The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-01-08

married girls Of 81 who 60 mad with
drink every night. and assault the ruff
fans, their associates, though to stick q
knife into man is reckoned beyond tho
rules Of the game. 1t was not stated
where the assault took place. OK what
was the position of the wounded man,
or the relations of these twain. There
fore the case occupied five lines, and no
one paid the slightest heed to the terri
BILE wreck and ruin, Of life. That q
girl of 81 should be locked up in a prison
for seven long years, and at the end OF
that time should be separated from the
virtuous by the memory Of shame, and
crime, and jail, is thing that happens
every day. Only another OF our unhap-
py sisters come to grief. We are such
large family that we can not love all
our sisters, can we?
In the city there were some persons
who showed each other the paper, and
whispered: John Stokes eldest son.
Devilish unpleasant thing" A week
later the matter was clean forgotten,
save by the younger men who still re-
membered the romantic episode In the
life Of Harry Stoke, and still told the
tale how he was knitted in o. row, by a
girl, and taken up for dead. Now, had
the case been fully reported; had Ger
tain questions been asked, which should
have been asked;-had been upon the
Jury I would have asked these questions
namely, why this girl called upon this
young gentleman in his chambers on
Sunday afternoon? what had been their
relations? whether she brought that
knife with her? what she said before
the thing was done? and so forth: there
might have been some sympathy for the
girl; the jury know not-might have
brought in different verdict, and there
would have been a corresponding ver-
dict, or an equivalent sentence passed
upon the injured man by the world out
side the courts.
Let US add one or two details. not re-
| ported in the papers.
The case was taken after luncheon.
When the prisoner was placed in the
dock, she lifted her veil and looked
round the court with seeming curiosity.
She was pale, but not trembling or con-
fused, nor did she appear in the least
afraid. If she had been mere spec
tator she could not have been more un-
moved. When she had looked steadily
at the Judge on the bench, the jury in
their box, the clerk peIow, the counser
In their wigs, she lowered her veil, fold
| ed her hands. and stood impassive. Be-
ing called upon to plead. she made no
| audible reply, but the official beside her
| leaned over her and informed the Court
that the prisoner pleaded, Not Guilty"
The principal witness was Henry
| Stoke. Considering all facts OF the case,
one might have expected him to be in
highly nervous and agitated condition OF
mind and body. 1t is always horrid to
| 80 into witness box and give evidence,
| even when one has to give, 30 to speak,
/ outside evidence. But in such case as
this, when ones motives may be so
| cruelty misinterpreted, and ones actions
| harshly judged, and when one may be
asked the most disagreeable questions
about things one would willingly bury
and forget, and when facts OF a most
damaging kind may have to be admit
ted, to 90 into a witness box must be
thesmost disagreeable thing in the world
for sensitive and candid soul. Only
consider what the young man might
| have to confess! Yet he marched into
the box upright and confident, his cheek
! a little flushed, without the least ap-
parent nervousness. The reason Of this
was. suppose, little note which lay
in mis- pocket. 1t contained these
words:
My sister bids me tell you that size
! will give no account at all Of what took
place She will have no question asked
about her relation with you. What you
say in your evidence shall 60 unques'
toned. NAOMI"
He went into the box, therefore, for.
tilted by the knowledge that he could
say anything he pleased. Let US be-
lieve that he did really conceive himsel!
to have been deliberately stabbed by
the girl; he so we'll deserved that pun>
ishment that he had no doubt in his
mind as to her having done it on pur..