The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1889-10-08
DAVIDSON RAPE CASE.
The Trial of James VI. Davidson
on a Charge of
Rape.
A Case Full of Racy Details
Which Interest the Bald
Head.

The trial of James Davidson on a charge
of assaulting and attempting to commit a
rape upon the person of Mary Belle Breed
en-, the I5-year- daughter of j. p.
Breeden, began In 1stica Halste ads court
this morning. The girl was placed upon
the witness stand. she was exceedingly
difideut and so embarrassed that II was
difficult to get her to tell he story. She
seemed to be unable 10 relate the nasty
details Of the sffair for want OF words
the meaning OF which she had
n, { yet learned. she stated that Der father
is a railroad section man an. she wss 10
years old last birthday Davidson, she
alleg called at their house last Saturday
night at 9 O'Clock and said his name w~s
Morgan, an engineer living on Third street,
that he had to 60 out at o'clock, and has
wife being sick he wanted girl to
stay with her. Her mother BELIEVING his
statement told her to get ready and 60
At his suggestion they took short Gu
across the prairie. when about half way
across, he accosteL her and according TO
her testimony, he accomplished his pur.
pose and took her on to his house where
she remained until morning.
She had in The meantime
learned who Davidson really
was and told his wife al! about the trip
across the prairie. Mrs. Davidson did not
appear to care, and simply answered, II
thought there was something up." She
was not sick and did not need the services
of girl, She west home the next morn
ing and told her me Their and father, and
they initituted the proceedings. She stated
in her testimony that she fought Davidson
with all her power and strength until she
was overpowared.
The defepdent relies wholely on being
able TO prove that the girl is OF
bad character and at the time the BAzOo
was sent TO press, Mr.. eteyen Bruce,
resident ST Eldorado, johnson county, was
on the stand testifyiug. He claimed 20
have met this girl for immoral purposes
on the same night that she charges the rape
was committed, Bruce says he is married
man.
The trial of j. NJ. Davidson, the young
man charged with committing a rape on
the person of Miss Mary Breeder which
begun before Justice Halstead yesterday,
was concluded last evening and resulted
in Davidson being held in bonds of $500
for the action of the grand jury at the next
term of the criminal court. He was un-
able to give the required bail last night
and was lodged in Jail. His young wife
vac present at the trial with a wee bit OF
q baby in her arms and tearfully followed
him TO the Jail door where they separated
and he passed through the heavy iron door.
The defendant did not deny that he had
sustained illicit relations with her, but set
up as his defense that she was willing and
that her character was bad. In view OF
her tender years it seemed almost impos-
sible for her to be the kind Of a girl the
defense claimed she was, but two middle
aged married men, with children half
grown, testified that they had met her for
criminal purposes. The witnesses were Z.
Payne of this city and Steven Bruce, OF
Ell Dorado. The former claimed that the
girl had been employed as a domestic in
his family and while she was In his house
he had enjoyed her favors. The testimony
of these married men is the most astound-
ing features of the case. Even if their
testimony is true, the fact that they sacri-
feed such little girl 10 their lust, their
story seems incredible. The court seemed
to take the same view and held the defend
ants. The ground work fer at least three
divorce cases was laid during the trial, if
the wronged wives choose to avail them
selves of it.