The Washington critic., 1888-01-17
wAsH1NGToN CRITIC
DAzzhED BY THE sPANGLEs
story of Girl who Left Home to Join

a Circus.
ut Is the same old story,Y remarked
Mr.. Carrington to the jury in the Crimi.
nal Court this morning. Bessie Morrison,
young woman of more than ordinarily
attractive features, was on trial for steal
ing S697 from George Blanchard, travel
ing Snowman, in Richmond, on the 14th
of last month. Mr.. Darlington, in stating
the girls side of the case, told story
which for pathos has seldom been
equaled, even in fiction. II was to the ef-
feet that last sumner Blanchard was
showing in 1shpeming, Mich, with his
circus. Bessie Morrison went to the
circus from her home in neighboring
village, with young lady and when the
performance was over word was sent to
her that the manager of the show desired
to see her. She replied that she had no
business with him. and that IL he wanted
to see her he might come to the carriage.
He did so and the interview resulted in
her leaving her home with him, sending
word to her parents that she was going
into service.
He had assured her that she was in real
ity his wife, and that all he had was hers,
and that she had q right to any money he
had that she wanted TO use. He bad
known OF her having the money, and had
told her to keep 1t.
ut was not until she told him that she
was tired of the life they we're leading"
said Mr.. Darlington, .'and that she was
going back to The old homo that he spoke
OF having her arrested, and said that he
would lock her in the walls of the peni-
tentiary before she should leave him.
The defendant sat crying during Mr..
Corrington'sspeech, and the complaining
witness sat twirling his. silk hat. When
called to the stand he snid that his name
was George W. Blanchard, his show name
being George W. Donelson. He leaned
on the witness stand with an air of the ut
most ease. Hiswell oiled hair was combed
with the utmost care, and he stroked n
sandy moustache with q heavy muscular
hand, from which diamond sparkled
conspicuously. He balanced himself on
his heels, placed his hands carelessly un-
der his coat tails and was apparently one
of the most self-satisfied men on earth,
Notwithstanding the pretty little woman
who sat crying before him,
He stated that he had missed the money
and that when accused of it she denied 1t
and burst into tears She was arrested and
searched, however, and the money was
found in her shoe. They had occupied the
same apartments. he SAID, but he had
never introduced her as his wife.
did you under promise of marriage Sc
duce this young woman ?"
mo, sir; emphatically no. She was q
disreputable character before ] knew her.
don't remember saying at any time that
intended to marry her."
He stated that she had told him on
frequent occasions that she had been in
innate with various men in Michigan.
"She behaved herself in Toledo in O way
that no decent girl would do.''
When asked to explain what eonsti-
tuted this indecent behavior, he said that
she had gone out buggy riding with a
man and "acted very familiar"
The defendant took the stand and told
her story in trembling voice. She said
that when she left her home with Blauch'
ard she wore short dresses. 81 never
knew he was married, !" she said, "until
the snake charmer told me about it." He
,hadrepresented her as his wife to Various
people. He had told her that all he had
was hers, and had frequently given hel
the care of his money
Ten minutes after receiving the case the
jury acquitted her.