The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-02-07
HAYNES. HELD FOR SEDUCTION.
Squire Howerton Considers a
Prima Facie Case Made Out.
The Story of n Young Lndy's Downfall
and How 1t WINS Accom- plished--A wcal
Woman and u Perfidious Mama Swift
Witness Discrcditcd--A Parents Indig-
nntion--Bnil to be Sought To-day.

Inc HaYneS-AdamS seduction case.
an account OF which appeared in TIE
TIMES yesterday morning, occupied the
attention of Squire llowerton for nearly
five hours yesterday afternoon.
1t was anticipated by the curious that
police headquarters would DO tho scene
of the trial, and, as consequence, a
largo number Of spectators gathered
there before o'clock. They waited,
but the justice did not come, and il was
finally ascertained that tho prisoner
had been taken to Justice lIowcrton's
Office, on jefferson street. privately by
an officer.
Then there was stampede to listen
to the evidence which case of the kind
usually brings out.
The crowd, however, was disap-
pointed. The magistrate ordered the
room to be cleared Of all. except those
directly interested in the case and the
reporters.
The prisoner was represented by r..
M. Wood, while Is. Lacy Iloge conducted
tho prosecution and looked after the
interests of Miss Adams, the plaintiff.
The young lady and her step-mothcr
came, accompanied by j. Nj. Adams, the
husband and father. The appearance
of all three was that OF decided neat
ness and gentility. Miss Adams was
closely yelled when she came in, but
shortly afterward revealed her features
to the court. They were pleasant and
striking, but bore evidence of great
agitation.
The prisoners father, l.. Haynes,
stood by the side of his son and seemed
to forecast the worst results.
Miss Oceana Adams, the victim of
Haynes wiles, was the first witness
sworn. Her testimony WAS given be-
tween sobs, while the tears coursrd
down her checks, and it was with ditn-
Guilty that she answered the questions
propoundcd by the attorney.
Her testimony was mostly unfit for
publicati ton, but the story she told WAS
the "old one"-woman's weakness and
mans periidy. According to her testi-
mony she met Haynes about the first of
October, and became intimately
acquainted with him shortly aftc.. She
alleged that no suduced her undor
promise of marriage while on their way
to church. This happened November
6. Afterward he WAS guilty of the
OffenSe several times. She said she
trusted him. and believed no would
marry her as he had agreed. Her stop
mother limited that she believed she
had been doing wrong, and this caused
her to write Haynes letter dated No
vember IA.
This letter was produced by Haynes
lawyer for the purpose of showing that
the girl was foul-mouthed and indecent
i'll the choice of her language. 1t went
on to state thata family broil was in
progress on her account, and used plain
statements in reference to the conduct
between her and Haynes.
Miss Adams admitted to writing the
letter, but said she did, so while in
great tronblo. She positively denied
placing the date on the page, however,
and Il careful examination showed it
to be in another handwriting, She
thought the date to be correctly in
serted.
When asked by Mr.. Wood if she
knew young man named Taylor, she
said she did; that he had visited her
house on the Goth of November, and
she had been in his company several
times since, but that nothing had hap
pened between them of an improper
nature.
At this point Mr.. Wood questioned
her quite severely and confused her so
that she made several awkward state
ments in reference to dates.
Mr.. Hoge took exceptions to tho
questions and said that the object of
the case was to prove her previously
chaste character.
Mr.. Wood replied by saying that he
intended to prove that the women had
not been true to his client, and that
under such circumstances she had no
claims on him whatever.
Some sharp sparring took place be-
tween the two lawyers and the justice
finally decided that the questions were
legal.
On being further questioned. Miss
Adams said that Taylor's conduct had
been gentlemanly toward her, and de-
MED point blank that any one, save
Haynes, had taken undue liberties with
her.
Mrs. Adams was next sworn. She
testified that she knew the girl to be
chaste up to November 18th that she
had always been modest and ladyliko,
and when she found out her condition,
reproved her. She denied the state
ment made in the letter to Haynes, and
said there had been no family broils at
her house, and that she had not acted
as the letter alleged. w. a. Roberts, a
venerable gentleman, testified that
he had known the young wo.
man all her life. Her family was one
Of the best in West Virginia, and was
highly respected by all who knew them.
lie had never known the young woman
to do anything wrong, and always con-
sidered her above reproach. lie had
taken her out driving in his buggy on
two occasions since ha had hnnn in