Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1889-06-20
HARD ON HOOTON,
Jail Sentence and a $50 Fine.
For Assaulting May Blanton, VIM.
P. Hooton is Given Ninety
Days in Jail and Fine
of Fifty Dollars.

The case of the State of Missouri
VS.. VIM. P. Heoton, for assaulting
little May Blanton last February,
on trial in the Circuit Court nearly
all day Wednesday, was given to the
jury and Thursdy morning
they returned a verdict assessing
Hooton's punishment at ninety
days IN Jail and fine of fifty dol
lars. The following named persons
composed thejury: J. B. Pool, J. N.
Cartmell, David Pike, Geo. H. Ran
dali, Jno. M. Smith, Thomas A.
Mcintyre, James NJ. Bush, P. Con-
sidine, l. 7. Davis, W. 7. Lott, w.
T. Toalson and VIM. Steffens. The
case was appealed from Squire
Hudson's court IN Wilson township
where the verdict was fine of one
hundred dollars. The attorneys
were Messrs. Fry and Forrist for
the defense, with Jesse and Rob-
ertson for the State.A The closing
argument for the State made by
Geo. Robertson, was masterly ef-
fort, and pronounced by the jury
and the large audience present
one Of the strongest and most log
ical addresses made before the
Court for sometime. Mr.. Fry, who
SO ably managed the defense, in
forms US that the case will be ap-
pealed and carried to the highest
courts.
Hooton's offense consisted of an
assault upon a II year old girl, an
orphan named May Blanton, who,
about the middle Of last February,
ran away from her foster parents at
Kansas City. The little girl came
to Mexico and, while making in
quiries about getting home with
some one here, ran across Hooton
out on the Wabash railroad track in
the western suburbs of town. The
young man took her in charge and
told her he would aid her in finding
a place to live. Placing confidence
in what he told her, little May went
along with him and when the two
arrived at point on the railroad
track where they could not be..seen,
Hooton made improper proposals
and took liberties with her against
her will, and which she resisted as
best she could. Her testimony
condensed is, that she reached Mex
leo from Kansas City about mid
night and stayed in the waiting
room of the depot till morning and
then went out to look for work.
She first saw Hooton at his moth
er's residence, west of Mexico,
where went to ask for work the first
day she arrived. She says she next
met him on the afternoon of the
same day; when near the postoffice
her hat blew off and he captured it
for her, at the same time asking if
she had found work yet. She told
| him no, and he said he would help
her get place and took her over
the bridge, and both went up the
track. He said he knew where she
could get place and did send her
over to house, but she failed to
get work. Under promise of find
ing a place for her he took her up
west, in the cut near Mr.. Vests,
and would not let her 60 back to
town. When she tried to get away
he took hold of her and would not
let her go. She said she was de-
tanned there about two or three
hours, and that he put his arms
around her twice and kissed her
and took hold of her arm, etc. He
said he had room at a hotel and
told her he wanted to take her there,
and would not let her 60 till she
promised to come back and 60 with
him that night. After she got away
ishe met W. E. West and told him all
about it and he took her to his
mothers. where she stayed that
night.
| She admitted that she ran away
from home in Kansas City. She
said the reason she did not cry for
help was, that no house could be
seen from the cut and no one could
hear her.
HooToN's STORY
was entirely different from the
Igirl's. He claimed he met her al
the bridge about noon, where she
accosted him and asked him to
please find her place. He stated
that he neglected private business to
assist the girl. "She asked me to
take her out the railroad track to
see if some of the people living
along the track did not want work.
We were onlys.up there about an
hour and half; put my muffier
around her shoulders to keep her
warm and showed her other kind
attentions. | did not kiss her; !
did not touch her; / was out there
with the girl about one hour and a
half; / talked to her about the
tariff; i left her once to go home.
land when quarter of a mile away
| che raved her hat and haudkerchie. q.