The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-01-12
HANCOCK SCANDAL.
The Newborn People Are
Very Indignant
THE COMPLAINTS FILED.
THE YOUNG WOMAN AND HER
MOTHER MAKE OATH.
HANCOCK SAYS He is NOT GUILTY
He Win Be Represented BY Able COUNSEL
Court Convenes n February, But
The Case win Hardly Be Heard
At That lime.

Newborn, n. c., Jan. 11.-(Special.)-
The Indignation of the people of thie
city over the Hancock scandal knows nc
bounds. The young woman has many
friends, who are indignant and believe
every word of the complaint which she
and her mother make.
Every pressure has been brought to
bear on them to abandon the suit. They
brought it only after threats and such
conduct as made life unbearablel to the
young woman.
MIR. SIMMONS INTERVIEWED
Hon. f. NJ. Simmons was seen yester-
day morning by reporter and asked
if he was counsel for President Hancock.
"The COUNSEL said Mr.. Simmons,
""will consist of the firms, Simmons,
Pou and Ward, of Raleigh; Aycock and
Daniels, and | think, Allen and Dortch,
of Goldsboro."
us there anything of interest to the
public that you would make known
was asked.
''You may say said Mr.. Simmons,
that | have heard from gentleman,
who is now in Newbern and who has
examined carefully into the case and
he says he believes Mr.. hancock to be
not guilty.
This gentleman is safe man, and /
have the greatest confidence in his opin-
ion
1.-THE case will come up at the Feb
ruary term, but will probably not be
tried until the next term. l do not
think it viii be removed from Craven
county"
Mr.. Simmons says Mr.. HancocI; has
many friends and that they all believe
him innocent.
The complaint fled in Newbern late
yesterday afternoon is as follows:
COMPLAINT.
"North neutrality-suspicious. Court of
Craven County, February Term, 1898.
elizabeth Abbott and Thomas H. Alb
bolt, by his next friend, Elizabeth
Abbott
Against
Robert Hancock.
1.-THE plaintiff, complaining of the de-
PENDANT, allege:
First. That the plaintiff, Elizabeth,
is the mother and her co-plaintiff, Thos
II. Abbott, is the father of Annie May
Abbott, who is under the age of twenty
one years and unmarried; and that the
plaintiff, Thomas FL. Abbott, is and has
been for some time past insane, and is
confined to the Government Hospital for
the Insane, commonly known as st.
Elizabeth Hospital and is without the
jurisdiction of this court; and she,
therefore, brings this action in behalf of
herself, and as the next friend Of her
said husband, the said Thomas Fl. Alb
bolt.
Second. That prior to the commence
ment Of the action the said T. Ell. Abbott
father of the said Annie May, has been
in the regular employ of the United
States Government in the Revenue Ma.
rine service, and since his said insanity
has been continued on the regular pay
roll OF said service, as the plaintiff il
Informed and believes.
Third. That the defendant is the hus-
band OF the sister of the plaintiF,
Thomas H Abbott and that during the
month of April, 1897, the said defendant
invited and procured the said Annie
May Abbott to accompany him to North.
ern cities, in company with his wife
the aunt of the said Annie, and assuring
her that he would return her to her
parents, the plaintiffs, safe and well; tina
the wife of defendant failed to accom-
pany them on their said trip, on ac
count of i'll health; and that while the
said defendant upon threats that in the
event of refusal, he would leave her in
said city alone and without means and
return home without her, procured the
said Annie May to have illicit inter
course with him then and there knowing
the Annie May to be the daughter OF
plaintiffs,a wrongfully intending there
by to injure said plaintiffs and to deprive
them of the services of their said daugh
ter; and did wilfully debauch and car.
nally know her, the said Annie May
against the will Of said plaintiffs as plan
tiffs are advised and informed by the saiC
Annie May; and verify believe.
Fourth. That thereafter in the city
81 Newbern at the house OF the de
| PENDANT, he by threats Of exposin.
| her for the act of illicit intercourse
| committed with him as aforesaid anC
wrongfully intending to injure plain
| tiffs and deprive them Of the ser
vices of their daughter, did will
| fully debauch and carnally know her
the said Annie May, against the will
of plaintiffs. As the plaintiffs are inform
ed by her and verify believe.
Fifth. That thereafter and at diver
| times, under continued threats Of ex
posure, coupled with the threats tina
he would have her fathers name
stricken from the payroll Of the gov
eminent service, and cause her sister to
be discharged as teacher from the public
school in the city of Newbern, did pro-
cure the said Annie May Abbott to have
illicit intercourse with him, and against
the will of plaintiffs did wilfully debauch
and carnally know her, the said Annie
MAY. she then and there, believing that
the defendant had much influence in the
departments Of the government, and
with the county pubnc school authori-
ties. and fearing the disgrace and shame
of such exposure, as plaintiffs are in
formed by their daughter and verify be-
lieve.
Git rTha& d,,rin0 o. all tho onkz ocvm