Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-08-19
LIW CASE.
NETWORK NJAYOR'S COITp'

NEW-YORK MAYORS COURT.
sally EdsdH VS.. Thomas DeciAe and Margaret
his rife
SANDER, charging the Plaintiff with Pros
ttutlon, tried before his Honor the Record
er at the present term. The trial occupied
three days, and excited more than ordinary
attention; The parties reside at Newtown,
in Queens county.
Robert Bogdrdas, of Counsel for plaintiff,
Ipli!aam NJ. Price 8 j. Hudyeth, for defen-
dant.
1t appeared i'm evidence that Samuel Edsall
the father of the plaintiff, devised all his estate
Except one hundred pounds) 20 his seven in
fant children, of whom the plaintiff was one,
and departed this life about ten years since
The eldest, ROW the wife of Thomas A. Ward
then about fifteen, aud the youngest about two
years OF age. The one hundred pounds he de-
vset TO Benjamin Edsall and Elizabeth Ed.
sail, two children by his first wife:
That some few hours previous to his death
he called his children and his wife's brother
John VILLAINS, TO his bed, and requested Will
liains to take TO his charge the seven said chill
dren, and consider himself their father, and
which their uncle promised to do:
That from that time forward their uncle had
faithfully and religiously adhered to his en-
gagemept that the uncle was sober, industri-
Gus, aud moral; applied all his earnings to
their education and support, and his very soul
appeared to be devoted TO their welfare and
comfOrt-that his attachment and care appear
ed equal, except the witnesses thought Sa-
muel, one of the boys, appeared rather the IA
yOTite:
That all The children were industrious, and
the plaintiff and her sisters frequently would
be seen working along side their little brothers
on the farm; that they lived in great harmony
always appeared genteel, and were happy till
the SANDER in question was put on foOt-that
by their industry, and with the assistance of
their adopted father, they added to the proper
ty left to them by their parent:
That about one y ar after the death of their
father their mother paid 10 his two children
the legacy as directed in the will, and from that
time they appeared the enemy Of the infant
children:
That their half brother and the husband of
the half-sster, together with several worthless
persons Of the town, set on foot injurious re-
ports about the plaintiff and her uncle, hut rs
he was a man of such uucxceptOnable charac-
ter, and she only 10 years of age, the reports
did not then gain belief:
That about two years since, the wife Of the
defendant renewed the reports, and continued
to relate them IN such manner, that ia about
one year thereafter, the plaintiff aud her young
or sister, and indeed tile whole family were
entirely neglected and deserted by their neigh
bOrs aud friends, although all the respectable
persons from the neighb0rhoOd dcpOsed that
they did not believe the reports:
The defendants by their plea justified. and
on the trial produced several Witnesses 20 prove
| the fact Of" Prostitution with the uncie"-
| some OF whom from their own story could not
| be believed, and all were contradicted by other
! respectable witnesses, as well as proven to be
| blaekguards and prostitutes; some were pro.
ven 10 have been actually bribed, and il was
| also proven that DeVine had in two instances
attempted to bride, aud proposed as high a
| sum as 500 for witness that would swear H.
/ gainst Miss EdsaIl, and 10 another $50: and
| that his wife had made an attempt to bride a
| lad in the defendants employ when he declined
| serving them by swearing for money, they dis
4 charged him
One other thing which happened deserves
| notice.
At the commencement Of the trial on Thurs
| day, young man genteeiiy dressed (his name
| is not mentioned to spare the feelings OF We.
4 'peciable parents) SAT- next TO the defendants
! counsel. and leaning forward, stared 4 young
| ldy. the frst,wltness produced, directly into
the face; this was deemed improper by some
Of the Jurors who observed il, and on the ap-