The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-01-27
HE DENIES EVERYTHING
QUOTES LETTERS TO PROVE HIS
STATEMENTS.
CLAIMS HE IS PROSECUTED BY ENEMIES
Says He Once Publicly Chastised The Man Who
is Having Him Observation-Disclosures that
He Procured the Withdrawal of
the Case from Court.
the Case from Court.

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
a 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 In any way secured
the withdrawal of the case against him
by Mrs. Abbott.
Quotes from letters to prove that the
seduction could not have occurred in
New FORK at the time charged by his
niece.
The letter in full is as follows:
Newbern, n. c., Jan. 26, 1893.
LIS GAGGIlcuCy, lJuiltC1 1euESGlI, NJt'f-
ernor of North Carolina Raleigh. n. c.
Dear Sir: l feel it my duty to you and
your administration, under which / held
an important and responsible position
when Miss Abbott began her action s.
gainst me, charging me with seduction
beginning in New York last April, to
address you communication ASSURING
you of my innocence and my readiness
TO answer and meet the charges. Since
that time, without my procurement, hui
as | am informed at the instance al
members of her own family, the action
has been withdrawn. Under the circum-
stances | think it proper that | should
make TO you this further statement IL
addition TO the public denial made t.
the press and statement made to yeu ~
the time.
In the very beginning I wish to stat,
that the impression which has beer
created and prevails that Miss Abbott
has from early childhood lived with me
MS a member of my family, is erroneous
Miss Abbott who is now past nineteen
years of age lived with her mother and
never lived in my house and family un.
til October 1897, when. on account o.
the illness of my wife,she moved to my
home and assumed the duties Of ao1iSe
keeper and companion to nv wife. She
continued to occupy this position unit
shortly after Christmas, 1897, when, on ac-
count of her persistent refusal after re
peated and urgent requests by me, t.
discontinue certain Objectionable aseo
Citations / requested her to return to he
mothers home and she at once wen
with much manifestation OF temper
Shortly after her leaving my house. un
"a H. atza 1a4a Ill
action against me was commenced.
1t is admitted that the young lady j,
rot in delicate condition and therefor
it must be apparent that this action
could not sllbserve the interests OF he.
or her family. 1t is well known that tht
advisers of Mrs. Abbott in the instiga
ton of this action are my bitter persona
and political enemies. The one who is
nearest to her as adviser and who EN-,
ployed counsel and signed her prosecution
bond is not in any way related 10 tho
Abbott family and 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 well understood here that
these people are seeking and reateninf
to continue this action over the writer
protest and against the will of Mrs. Alb
bolt and to this end. failing in all their
opportunities to induce her to continue
the action, are threatening to have her
removed as next friend of her Enfortun
ate husband in the action and
to have substituted some ore
who will consent to eontin
he the action. Not only this, but they
have been importuning the young lady
herself to institute a separate action.
which I am informed. she has refused
to do, stating it to be her fixed purpose
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 time
make any threat against her with the
view to induce her to submit to inter
course with me, and she is, so far as ]
know, virtuous woman. ] cannot com
prehend what motive could have induced
Aer 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 i'm April,
1897. The other acts of intercourse, she
alleges without fixing the dates. occllf-
threats 1t is proper therefore that /
should state the facts and circumstances
connected with my visit to New York ii
April. In doing so | am glad to be able
to furnish Won 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 for
home the evening of the same day. which
Won will see corroborated in my state
monts.
having business North during the
month Of Anril Miss Abbott TO whom
both MYSELF and wife had been very kind.
urged mo to take her with me thai she
mi4e1t SEQ something of the world and
visit her relatives in BROOKLYN. NY wife
and myself talked the matter over and
we concluded that as I could easily gel
free transportation for both Of rs that !
should take her. After spending a night
in Richmond and one in Washington city