The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-07-24
RELEASED ON A TWO THOUSAND
DOLLOAR BOND.
VERDICT AND SENTENCE APPLAUDED
After Trial Lasting -Four Days the Young
Woman's Character Has Again Been
indicated by Wake
County JuFy.

doubt IL the sun HAS eNCh 'eS'~" ~
bright before or the landscape about her
humble country home so attractive.
For four long, weary days she has
been on trial--in the person OF her Sc
ducer. Thomas Robertson. On the purity
of her life, the whiteness OF her charac-
fer depended his fate. He has been
found rniltv. and in that righteous YER
diet went Julia Hester's vindication. She
stands before the world this morning,
adiudged guilty only of too great weak
ness in her love- She loved well, but not
wisely.
During the trial which was ended late
Yesterday afternoon, there has been a
most thorough investigation of the facts
in this case. More than half HUNDRED
witnesses have been summoned and eX-
amined, the ablest counsel in the city
has been employed, the greatest latitude
has been allowed the defence in every
particular. The end of il all was YER
dict against Thomas Rob"rtson of guilty
of the seduction of Julia Hester.
The jury was out only about ten min
utes Their verdict found an amen in
the hearts of every disinterested person
who had kept up with the trial or knew
the facts in the case. And nobody
thought the sentence of five years upon
the roads, passed upon Thomas Robert
son by the Judge, any too severe, though
it is the limit allowed by the law.
The fourth and last day of the trial
began yesterday morning at 10 o'clock,
Col. Argo concluding his argument.
COL. ARGOS ARGUMENT.
In resuming his argument, Col. Argo
continued his contention that this crimi-
nal action had grown out Of the civil
controversy, in which $500 damages
had been given the HestArs; that this
was simply an attempt to collect the
money.
In the beginning of his review of the
evidence. Col. Argo said: Take this girl
in her childhood. Where did she live!
At Milburnie? What is Milburnie-you
all know. 1t is only three miles, by the
surveyors chain, from Milburnie to hell
by boat on the Neuse river. What more
do we find? A father soaked with
whiskey, frequenting bar-room, place
where crime is committed and conspira-
cies are concocted-a very anteroom of
hell such were the surroundings under
which this girl was brought up-the prey
of every designing man. Every animal
partakes of its environment, is moulded
and made by it. This is the reason
Julia Hester has my sympathy. Her
downfall began years before she ever
knew Tom Robertson. Her ruin had
been wrought by other influences and
other agencies-and her father is re-
.sponsible for it. His neglect has caused
her ruin and now he comes here
and tries to make merchandise of it."
Here Col Argo asked permission to
introduce more evidence to bolster up
the testimony of one of his Witnesses
old man Joe Terry-whose testimony
had proved to be entirely and absolutely
false. OF course this was not allowed
the examination of witnesses having been
concluded on Wednesday
even if the admission OF this testi-
mony were regular" said Solicitor Pou,
SID object to its introduction at this
late day I'm afraid some Of that $500
has been percolating around here"
Col. Argo admitted that Robertson
had promised to marry Miss Hester, but
denied that she was a pure andy irtuous
woman. He contended further that the
promise to marry was conditional and
that double influence was brought to
bear on the woman-fear for her life and
a conditional promise Of marriage. This
being the case, he contended that the
jury would not be justified ia finding
a verdict against the defendant.
MR.. RYAN'S SPEECH.
Two hours were consumed by Col
Argo in his argument. He was followed
by Mr.. S. G. Ryan, who appeared for the
State and made the closing argument
in the case.
He characterized Robertson as "a
virtuous rake" and said the issues in
this case had already been once passed
upon by jury, in the civil action, and
their answer was that Robertson was
guilty of seduction.
''rhey abuse Abram Hester for what
he is doing to vindicate his daughters
character. i ask you, gentlemen of the
jury, is there man among you who
would not do as much for his child? If
you would not, ] say to you here and
now, you are not a man, but brute.
Where is the man in North Carolina
that would not risk his very life for his
daughter, would not spend his all to pro-
tect his child from the debauching hands
Of a seducer. ii is a crime that smells to
high heaven.
IAN attempt has been made to give
this transaction the appearance of a
sport dallying with a lecherous wench.
/ say to you she is an innocent woman
and that she has been spared, has come
back from the icy grasp of death to
bring this treacherous man 10 justice.
but tney say she is actlng-actlng. You
saw her. Would you have your daugh-
ter, your sister, to undergo the ordeal
that girl did upon the stand for all the
wealth of the world? They do not stop
at this The old gray-headed mother,
too, is condemned. She too is acting as
she comes trembling and feeble upon
the stand to defend her wroneed and
stricken daughter. Why, with fippant
jest and uncomely act are these poor
women thus treated?'
Mr.. Ryan's denuncation of Charles
Robertson, brother of the defendant, and