The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1902-10-31
The White Mans Shame-Thc Woman's
Burden.
lEiplmg with varlationsl


man ofproperty-a man living in APP
parent respectability, AZ years old,
70 father of six children, an official in
70 church and Sunday school, TO cap the
5 climax of carnal infamny, and probe
theIdirtiest depths Of beastly sensu-
IS atty.
The trial Of q. w. Banton, of this
county, for the crime Of rape on his
e eldest daughter, Katie Maud was con-
eluded on Thursday, 23rd inst. with a
verdict Of "guilty as charged in indict
ment, " and punishment was fixed at IA
years in the penitentary-a sentence too
3 lenient. Virginia history carries no
= record Of any case so ruthlessly dark
and damnable. Common report for, a
month past indicated charge for incest
only, where mutually Of conduct had
existed, but the trial developed the fact
unchallenged that the young girl was
the victim Of brutal force; and her lips
were sealed by the dire threats of inn
mediate death, should she disclose the
fact.
She stood the ordeal fairly well. AT
times the cruel Though lawful ques-
tons Of the defense would cause her
to raise her eyes imploringly to Judge
smith for escape, but when his II onor
would say gently: "You must answer. -
her scarlet face and deep modification
were painful tobehod. We may decry |
lynch law in the abstract, but be. |
fore any man who saw the fortunes
OF mind that young girl endured
those 3 hours on the witness stand.
would see any daughter Of his in like
case, he would kill her ravisher even
II he knew his own death would i'm.
medIately follow.
| cannot write it as heard il. though
her tale Of woe would STIR every true
"oman's heart to pity, and rouse every
instinct OF true manhood to loathing. ,,
The girl is no impostor, no actress. all
the evidence tended TO show that out. {
SIDE this blight, she has borne an un-
Improbable character for truth and :
virtue. The veteran clerk of our a
court, +. A. Forbes, Esq, who has for |
nearly 30 years been witness to all sorts Q
and conditions of people, and Iwhom =
Buckinghamites generally believe to be a
and keen IN discerning charac- n
ter beyond his fellow citizens, walked L
over to reporters table and said as the .
plaintiff left the stand: Gentlemen. If
ever heard the truth told in this
court, 1t has been told by that young Ell
ady; can feel the truth in her un-
broken statements. The patriarchal Il
ooking sheriff Of our county, William
Williams was sworn as witness "I 81
nave known Katie Banton since she
vas baby. / live in annie and half of
ier father and l never heard breath 10
galnst her fair fame or veracity in my
lfe until this case was made public. y l.
md dozen other men and women. her W
eighbOrs so testified.
There was no collision, she bore the JU
isgrace in silence until the chord OF
ndurance snapped. Hear her own
lords; 81 pleaded with father to let =
he 90 away-away for ever, and il
hall remain a secret for ever between 4
$, but II you don't stop it, come life or
cath, everlasting family disgrace or
I'm, will not endure il longer" He
measure agreed. She went TO
richmond, lived with an aunt, worked
cigar factory, carrying the horrible |
ciet with her, but alas for her hopes: |
le wretch left his farm after a few
eeks and got a job in Richmond. and
'ain attempted TO renew the persecu-
)n, until life became a burden and
IN breaking heart she went back TO 4
y mother and broke the silence Of e
lr years and told her all. This was IT
August last. His arrest soon follow.
, aud at the magistrates trial. il il
evidence that he stepped to where 80
'Ile stood crying put his hand on ma,
head and said: Don't cry, Katie at n
u are innocent Of blame.D Cor ia .
evidence in crimes of this thro
'crptlon is often lacking, but ia this well
e, there was one significance coinci. higl
ice. The day and date of the specific voca
'rge for which he was tried and to apo
lch Mr.. HUBBARD was by law con- Mac
- ,"''"ousn 'ne. attorneys for de- in 70
.o OiouSn' out o'her occasions to and
ir clients detriment) was Sunday. ed I
ober 9Th, 1901, place, the cellar un. Cart
"O"''' 'iine' IL a. M. Hear some
OF her evidence: GAS soon as I al !
ID get away from him, / ran up Hon,
rs to my room, he crept through the -
ar window into the back ward -
Mccullough, gentleman from w
nelghborhood, is on the stand. and "
reply to Mr.. HUBBARD, spoke az
'ws; 81 and my wife drove up TO
Banton's about II O'Clock to spend ~
day. Mrs. Mccullough was in the
or with Mrs. Banton. l was pass ~
across the hall or vestibule and
Katie. She was crying and looked
distressed, l said Katie, what is ",
matter, you are crying so ? Sheldid 81.
stop but said; 81 can't tell you Mr.. go
ullough" and passed on up stairs 0"n
was about II O'Clock" nlsn'
e presiding judge, w. NJ. Smith. tnose
is probably the young' morn
years and service of any judge in 81
mia, but he conducted the case woulc
becoming dignity, firmness and woms