The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1909-03-23

ed by all good citizens. but for The rea
SON also that Nelson is married and is
"a man of good repntc. a contractor and
painter who has friends bv the score
who discredited the accusation
Mrs. Oliver. whose husband was \
policeman and who lives OF, Line ave
nuc. opposite Nelson's home. avcrred
that this insult was offered by Nelson,
who had stopped her when she was on
Louisiana avenue, that he had been vile
in his words that she had spurned his
proposal with vigorous indignation had
hurled piece Of brick at him. had told
her daughter Of it and had Nelson ar
rested by the police on his return home.
1t was alleged that several men near
by had witnessed this which they failed
to confirm when called to testify There
was no one to corroborate Mrs. Oliver s
charge.
For Nelson there was the proof of
good character. that ne had not been
seen ON the street at or about the TIME
it is alleged this insult was offered. and
the testimony of number Of physicians
appearing as experts. fixed the mental
condition of the complainant who be
ing nervous and hystercal, labored I'M
der hallucinations. 1t was upon this
point that Judge MurH laid mucl, stress.
and was in fact the solvent Of the doubts
he had entertained As he we'll said in
his review of the case. 1t was natural
that a man. if guilty. would deny such
Il charge. He wa, well acquainted with
men. but he had determined on the full
est inquiry and a most thorough lnves-
tigatIon. Women must he protected
from men who are ever ready 10 take
advantage of the weaker sex He had
given the fullest consideration to every
detail Of this case and he had received
call from Judge e. Fulilove, who
had discussed tl,issS. nth him and
announced that Judge .s sve. who
had convicted Nelson. had ex, ssed his
doubt of his guilt and believed he had
been unjust to him.
Nelson's conviction in the City Court
was on the statement Of Mrs. Oliver
After having taken every feature of the
case under consideration. Mrs. Oliver
nervous and hysterical condition. her
hallucinations as to hearing noises and
seeing persons about her premises and
having considered Nelson's good char
acter and the strong doubt as to bis
guilt, he reversed the judgment of the
City Court and discharged Nelson, who
was greeted with the hearty handshakes
Of his friends who from the beginning
were firm in their expression of his in
noCence.
1t will be conceded that there are men
who are ever OH the alert to take the
advantage Of some women. that wom
an s reputation may be blasted some
times by an lnsinuatlon for which there
should be inflicted the punishment in
keeping with the ohense, but il is also
possible for woman to involve an in
nocent man into the extreme of trouble
and inevitable ruin
1t may be recalled that several years
since that a woman. married and having
grown children, stirred up commotion
in this city by publishing letters i'll one
of the local newspapers and i'll distribut-
ing written matter through the police,
which reflected seriously on some citi-
zens. but an investigation developed that
this woman was hallucinated, resulting
from a nervous and hysterical plight,
produced by an ailment. As a rule. if
man has many advantages through,
life. he is almost defensclcss when
charged will, an insult by woman. re-
gardless Of his innocence. In this case
Nelson's character was of great weight
in leading the court to his vindication.
The defendant was represented by
Hon. John r. Land.