A Colored Youth in Trouble: A White Girl’s Infatuation
February 12, 1898
Summary
A young white girl and her mother accuse a black teenager they raised together of poison and rape, though he was only indicted for poison.
Transcription
The Parents’ discovery
The Grand Jury and the Charges
(The following explains itself.)
Montross, Va., Jan. 29, 1898—Once of the most horrible cases ever heard of in this section of the Sate was before our grand jury. On the shores of Monroe’s Creek, in this county, at a lonely and secluded spot stands an humble house, where resides a widow woman and her fifteen year old daughter.
They are respectable people and the daughter, Miss Nelson Wilkerson, is a pretty and attractive girl. The only other member of the family was colored youth, named Abraham Jackson, who had been raised in the family.
Some four months ago, while Mrs. Wilkerson, was confined to her bed, this black brute, under the threats of death, forcibly assaulted the young girl. From day to day, according to Mrs. Wilkerson’s testimony, he renewed his threats, and when her condition began to be evident, under the threat of instant death, he compelled her to swallow a dose of medicine, the effects of which made her violently ill, and when Doctor Ninde was called to attend her, her condition could be no longer concealed. The negro Jackson instantly fled, and the authorities took the matter in charge. It is believed he has been located in Maryland, and requisition papers have been asked.
If apprehended he may be lynched.
--Free Lance.
The case was told me by Mr. T S King, one of the members of the grand jury. The trouble occurred four months ago, no one knew or thought of such a thing.
The young lady kept so unwell that the doctor was called in. Upon his second visit, he told the mother that the young lady was ruined and it had been four months since.
The attorney for the commonwealth heard of the trouble went to look after it.
Her heard the case as stated above, called a grand jury, but was unable to get an indictment for rape.
The young lady then state that Jackson had given her poison twice, and that she knew it was poison when she took it, but claims that she was afraid he would kill her if she did not take it.
However, the jury indicted him for poison, but not rape as the commonwealth expected.
Many doubt the ability to convict him on this charge, even if caught.
Public sentiment is very much against the young lady.
--Subscriber
The Grand Jury and the Charges
(The following explains itself.)
Montross, Va., Jan. 29, 1898—Once of the most horrible cases ever heard of in this section of the Sate was before our grand jury. On the shores of Monroe’s Creek, in this county, at a lonely and secluded spot stands an humble house, where resides a widow woman and her fifteen year old daughter.
They are respectable people and the daughter, Miss Nelson Wilkerson, is a pretty and attractive girl. The only other member of the family was colored youth, named Abraham Jackson, who had been raised in the family.
Some four months ago, while Mrs. Wilkerson, was confined to her bed, this black brute, under the threats of death, forcibly assaulted the young girl. From day to day, according to Mrs. Wilkerson’s testimony, he renewed his threats, and when her condition began to be evident, under the threat of instant death, he compelled her to swallow a dose of medicine, the effects of which made her violently ill, and when Doctor Ninde was called to attend her, her condition could be no longer concealed. The negro Jackson instantly fled, and the authorities took the matter in charge. It is believed he has been located in Maryland, and requisition papers have been asked.
If apprehended he may be lynched.
--Free Lance.
The case was told me by Mr. T S King, one of the members of the grand jury. The trouble occurred four months ago, no one knew or thought of such a thing.
The young lady kept so unwell that the doctor was called in. Upon his second visit, he told the mother that the young lady was ruined and it had been four months since.
The attorney for the commonwealth heard of the trouble went to look after it.
Her heard the case as stated above, called a grand jury, but was unable to get an indictment for rape.
The young lady then state that Jackson had given her poison twice, and that she knew it was poison when she took it, but claims that she was afraid he would kill her if she did not take it.
However, the jury indicted him for poison, but not rape as the commonwealth expected.
Many doubt the ability to convict him on this charge, even if caught.
Public sentiment is very much against the young lady.
--Subscriber
About this article
Source
Location on Page
Upper Left Quadrant
Topic
Contributed By
Cali Hughes
Citation
“A Colored Youth in Trouble: A White Girl’s Infatuation,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed December 7, 2025, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/231.