. The girl was
not well, but he could not say whether her condl-
tion was due TO natural causes or otherwise.
Mrs. Pruitt. mother OF the child, testified that it
was Thursday that her daughter first complained.
Father Quinn, she said, was out there Thursday
down at the river shore so late that she went after
her. She said that she found her daughter and
the defendant IN the bushes together. She called
10 Rose 10 come home but the child did not come
Immediately. saturday she noticed the condition
OF the chids clothing ana took her 20 the doc
tor. She said that the child had not talked with
her about the alleged assault
An old colored man named John Williams was
next called He testified that he saw Father
Quinn and Rose on the grass. Father Quinn was
lying down and the girl was playing around him
He did not see any Improper conduct
John Jones, a colored boy, testified 20 seeing the
defendant and the girl at the river shore, but he
saw nothing 70 Indicate any improper conduct on
the part OF the defendant This closed the testi-
mony for the commonwealth, and Capt Mushbach
said he would first call Father Quinn 20 the stand
Mr.. Marbury, after a brief conference with the
mayor, said: IL am frank 20 say that the testi-
mony for the commonwealth falls 70 establish a
case i had not examined the witnesses In ad-
vance, ana therefore did not know what the testi-
mony would be-" The mayor then announced that
received with applause, ana Father Quinn received
the congratulations OF a host OF friends