Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-01-17
Bessie MORRuSON,s STORY.
Lawyer Darlington Tells 10 20 u Jury
while Bessie sheds Tears 81 Sorrow.

AoWy VI harrington Te1u0 ~ 10 u Jury
while Bessie sheds Tears 81 sorrow.
To-day, in the Criminal Court, Judge Montgom-
cry, the trial Of Bessie alias Elizabeth Morrison,
rather handsome girl seventeen years old, for the
larceny Of $697 OF Geo. W. Blanchard, alias ID. W.
Donaldson, az Richmond, Va, on the 9th instant,
was commemorative shepperd prosecuting, and
Messrs. Campbell Darlington and I. c. Taylor for
the defendant. During the pathetic opening sd-
dress OF Mr.. Darlington the girl frequently shed
tears The latter said the questions before the
tai ended would be not as to the guilt or Innocence
OF this girl, but what should be done with the
prosecuting witness. 1t was the same cid touch
ing story-a systematic piece of villainy, an eN:
pef1enced man OF the world and unsophiSticated
country girl and ruin. He said that away on In
tne northwest part OF Michigan. In June last,
dwelt famiiy-a father OF sixty Ave. mother OF
being the baby OF the family. Handbllls
describing one OF the "Greatest Shows on Earth,
nature were distributed. One OF these was taken
10 that nome by the brother and read, and on
Town ana saw the show. This girl, then wearing
snort dresses, talked OF the show with her neigh
DOT, Nettle Banks, and with her went the show.
lnere tne proprietor toasted his eye upon her with
an unholy purpose in his heart and when the per-
Iormance was over she was told that the proprie-
tor wished TO see her She declined TO go TO him,
ana he came TO the buggy in which she was about
10 return home. The result was that she was
taken 10 hotel, and she sent word home that she
left town. Then she found herself some hun
dreds OF miles from her home and her ruin was
accomplished by the man who rep' esented him
sell as single man. Mir. Darlington then de-
scrlbed their travels, saying that they passed
as husband and wife and occupied the same room;
that ne regarded what was in her possession as
tnelr mutual property, and that ne promised to
marry her. he claimed that the prosecuting wit
hess mad dropped the money, and he did not accuse
nef Oh taxing the money until she had become
Ired OF his cloSeneSs, and, being In delicate con-
qbe0 prEp0sed 70 return to her parents ana he
would send her TO the penitentia~y.
BLASCHARp's TESTIMONY.
Inc prosecuting witness, Geo. w. Blanchard,
took the stand and testified that he missed the
| money tS697) in Richmond, Va, on December IA,
but suspected Others, who were arrested,
and IT was in Baltimore that he suspected her and
caused ner arrest. On cro5S-examnation the wit
ness denied seeing the girl in the buggy or taking
her away from her home. He denied that he ever
promised TO marry her and asserted that she fol-
lowed his show, and he claimed that she was a
disreputable woman. He had been a married man,
but understood that his wife had obtained a
divorce. He denied that anything was said by her
as 10 her conditioner that she wanted TO leave the
life she had been leading. He admitted that he
ON redirect examination witness said he rrsI
met the girl with Mitchell under his canvas She
tod him that she had been with w. w. Cole s
circus as an apprentice; that she had been init =
mate with a number OF men, all married men, ex-
cepting one. She stated her agc at twenty years.
witness was thirty five years Old
WHERE THE MONEY WAS FOUND.
Oficer Morris Quinlan testified to the arrest,
and that Blanchard said that II she turned the
| money up he would not prosecute her. She was
taken to the station, and denied that she had the
money, saying all she had was In her pocketbook.
she was searched by cOlOred woman at the sta
ton and 1914 was handed out. The search was
made In about twenty minutes.
Laura Dykman testified To making the search.
She took on one shoe first, and she saw something
In the girls hand which she attempted TO slip into
her shoe. The nnding OF the money was Audited.
on cross-examination witness said the prisoner
only told ner not TO give IL up.
This closed the Governments case
BEssIEs TESTIMONY.
The defen cant, Bessie Morrison, took the stand
and testified that she lived In Michigan; that her
parents and one sister and brother lived there;
She was born April n, 1870; that the first time she
saw Blanchard was at the show on Thursday and
On saturday she went 10 another town To see the
SHOW Inc ticket agent stopped her saving that
In, and again repeated the message as she was
leaving. Then Blanchard came up and asked how
she would like to travel anu promised give her
$40 for doing chores about the canvas She did not
at first consent, and he referred her 10 Mrs
Costello. She was at that time wearing short
dresses. She then went with him TO Rel uulic but
stopped over and thought about returning, tut
concluded TO go with the show. Blanchard had
been coaxlng and promising what he would do.
When they got TO Ashland he said whatever he
mad was hers, property or money. Before they
reached Ashland he promised IL she OF into any
trouble he would marry her. She had been virtu-
Gus up TO the time they reached Ashland. She be-
neVed him then to be a single man. They then
Travelled as man and wife up 10 their arrival In
Baltimore. When in Richmond, after leaving the
lair grounds they roOmed at the st. Charles Hotel.
After recess the defendant resumed the stand.
While in Richmond, she SAID, she learned that
Blanchard was married man. He ill-trealed her
and she took the money. She afterward told him
that she had the money, and he said he was salts
Ned. She said he abused and assaulted her. She
then asked hin Tor her trunk, she wanted to go
home on account OF the manner In which she had
been treated and the condition She was In. He re-
fused TO give her the trunk unless the money was
returned, which she refused to do, because she
thought the money belonged TO her ON account Of
her life having been ruined by him. During the
time she was with him he did not give her more
than So. She denied that she had acted i'm
properly with any man since she left Ashland
with the prosecuting witness.
Testimony was offered as 10 the DEFENDANTS con-
diLiOn and the defense closed its case.
VERDICT OF NOT GUILTY.
The case was submitted without argument and
with brief charge, and In ten minutes verdict
OF not guilty was rendered, which was received
win "a ay,,,l,t