The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1898-02-03
A LETTER
OF DENIAL
From Mr.. Robsrt Hancock to Gov
ernor Russell Of the Grave
Charge Against Him.
Prosecuted BY ENEMIES

the Cass FROM CoOrt.
EEwHEKE, y. c., Jan. 2G, '98.
H. EzaelIeucy, Daniel l.. Russell,
Governor OF North Carolina, Raj
,IgI, E c..
DEAR SIR: ] feel it my duty to
you pud your administration, under
which | held an important and re-
spousib,c position when Miss Abbott
began her action against me, charg-
IuZ ms with seduction, beginning |
IN New York last April, to address
YOU T. communication assuring you
Of my innocence and my readiness
to answer and meet tho charges. |
Since that time, without my pro-
curcment, but as / am informed at
the instance OF members of her own |
family, the action has been with
drawn. Under the circumstances 1
think 1T proper tlat | should make |
10 you this further statement in ad-
duon 10 the public denial made to
the press and statement to you at
The tlm'.
ia tho very beginning | wish to
stale that the very impression which
mas been created and pre-
walls that Miss Abbott has from
early childhood lived with me, as a
member OF my family is erroneous.
Miss Abbott who is now past nine
teen years Of age, lived with her
mother aud never lived in my house
and family until October, 1897, when
on account Of the illness of my wife,
she moved TO my home and assumed
the duties of housekeeper and COM
ptu,ou To- my wife. She continued
10 Occur y this position until shortly
after Christmas, 1897, when, on ac-
count OF her persistent refusal after
repeated and urgont requests by me,
10 discontinue certain Objectionable
associations | requested her to re-
turn tu her mothers home and she
went with much manifestation of
temper. Shortly after her leaving
my house, under the circumstances
above detailed, tho action against
mo was commenced.
10 js admitted that the young lady
is NOT IN u delegate condition and
therefore It must be apparent that
this action could not observe the IN
terests of her or her family. 1t is
we'll known that the advisers of Mrs.
AoootJ IN the instigation OF this
action are my bitter personal and
political enemies. The one who is
nearest 90 her as adviser and who
employed counsel and signed he1
prosecution bond is not in any way
related TO the A AbbOtt family aud q
man whom personally and publicly
Chustsod twenty years ago, and who
has ever since been my unrelentlne
enemy. 1t is now publicly stated
aud Is woll understood here tina
these people are seeking and threat
ouiug 10 continue tins action owe
the wrt-en protest and against thu
will of Mrs. Abbott aud to this end
failing IN all their opportunities t
induce her to continue the action
arc threatening TO have her remove'
asueXJ friend of her unfortunat
husband in the action an to hav
substituted some one who will con
sent ID continue the action. No
- only this, but they have been impol
tuning the young lady herself 20 IN
sJiJute separate action which l al
Informed, she has refused to dc
stating it to be her fixed purpose nc
under any circumstances.
| desire TO assert most solemnl
that hsve never had any intercourS
villa MISS Abbott. Nor d d | eve
at any time make any threat again
her with the view to induce her
submit to intercourse with me, ar
she Is, SO faras | know, virtuol
woman. | cannot com mprehend VIII;
motive could have induced her
make this charge against me ar
y against herself.
Miss Abbott charges in her cor
plaint that | had intercourse WI
her the irst time under threats
the city of New York on her visit
that city in April, 1897. The 9th
acts of intercourse, she alleges wit
out fixing the dates, occurred su
sCqueutly in Newbern also und
thlta's. 1t is proper therefore th
| should state the facts and clrcu
Stances commented with my visit
New York in April. In doing so
am glad TO be able to furnish y
with letters from relatives of b,
aud also from relatives of my o
living in Brooklyn and New IC
with whom she and spent the
we were in New ork, We having
rived there in the morning and h
ing left for home the evening of
same day, which you will see C
roborated in my statements.
! having business North dur
the month of April, Miss Abbott
whom both myself and wife
been very kind, urged me to t.
her with ne that she might see sol
thing of the world and visit her r.
tives in Brooklyn. My wife and
self talked the matter over and
concluded that as | could easily
free transportation for both OF
that l should take her. A
spending night in Richmond
one in Washington City
trausacting my business at tt
points, We proceeded to New Y
at which point we arrived at
breakfast. We ate breakfast at
Astor House cafe, aud she ha,
the address OF her relatives in Br,
lyu, Mrs. Lulie Sweet and child
whose letter is hereafter quote
accompanied her to their home
after remaing with them to lun
left them, requesting Mrs. Swe
have Miss Abbott at the Astor 81
in New York by s o'clock that
ming, as / intended to leave Je
City for home at o'clock that n
At the time fixed Mr.. Harry s
and his sister, her cousin, came
her to the Astor House, aud the
gether, with my cousin, Mr.. j.
Jordan, who lives in New York,