The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-01-27

and transacting my business ut those
points, 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
ia Brooklyn, Mrs. Lllie Sweet and
children), whose letter is hereafter quot
ed, / accompanied her to their home
and after remaining with them to lunch,
| left them, requesting Mrs. Sweet to
have Miss Abbott at the Astor House
in New York by eight O'Clock that even
ing. as / intended to leave Jersey City
for home at nine o'clock that night.
At the time fixed Mr. Harry Sweet and
his sister her cousin, came with her TO
the Astor House, and they, together
with my cousin, Mr.. j. Hal Jordan,
who lives in New York, and is the writer
of the letter hereafter referred to, and
myself. went Immediately to the Jer-
sey City depot and we all remained to.
gether until Miss Abbott and myself
took the train for home.
Subsequently to this time, to wit:
shout October, 1897, Miss Abbott accom-
panied me, at her request, to Washing
ton City to see her father, where | re-
manned for several days and until
had transacted the business that called
me there. Prior to this time and sub
sequently l took Others of my wife's
nieces to visit Raleigh, Washington and
other places.
Since the suit has been begun many
people have expressed great horror
at the idea that / should have been
travelling around the country with
nieces of my wife. 1t had no occurred
to me that there could be the slightest
improperly in doing so, and i cannot
get bring myself to believe that any
gentleman can, for n moment, consider
his wife's nieces in need OF amy protec-
ton from himself.
The dropping of Miss Gertie Abbott
as a teacher in the public schools of
Newborn has no connection whatever
with this matter, and this statement can
be verified by the school committee
and school board.
l expressly and unequivocally deny
that | ever threatened or endeavored
to have her fathers name stricken
from the pay roll of the government
The following is an extract from n
letter about the New York visit from
said j. Hal Jordan, dated January Il,
1898:
IF / am not very much mistaken i'm
meoiately after their arrival in New
York, he carried her to Brooklyn to call
On some Of her relatives. l had dinner
with him at the Astor House. Shortly
after dinner she and her two friends
arrived and we all accompanied then
to the depot in Jersey City. She was
all smiles; in fact had an expression on
her lace that most young. ladies her
age would have after visiting the me-
tropolis the first time, that Is, ! mean
an expression of joy and gratitude"
The following rs an extract from a
letter of Mrs. Lulie Sweet. dated Janu-
airy 10, 1898, on same subject:
Yours received this evening. / was
surprised and shocked whcmI read
your letter. Mr.. Hancock and Annie
arrived at my house at lunch time. ]
had very pleasant call from them.
Annie was in the best of spirits and
seemed to be enjoying herself very much
Mr.. Hancock and she took lunch with
ne and he left shortly after lunch, leav.
ing Annie in my care who stayed II
Inner. Florence and Harry went witt
her TO the hotel and then with Mr.. Jor
Ian to the Jersey City depot"
/ cannot close this statement without
he admission that l have suffered lnuels
lnder this horrible accusation. My on
support is in the consciousness of my
innocence. and in the hope that my
friends at least viii believe me incapa
lie Of such baseness.
Hfsl4it