November 6, 1903 – The jury trying the
case of the state against Jerry Galvin, indicted for the seduction of Cora May
Agnew, went out today. The plaintiff alleged a promise of marriage, and it was
on her allegation that the entire case rested.
The testimony for the state showed that the alleged promise had been made in
the Meyer saloon in the Court block the second time the parties met. There was
on the table in the wine room a piece of paper, and she wrote down the
agreement and he wrote the same. She was at that time less than 17 years of
age, a girl who had been strictly reared by her aunt and uncle. They were to be
married, she said, on June 22.
The corroboration of her testimony as to the arrangement to marry was offered.
The defendant Galvin had on one occasion accompanied her to her home with her
aunt and uncle, where the girl brought up the subject of the engagement in the
presence of her uncle, aunt and Galvin.
She said, “Jerry, my aunt won’t believe that we are engaged,” and to that
Galvin had assented that they were engaged and were to be married in June.
There had followed some reference to the youth of the girl, and the hope that
she would make Galvin a good wife.
Galvin did not contradict the statements that he was at the house on that
occasion, and sitting by the side of the girl on the sofa, but denied that he
had answered that they were engaged. On the contrary, he claims to have replied
that “it was all foolishness.”
The jury retired at 11:30 and reported to the court at 2:15. Galvin was found
guilty of the crime and charged.
St. Paul Dispatch; “Jury Declares Him
Guilty, Jerry Galvin’s Crime, His Failure to Keep an Agreement to Marry a West
Side Girl”; Nov. 6, 1903; p. 7.
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