The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-01-30
NEWBERN YET INDIGNANT
COURTS NOT TO GET HOLD OF
THE CASE.
NOT HALF THE STORY HAS BEEN TOLD
II Given 10 The World in I'll Its Details Chris
tianity Would Blush and Civilization
Would Cry Out, lord, What
Are we Coming To!"

Newborn, y. c., Jan. 29.-(Speciall-
The people of Newbern have read and
discussed the letter published by the
morning papers from Hancock to Gov
crnor Russell.
There is but one opinion here regard
ing this MATERIAL classes of our citi-
zens without regard to race or politics
entertain the fixed belief that Hancock
is guilty OF seduction ana very res
pectable portion of the community believe
he Is guilty of rape.
His denial was not intended to per-
suade the people of Newbern but was
intended for those away from here who
are not acquainted with the facts Mrs.
Abbott, the mother of the young lady
is n weak minded wOman,whose husband
is in the insane asylum. and she is
without protection. She stated to her
attorneys that every word in the COM
plaint was true and that she was only
deferred from rrosecu6ingl the action
through fear Of violence from Han
cock
Hancock stood in the relation of par
emit to Miss Abbott and for a long time
before he says she went to his house
TO live he had her employed as Il clerk
in his office and she was under his in
fiupnce.
1t was talked here quietly for long
time before it became public and tho
citizens of Newbern were not surprised
when the scandal became public prop
erty. After Hancock became president
Of the Atlantic and North Carolina
Railroad. it was easy for him to take Miss
Ahhnff to RisshY,,o.,I yTaahspaA0,
York and elsewhere as he had Easses
over the road. Is it not q sad con-
dition of things when the president
of railroad appointed by the Governor
shall use his office to assist in the Sc
duction of young girls and in this in
stance o member of his own family
Hancock complains that his political
enemies instituted this prosecution and
that they are threatening to have Mrs.
Abbott removed as next friend and some
one else appointed. He is not borne out
in the statement by the facts: Mrs.
Abbott stated TO her attorneys she de-
sired TO prosecute the action and was
only deferred from doing so by fear Of
Hancock and through the natural
timidity of woman who has never
been in the court house.
If Hancock is innocent as he says
why did me bring so much pressure to
bear on Mrs Abbott to induce her TO
withdraw the suit and why does he
complain that the court may possibly
appoint another next friend TO prosecute
the action? This is the plea usually
known as the baby act"
IaIe court has the right TO remove
one next friend and appoint another to
prosecute the action in fllrtherance of
justice and if Hancock is innocent as he
says, he need not fear trial. His eff
forts to stop the case and prevent it COM
ing TO trial have removed any doubt
which might have existed heretofore as
to his guilt. He says he cannot CONF
prehend her motive III making the charge.
nor can we except such motive as any
young girl might have had whose life
had been blighted and who had been
forced to continue acts of dishonor until
in desperation she would stand it no
longer. and proclaimed to the world
one Of the saddest pictures in life and one
which calls down upon the head of her
seducer the condemnati ton of all yir-
tuous men and women. He attempts to
give an account of his trip to New York
with Miss Abbott, but the story he
tells is 80 far short of a full explanation
that it might well be objected to on
the ground that it constitutes no de-
Tense in that it does not cover the
whole time he was there and is unsat-
isfactory from any standpoint.
No fair minded person would believe
after reading his statement that he had
lisnroyed the charge. He had, doubt
less. many opportunities which do not
onnear in the fiimsy statement he makes
and which seems like the drowning man
catching at the straw.
fter reading his statement carefully
II aupears to be nothing more than de-
NAL on the part of Hancock OF the seri-
ol1s charges made against nm by mas
niece. and this denial is coupled with
the fact that he has r3sorted TO despe,-
ate measures to prevent a run lnFesti-
CATION of the charges which any honest
and innocent man should desire. re
saws he has suffered greatly under this
horrible accusation and his only sup
port was in the consciousness OF MS ~
nOcenee and the hope that his frlehns
would not believe him guilty or sucii
baseness. If he had done nothing more
than by tine assistance of his two negro
committeeman who are his tools 10
turn out Miss Abbott's sister from her
position as teacher in the public schools
hp would have been guilty or Daseness
such as would have brought the con-
d4mnation of this community upon him.
but when this was done.as is believed
here. because her sister.his victim, refused
longer to submit to his fncestuous EN-
braces. diis infamy and baseness are
s11ch as should make him friendless n
mong self-respecting people who be-
lieye in protecting virtue and Furnishing
criminal immortality.
Not half OF this sad story has yet
hecn told. and had it stayed i'm court,
one of the most degraded acts that man
co1,ld commit would have been given
ont to the world in all it's details, and
civilization would hare blushed with
shame. and the Christian world would
cvy ont Lord what are we coming to. =