The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1892-09-26
HORRIBLE CHARGES
AGAINST A FATHER
LEVI DORNSIFB CHARGED BY
HIS DAUGHTER.
ACCUSED PLEADS NOT GUILTY
But the Prosecutrix Swears to
Facts Covering a Period Of
Over a Year-Committed
Without Bail
ACCUSED PLEADS NOT GUILTY

Ls%SSf ED din street and who has |
!. :: !: :: :" : { :. :. :: !" :" !"
INT9SSs1sF }it5H been resident of
[5kHTNS w town for many years. |
Tn Eg%t84l, was before Squire |
SszTf4sY NLC Williams Saturday |
CSz5G9N ~ v afternoon charged
with most atrocious crimes The charges |
a-e made by Dornsife's daughter, who is
less han sixteen years of age.
If one half she swears to is true the
accused is human monster of the worst
form and no punishment prescribed by law
is hard enough for him.
The daughter charges rape and incest
and she is positive in her allegations,
According to the sworn staten nts Of
the girl the acts have been committed
frequently for many months. When asked
why she did not expose her father before
she says she did not do so because of
threats of what he would do if she did
expose him.
The charges have formed an under
current of public discussion for many
months and about six months ago Dorm
sife was expelled by the Odd Fellows
because of them. When the order made
its investigation it was with difficulty that
the girl could be made to speak, but from
what was eventually CLEANED the order felt
justified in declaring the expulsion.
Cora Dornsife the prosecutrix, is girl
of short stature and well built for her age.
She is comely, but not attractive. Her
appearance and demeanor give evidence of
the inroads of vice. She admits that she
has gone sstray, but declares firmly that it
was her father who put her on the road.
Cora appeared before Squire Williams
ompaned by one of her sisters Before
giving her testimony the girl asked that the
hearing be as private as possible and the
room was cleared of all except the officials,
the HERALD reporter and those directly
interested in the case.
Assistant District Attorney Shay was
present to conduct the examination in
behalf Of the Commonwealth and l.. d.
Haughswout, Esq. appeared in behslf-of
the girl, as her special counsel.
Dornsif was brought into the Justices
Office by Constable Dando. He was as
cool as if he was disinterested spectator of
the proceedings and eyed his daughter
indifferently as she took the stand to
testify.
The reports made of the case yesterday
in other papers were not correct. They
dragged into the case parties who are not
involved by the testimony, save one and
that is one of Corss sisters, who test fed to
a conversation she overheard between the
father and girl.
In condensed form Cora's testimony was
as follows; 81 am 10 years of age and will
not be IS until the 18th of next March.
The accused is my father, My mother
told me he was and | have always known
him as such. He has had carnal knowledge
of me. The first occurrence was in June
of last year. He made advances to me
when l was washing dishes and whom l re.
| p,lsad hin, ba str,,oIy ma band ,y;tl h, eet
He only asked me to so upstairs with him,
but 1 judged his purpose because my
mother had warned me against him. He
first had knowledge of me by stealing into
my bedroom in the middle of night and
forcing me to submit. He warned me
not to make an outcry. The first time was
in the beginning of June, 1891, the second
about the 9th or 7th of July, 1891, and the
occurrences were frequent up 10 May, 1892
All the assaults were made at late hour of
night, in my bed room, and were made by
force. In May last left home and went
to Tamaqus, Last Sunday evening re-
turned end on Monday he again attempted
TO assault me and brought this suit, 1
didn't leave my father when he first made
the assaults upon me because my mother
was alive. She died last December. 1 did
not leave him after she died until last May
because l was not strong enough to go any
place to work. l was sick and under d
DOCTORS care"
Dornslie, the accused, was given an
opportunity TO ask the witness questions
and be wanted to know if the justice had a