Mexico weekly ledger., 1889-11-21

long she was on the stand and the
matter In regard to which she
had to testify.
OPENING FOR THE STATE.
Just as sosn as the Jury was
sworn in Thursday afternoon, Hon.
Sol Hughlett, prosecuting attorney
of Montgomery county opened the
case for the State nv ~HH@ino the
indictment and stating ..-, he ex-
pected to prove that Bette Sira's
aunt, who lives near Benton City,
in 1888 sent $40 to her in Virginia
to pay her way to Missouri for a
visit. Bette started and came uio
St. Louis, taking the Wabash train
at St. Louis for Benton City. she
got on the last train, James Rea, \,
conductor. Conductor Reach to: |
her the train did not stop at Ben
ton, but that she had best get off ;''
Montgomery City and wait until
next day. Bette had a ticket to
Mexico. Richard Dusenberry was
on this train and heard the conver-
sation and told Bette that he was
stopping at a first-class hotel in
Montgomery City and would show
her where to stay all night. When
he got off the train, instead of tax
ing her to hotel he took her to
the saloon where he was a bar
tender, and after unlocking the
door struck dim light and when
she come in took hold of her
and threatened to kill her if she
hallooed or made any noise. This
was little after midnight and he
kept her there until about 5 O'Clock
in the morning. When he let her out
she went to the hotel and told the
landlady just how she had been
treated. The landlady says sne was
in terrible plight. The physicians
also examined her and will testify
IN regard to her condition at that
time. The statement as to what
took place in the saloon is unfis for
publication
BETTE sIRA's TESTIMONY.
Bette Sira, the first witness for
the State, was then sworn. She
testified, in brief, as follows: " |
came from Virginia to Missouri on
the 4th of November, 1885, and
first saw Dusenberry on the train
which brought me to Montgomery.
He came and sat by me on the traiE
and tried to get up an acquaint-
ance. The conductor told me l
could not get off at Benton, but to
get off at Montgomery. Dusenber-
ry then told the conductor that he
would take care Of me and show
me safely to hotel in Montgom-
cry. He took me to saloon he
opened the door with a key and
1 went in before l knew where /
was going. He locked the door
and said this is my place of busi-
ness.' l asked him what his busi-
ness was and he said he would
show me directly. He then took
several drinks and laid a revolver
and knife on the counter. l
thought he was going to kill me.
He tried to get me to drink, but
I would not and tried to get him to
take me to the hotel, but he would
not. He lit the lamp but turned
it down very low he then took
hold of me and when l tried to
halloo he put his hand over my
mouth and said he would kill me
Iif did not keep still. 1 then ask
ed him, for Gods sake and my
fathers and mothers sake, to take
me to the hotel. He then took all
my clothes off. x x ]
thought he was going to kill me. u
I'VE omit the testimony in regard
to what took place during the girls
four hours stay in the saloon. AS
soon as she got out she went di.
rectly to the hotel
81 got to the hotel quarter after
5 in the morning. When he lei
me out he showed me where the
hotel was. l was crying and beg
ging to be let out all the time I was
In the saloon. Ipretended to drink
because he said he would not lei
me out alive if did not. He sale
tn re was no use to tell what he
did to me in the saloon as no one
would believe me. ] promised not
to tell. He asked me to write tt
him and for fear he would not LEI
me out promised to write and he
gave me his card. When I got te
the hotel secured room and sal
up the rest of the night l was SC
frightened. I told the landlady all
about it as soon as I saw her in the
morning. was in a terrible CON
ditlon. Afterward, physicians ex'
amlned and administered to me- u
At this point juryman CAN'T
asked the witness who told her t1
get off the train at Montgomery
Dusenberry or the conductor. She
answered,
"The conductor told me to gel
off,"
BETTE SRA CONSTRAINED.
Judge Robinson then took the
witness and cross-examined her fol