Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1899-04-06
VERDICT IN FLICK TRIAL.
The Middle Aged Married Seducer
Of a Sixteen-Year- Old Augusta
County Girl Given Five Years in
the Penitentiary.
WEDNESDAY.

The case of the Commonwealth VI
Joseph F. Flick, who is being tried o
the charge of feducing Augusta Y
Wise, daughter of A. M. Wise, G
near Weyer's Cave, which was cont
nued over from Tuesday, was resume
Wednesday morning at $50 at tn
county courthouse, aud a large crow
of eager listeners assembled to gratif
their curiosity.
Commonwealth s Attorney A. G
lGordon, who Is b ing assisted by Geo
Sipe; of the. Harrisonburg bar
Ibegan with an Interrogation of th
tfather of the prosecutrix, who SAT-
that he knew nothing of the matte
until his wife told him about it th'
Saturday before the prisoner was takel
INTO custody, and medical examina
tion was made the..folIowing day an(
on Monday night the warrant was ex
ecuted.
DR.. j. b. Sellers, of near Cave Sta
tion. testified that he was called tt
look at the girl, whom he found to be il
state of pregnancy, of which be in.
formed the girls father. Was present
when the warrant was sworn out an6
was with the deputy sheriff when ar
rest was made, between 8 and 9 al
night, and they found Flick in bed
The prisoner was taken to Mr.. Wise't
house and from there to the house Ol
Samuel Byers. In going between these
places Flick said to me, "This is al
awful thing" l said 1 was sorry fol
him. when you see Mr.. Wise,'' said
Flick, tell him to take care OF
Gussie; it was all my fault" Flick
wanted to commit suicide, had the
medicine with which to do it, and said
it was three white tablets. Had
thought great deal Of Gussie: had
loved her more than be ever could
Mrs. Flick. He had had unlawful re-
latiOns with the girl twice in the COW
stable while her father was away. DIR.
Sellers also stated that he went to
Baltimore with the girl and took her
to the Florence Crittenton Home, but
did not see birth of child; afterwards
learned that it took place at the Johns
Hopkins Hospital. She made no state
ment to me.
Deputy Sheriff Samuel Byers was
next called. He executed warrant on
the night Of 18th September last. He
heard Wise say to Flick, "You have
ruined me-" Flick said, "You should
kill me-" Prisoner acknowledged
guilt.
Justice of the Peace NJ L. Shreck
hise next gave testimony. He issued
at the instance of Mr.. Wise.
Prisoner pleaded guilty to same.
Thomas Dawson, Deputy Sheriff and
Taller, testified that he had had charge
of the prisoner since his committa1
Said that VIM. Landes paid a visit 10
prisoner, who voluntarily stated in
their presence, that he was guilty and
thought that Wise should blow his
head off. Landes then said that he
had better take time, think over the
matter and consult some lawyer. Want
ed him (Landes) to attend to his prop
perty and give proceeds to his wife.
Mrs. Flick, wife of prisoner was
next called to the stand. She testified
as follows Had been married about
twenty years and has lived in Augusta
county all the time. except three years
they lived in Rockingham. Husband
worked by the year on the farm of Mr..
Wise. and they lived in small dwelling
about 300 feet from the main residence.
Had lived there for years. Prisoner
boarded himself and seldom ate with
Mr.. Wise. He cut the wood at a wood
pile near the main house. Does not
know of any undue familiarity toward
the children. Gussie and the other
children came to her house at times
when young, but she came oftener in
the last three years. Says the girls
womanhood developed between the
age of IL and IA. She observed the
familiar conduct of the girl toward
her husband In 1895 and '97. She
would come to their house and play
with Mr.. Flick, pulling his hair and
slapping him. He would say, "Go
away, girl; 1 am an old married man. "
her for acting thus and
called her mothers attention to her
conduct in 1896; warned her six times.
Noticed that girl would play with Flick
at barn at milking time. Girl would
manage to remain at barn after she
Mrs Flick had finished milking. On
the last evening of February, 1898. she
went to barn and caught the man and
girl kissing, with arms around each
other. l told girl that did not think
such Of her and that she should have
AOA 2 ACcpOCV lOl hCIoCIls - Olu bII D.
Wise about this occurrence and gave
husband good talking.
At this juncture court adjourned
until 2:45 p. NJ, and at the afternoon
session Mrs Flick was again called to
the stand. She said: Never saw any
passionate demonstration on his part,
but the girl had manifested a tendency
that way. Told Mrs. Wise that she
could not be too particular about the
girls going to the. barn, but does moi
know what time in 1897 she did tel
her.
| Stiffness peryaded the court room
when the prisoner was sworn and tool
the stand. He testified in a natural
plain and humble manner, saying
Am "A years old; am not educated, ca
lneither read nor write; am an August
lcounty man; had been working on M
fWise's farm for eight years as farm
b md, anG have been in jail since Sci
ltember last; had worked for E. Bo,
man before going to Mr.. Wise s plac
lT I;po1 in q ovooll dxuallipp hon