The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1909-04-22
WHITE MAN CONVICTED.
Poses as Woman's Husband Because
of Resemblance.

WV
of Resemblance.
Yorkville, April 1.-THE jury in
the case against Marshall Steele, in
dicted for assault with intent to COM
NIT heinous crime, brought in 4
verdict of guilty of simple assault.
Judge Klugh imposed a sentence OF
80 days Imprisonment or 500 fine.
This ended one of the most re-
markable cases ever tried in South
Carolina.
The case was entitled the State vs..
Marshall Steele, and the charge was
attempted assault.
The beginning of this trouble was
on Saturday night, February 6, when
a lady came to Rock Hill from Lam
caster, to meet her husband, from
whom she had been separated for
seven or eight years, the husband
having just received his discharge
from the United States army, had
written his wife to meet him here,
but the husbands calculations mis-
carried, and the wife after alighting
from the train and not finding her
| husband, secured a colored hackman
by the name of Price Cloud, and was
driven to her uncle's. Steele was at
the depot, and being an almost ex-
act counterpart of the husband, the
wife naturally gave him a searching
glance, which Steele claims was more
than ordinary, and one that might be
expected from a woman Of the world.
After she was carried to her uncle's
the driver returned to. the city, anu
meeting Steele told him the lady he
had Just carried was looking for some
one to meet her, and from the de-
scription given Steele filled the bill.
Steele told the negro that If he
thought she was "all right" to go and
get her and that he would be In the
pool room. The negro returned and
informed the lady that a man wanted
her,uptowp, and the negro described
Mr.. Steele. The lady thinking that
her husband had sent for her, came
with the negro, and was driven up in
front of the pool room, the negro 60
ing in and informing Mr.. Steele that
he had the lady. Mr.. Steele went out
to the carriage, which was q closed
one, and on opening the door was
greeted in very affectionate man
ner by the lady. She called him by
her husbands name and he INDUCED
the deception. The negro was in
structed to drive, and the couple was
driven to the outskirts of the city.
What happened in the carriage was
not fully brought out at the hearing
before recorders jury, as Steele
was being tried for disorderly con-
duct. On this charge he was con-
victed and fine of 500 or 80 days
given, from which he appealed, but
the evidence showed conclusively
that the lady thought Steele her hus-
band and Steele was just as sure he
was not her husband. After consider
able parleying the driver was In
structed to drive back to town, Steele
telling her he was sorry the mistake
had been made and that. he thought
her a perfect lady. The driver was
told to take her to her uncle's, and
that gentleman learned of the affair.
He Immediately had a warrant issued
for Steele's arrest, and he was tried
as above stated, on the charge of dis
orderly conduct in the city of Rock
Hill. On the charge of attempted
rape before Mayor Beckham he waiv-
ed examination and was bound to
court under a $500 bond.
The lady is very beautiful wo-
man and her character is above re-
proach, so say those who have known
her since childhood. She married the
husband about eight years ago at her
home in Lancaster, but they separ-
ated, the husband Joining the army,
but they have continuously kept up
correspondence and the meeting that
was planned to be happy one was
turned into one Of remorse and much
notoriety. They have been living in
Charlotte since February.
Mr.. Steele is prominently connect
ed in this county, and this is the first
case of this nature he has figured in.