The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-02-01
He Makes Reply to the Grave
Charges.
AND DENIES EVERYTHING
HE CLAIMS HE Is PROSECUTED BY PO.
LlTICAl ENEMIES.
Says He Publicly Chastised The Man Who
is Having Him Prosecuted--Denies that
He Procured the Withdrawal.
Hancock denies everything.


Robert Hancock denies everything.
Finding the pressure for his removal
as president of the Atlantic and North
Carolina Railroad daily becoming great
er, he yesterday wrote to the Governor
II long letter giving his version of the
scandal with which mis- name has been
connected.
The principal points in the letter are
these:
He denies all the charges that are
made against him.
him.
Says he is being prosecuted by poll
teal and personal enemies.
Denies that he III any way secured
the withdrawal of the case against him
by Mrs. Abbott.
Quotes from letters to prove that the |
seduction could not rave occurred in
New FORK at the tune charged by his
niece.
TIE letter in full is as follows:
Newbern, y. c., Jan. %, 1893.
his EXcellency, Daniel T.. Russell, Gov
ernor of North Carolina, Raleigh, y. C
Dear Sir: | feel it my duty to you and
your administration, under which | he'll
an important and responsible position
when Miss Abbott began her action a
gainst me, charging me with seduction
beginning in New York last April, to
address you a communication assuring
you of my innocence and my readiness
TO answer and meet the charges. Since
that time, without my procurement, but
as | am Informed at the instance of
members of her own family, tie actio
has been withdrawn. Under the circum
stances | think it proper that l should
make to you this further statement in
addition to the public denial made to
the press and statement made to you at
the time.
In the very beginning I wish to state
that the impression which has been
created and prevails that Miss Abbott
has from early childhood lived with me
as a member of my family. is erroneous.
Miss Abbott who Us now past nineteen
years of age, lived with her mother and
never lived in my house and family IN
til October, 1897, when. on account o
the illness Of my wife,she moved to my
home and assumed the duties of aOuSe
keeper and companion to my wife. She
continued to occupy this position until
shortly after Christmas 1897, when.On ac
count of her persistent refusal after re
peated and urgent requests b! me-, to
discontinue certain Objectionable assC-
Citations l requested her to return to her
mothers home and she at once went
With much manifestation Of temper.
Shortly after her leaving my house, I'm
der the circumstances above detailed, the
action against me was commenced.
1t is admitted that the young lady i
rot in a delicate condition and therefore
it must be apparent that this action
could not sutserve the interests OF he.
or her family. 1t is we'll known that the
advisers of Mrs. Abbott in the instiga
ton of this action are ms bitter personal
and political enemies. The one who is
nearest to her as adviser and wh) en-
plOyed counsel and signed her prosecution
bono is not in any way related 10 !hC
Abbott family and Il man whom / person
ally and publicly chastised twenty years
ago. and who has ever since been my
~unrelenting enemy. 1t is now publicly
stated and is we'll understood here that
these people are seeking and threatening
to continue this action over the written
protest and against the will Of Mrs. Alb
bott and to this end. failing in all their
opportunities to induce her to continue
the action, are threatening to have hel
removed as next friend of her Enfortun-
ate husband in the action an
to have substituted some on
who will consent to cOntln
ne the action. Not only this, but they
AdNc bt0H lIiIJoI itiiliS LIN Coh 1iNt
herself to institute a separate action,
which l am informed. she has refused
to do. stating it to be her fixed purpos
not to go in the court house in this case
under any circumstances.
/ desire to assert most solemnly that |
have never had intercourse with Miss
Abbott. Nor did | ever at any tim
make any threat against her with the
view to induce her to submit to inter
course with me. and she is. 50 far as |
know. q virtuoUs woman. | cannot com
prehend what motive could have induced
Eer to make this change against me and
against herself.
Miss Abbott charges in her complaint
that | had intercourse with her the first
time under threats in the city Of New
York on her visit to that city in April
1897. The other acts of Intercourse. she
alleges without fixing the dates, occuf-
red subsequently in Newbern also under
threats. 1t is proper therefore that !
should state the facts and circumstance
connected with my visit to New York in
April. In doing so 1 am glad to be able
to furnish you with letters from relatives
of hers and also from relatives of my
own living in Brooklyn and New York
with whom she and | spent the day we
were in New York. we having arrived
there in the morning and having left fol-
home the evening of the same day. which
you will see corroborated in my state
ments.
having business North during the
month of April. Miss Abbott TO whom
both myself and wife had been very kind
urged me to take her with me that she
might see something of the world an'
visit her relatives in Brooklyn. My wife
and myself talked the matter over ano
oo-I y nrr ~, -.vn1
free Transportation for both Of Us that
should take her. After spending a night
in Richmond and one in Washington city
and transacting my business at those
roints. we proceeded to New
(, York at which place We arrived
at late breakfast. We att
breakfast at the Astor House cafe and
she having the address Of her relatives
in brooklyn. Mrs. Lulie Sweet( and