Cloy Deese Held on Seduction Charge, Aug. 5, 1919

From The Monroe Journal, Aug. 5, 1919

Deese Bound to Superior Court on Seduction Charge

Cloy Deese, the young white man who, with Jeff Williams, was sentenced in 1916 to serve 18 months on the roads for entering the store of Mr. H.L. Price and removing the safe, and who was later pardoned by the Governor, was bound over to Superior court under a charge of seducing Mrs. Vergie Ivey, widow of the late Frank Ivey, by Judge W.O. Lemmond yesterday. Bond in the amount of $500 was required.

Deese served about 11 months of his sentence and the Governor gave him a Christmas pardon. This was after a pardon had been offered on the condition that the young man join the army, which was refused.

On the stand yesterday Mrs. Ivey told the court that a few months after Deese received his pardon he began paying attention to her. She said that he often related how he was treated while serving on the chain gang and expressed the intention of settling down and living a better life. She said he declared his love for her and that it was agreed they should be married. Believing him true in his promise to marry her, Mrs. Ivey testified, she consented to his wishes. The court was informed that it was agreed between them that they would come to Monroe on July 4 and be married. Deese did not appear, the prosecutor said.

Mrs. Esther Harris, sister of Mrs. Ivey, testified to the fact that the latter had told her some time in the spring that she was to be married to Deese.

Mrs. Ivey, it was brought out, is 31 years old and the mother of four children, while Deese is 21. Witnesses testified to the good character of the woman. Mr. J.J. Parker appeared for the defendant and Mr. J.C.M. Vann represented Mrs. Ivey. Deese did not take the stand to offer testimony.