Brabham Fined; Miss Jenkins’ Case Dropped. . . Both Charged with Violation of the State Hotel Law—Tried in Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem, Dec. 20—the case against M.W. Brabham of Nashville, Tenn., and Miss Virginia Jenkins of Salisbury, charged with violation of the state hotel law, was disposed of in the municipal court this afternoon by Judge Watson, who entered a fine of $25 and the costs against Brabham and dismissed the case against Miss Jenkins.
The hearing consumed several hours and was hotly contested. The court room was packed with spectators.
The state presented the evidence of the officer upon whose investigation the arrest of the defendants in a local hotel several weeks ago was based. The defense introduced a number of witnesses, including several who testified as to the good character of the defendants. The evidence of physicians was presented in order to negative [negate?} the charge of immorality. A complete denial was made by the defendants of any immoral intent.
Not Without Friends
The two defendants, religious workers, were arrested shortly after midnight several weeks ago while in a hotel room together. From the time that the charge of violation of the hotel law was made, both have vigorously protested their innocence. Many friends in this and other states volunteered to appear as character witnesses as soon as the case was started. The defendants have been prominent for some years in religious work and both have been held in high esteem.
Following the plea of “not guilty” by the defendants, the witnesses for the state, Officer L.G. Teague and M.C. Myers, the latter house detective at the Robert E. Lee Hotel, were sworn.
Officer Teague stated that he went to the Robert E. Lee Hotel on Saturday night, November 29th, about 12 o’clock and to room 808, for which room Miss Jenkins had been registered.
Listened at Door
The witness told of listening at the door for some time and knocking twice when the door was finally opened. Mr. Myers entered, cutting on the lights as he entered, and seeing Mr. Brabham standing at the foot of the bed, partly undressed, and Miss Jenkins lying on the left side of the bed. Answering the inquiry by Teague as to what the scene met, Brabham said, according to the witness, that the lady was sick and he went in to give her assistance.
Immediately after this, Miss Jenkins said: “I’m sick; please bring me a glass of water,” according to the witness.
Conditions that he found in the room were relayed to the court by the officer, who said Brabham asked him to be quiet about the matter, stating their position in life, their character and reputation. Teague said he sympathized with them but told them to dress.
Miss Jenkins insisted that she was sick and wanted a doctor. When no doctor was called, however, she went into the bath room at the request of the officer and dressed. Brabham, Teague stated, thanked him for what he had done and told him he had done everything he could except one and that was to let him go one way and Miss Jenkins another. This the officer refused, he testified.
Cross-Examined
On cross-examination by B.S. Womble, for the defense, Teague stated that he listened to what was going on, standing on the outside of the door, about 20 minutes before knocking to enter.
He did not know who opened the door, he said, he turned the knob each time he knocked, but the door was locked.
Teague admitted stating that he told Miss Jenkins and Brabham that he was on the outside and di not have a pleasant feeling because the nature of the case.
On re-direct examination, Teague stated that the doors of the hotel were such that one could hear the ticking of a watch in the rooms from the outside.
Miss Jenkins on Stand
Miss Jenkins was the first witness called by the defense. She stated that she was 39 years of age, lived in Salisbury and for the past three years had been engaged in Sunday school fork, and for 12 years prior to this time had been in the graded schools as teacher and principal. She stated that she was in Wadesboro before coming here; that she went form Wadesboro to her home in Salisbury leaving Salisbury on Saturday afternoon for Winston-Salem.
After supper, which she had with Mr. Brabham and several local people, she went to her room, Mr. Brabham knowing of her illness at the time. After she had gone to bed Mr. Brabham knocked on the door and was admitted, Miss Jenkins telling him that she did not want him to leave, as she thought she was going to faint. He rubbed her back through the covering of the bed and all the time she had her head buried in the pillow and did not look at him.
She stated that she was in a semi-conscious condition during the whole time because of her illness and the pain she suffered. She did not know how Mr. Brabham was attired until she heard the conversation between him and Officer Teague, she even then not looking at Mr. Brabham. She denied any laughing in the room, any conversation as Mr. Teague testified he thought he heard, or any commotion as reported by the officer. She denied anything improper had transpired during the evening.
She said she did not call the women of her party because none of the women arrived until the following day.
Character Witnesses
At this point the defense began introducing witnesses, a number of prominent persons, principally of Salisbury, being introduced to show the character of Miss Jenkins and Brobham, particularly Miss Jenkins.
Colonel Boyden of Salisbury stated to the court in answer to a question as to how long he had lived in Salisbury:
“I am sleeping in the same room I was born in 70 years ago.”
Of Miss Jenkins he stated that he knew of no woman whose ambition was higher, whose life was more devoted to Christian work and whose ambition was more to alleviate herself and her family than Miss Jenkins. When he had finished his testimony, the large number of witnesses and spectators in the room burst into applause and had to be quieted.
Mrs. Brabham Heard
Mrs. W.H. Brabham, wife of the defendant, stated that she knew Miss Jenkins well; that she had often visited at her home. When Miss Jenkins was arrested, she sent her a telegram of confidence. She did not believe her guilty then and did not now.
Mr. Brabham testified to going to Miss Jenkins’ room that night to see if she was any better than when he saw her earlier in the evening, and that he entered when she told him to stay with her. He cut off the overhead light and cut on the light on the table. He sat on the side of the bed and offered to get Miss Jenkins a doctor, which she did not want him to do. He rubbed her back through the covering and several times proposed to leave the room, but she asked him to stay with her, as she did not want to be left alone while so sick.
The state then placed M.G. Myers on the stand, he testifying much as Officer Teague. He related conditions as he noticed them when he entered the room.
From page 3 of The Concord Daily Tribune, Wednesday, Dec. 30, 1925
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073201/1925-12-30/ed-1/seq-3/
