The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1815-08-30
GRIM CON. q
COURT OF COMMON PLEAS.

Friday, June 9, 1915.
John Guthrie. EGG. Piaintf Peter William,
Opker PUNISHABLE Sterne, esq. Defendants
Mr.. Costello opened the pieadings by sta
ting that it was an action brought against the
Defendant for criminal conversation with the
Plaintiffs wife, and that the damages were
laid az 20 o00l.
MIR: Phiips rose, and addressed the court
and jury in the following words:
Ny Lord and Gentle.ten,
In this case | am of'counsel for the plain
tiff, who has deputcd me with the kind con-
cession of my much more efficient colleagues.
to detail to YOU the story % his misfortdnes
In the course ola long friendship which has
existed between Us, orig mating in mutual
pursuits, & cemented by mutual attachment
never until this instant, did I feel any thing
but pleasure in the claims which it created.
or the duty which it imposed. In selecting
me, however, from'elis bright array of leartia
ing and eloquence, l'cannot help being. panied
at the kindness o. a partially, which Targets
its interest in the exercise Of Its affection aud
c6nfides the task of practis2d wisdom to the
uncertain guidance of youth ard inexperience.
he has thought; perhaps, tflet truth needed
no set phrase. OF speech-Atha. misfortune
should not veil the burrows which its tears
had burned, or hide undet the decorations
OF All artful drapery, the heart sent heavinzs
ly thought, that by contrasting mine with the
powerful talents selected by his antagonist,
he was giving yon proof that the appeal he
made was to your reason, not your feelings.
70. the integrity OF your hearts. not the exas-
peratioD OF your passions. Happily, however,
for him, happily for you, happily for tire
country, happily for the profession, or sub
jects such as this, the experience of the Oldest
anVngst IS but sIender---ueetls such as this, are
notindigenous to an Irish soil, or raturali-
zi1ed beneath an irish Clmnie. We hear Of
them, indeed, as We do the earthquakes
that cevulse or the pestlenc that infects
less favort regions, but the record Of calam-
ity Is only read with the generous scepticism
ofienocence, or an involuntary thanksgiving
10 the Providence that has preserved u.s. No
matter how we may have graduated on the
scale OF natiOns~-nO matter with what wreath
we may have been adorned or what BLESSINGS
we may have been denled---no matter what
have been or euds, Our foliiesg Or DOR ms
fortunes, It has Ut least been uni ycrsaliy con-
|; cedal, that cur hearths we're The home 1T tue
+ domestic virtues, apd. that love. honor, and
conjugal fidelity were the dear I'd ndisputa-
BILE deities Of our household lrcuud the fire o.
sides OF thc Irish hcvcl, hoipltahty circnm-
scribed its sacred circle, an provision to
. punish, created 4 suspicion i the possibility of
'Is vocation. HiIt Of ali tlc ties .Hat bound
cot all the bounties that blessed her, ireland
smost .obeyed, most loy-d. most reverepced
the nuptial contract. ose saw it.. tie gift OF
Heaven, the charm of -ath the 10y Uf the
present, che promise Ct the future, the inno-
ceuce Of enjoyment, The chastity OF passion.
the sacrament % lOve--the s'cnler curtain,
that shades the sanctuary OF her marriage
bed, has IN It's rurdy the splendor Of tie
mountain snow. and It's prote ton the texture
u hot
national sanctuary has been Violated, aud ITS
tcnderest plcdges torn from their shrine, BY
the polluted Jal ine OF a u difs-. hcsrtless,