Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1825-05-11
AtscelIanp.
Breach Of the Marriage Promise.
NEW PALTz, ULSTER COUNTY.
Ph'ltis Schoonmaker VS.. Cuff Hodge

boom.
i This was an action for breach of the
marriage promise, tried before De Witt,
Justice Of the Peace and quorum. The
parties as their names Indicate are
black, as philanthropists would say, COL
CURED folks. Counsellor Van Shack an.
Peared on behalf Of the lady. He reca-
Pitulated the many verdicts which had
been given of late 10 favor of injured liz
nocence, much to the honor and gallant
ry of an American Jury. 1t was time
to put an end to these faithless profess
siOns, to these cold-hearted deluslons-
it was time u put curb upon the false
tongues and false hearts Of pretended
lovers, who, with honeyed accents, on
ly wooed TO ruin, and only protested to
deceive. The worthy counsellor trust
ed that no injurious impressions would
be made on the minds of the Jury by
the colour of his client.
"'Tis not a set of features,
| The hncture Of the skin that we admire.n
She was black, it was true so was the
honored wife of Moses, the most illus
trious and Inspired Of prophets. OtheI-
10, the celebrated Moor of Venice,
and the victorious General of her ar
mics, was black, yet the lovely Desdamo-
ma saw "Othelio's visage in his mind.n
In modern times we may quote his sa-
bic Majesty of Hayti, or, since that coun-
try has become Republic, the gallant
Boyer. He could also refer to RHO
RHO, King of the Sandwich Islands, his
unprecedented Queen, and Madam Po-
XII, so Hospitality received and fed to
death by their colleague, the King Of
EnglaDd-nay, the counsellor was we'll
advised that the brave General Sucre,
the hero of Ayacuch, was dark mu-
latto. Whatthen is colour, in estimating
the griefs of forsakeh and ill-treated
female She was poor, it was true, and
in humble sphere Of life but love lev
els all distinctions the blind god was no
Judge, and no respecter of colours; his
darts penetrated deep, not skin deep
his client though black, was flesh and
blood, and possessed affections, passions,
resentments, and sensibilities; and, in
this ca5.., she confidently threw herself
upon the generosity of a Jury of free
men-of men of the north, as the friends
of the northern President would say, of
men who did not live in Missouri and
on sugar plantations, and from such men
his client expecledJust and liberal dam
ages.
Phillis then advanced to the bar to
give her testimony. She was, as her
counsel represented, truly made up of
flesh and blood, being what is called
strapPing wench, as black as the ace of
spades. She was dressed in the Low
Dutch fashion, which has not varied for
a century-linsey-woollsey petticoats,
very short-blue worsted stockings
leather shoes, with a humping pair of
silver buckles-bead earrings, her wool
nicely combed and face sleek and
greasy. There was no "dejected hay-
Jour OF visage"--no broken heart visi-
Bile in her face-she looked fat and COM
Portable, as if she had sustained no dam
age by the perfdy of her swain. Be-
fore she was sworn the Court called
the defendant, who came from among
the crowd and stood respectfully before
the bench. Cuff was a good looking
young fellow, with tolerable smartis6
dress, and appeared as if he had been in
the metropolis taking lessons of per-
fidIous lovers--he cast one or two cut
ting looks at Phillis, accompanied by
significant turn up Of the nose, and now
and then contemptuous ejaculation of
Ell umph eugh! which did not dis
concert the fair one in the least, she re-
turning the compliment, by placing her
arms akimbo, and surveying her lover
from head to foot. The Court inquired
of Cuff whether he had COUNSEL" No
Massa," he replied, IL tell. my own TO.
ry--you see Mass Squire, ] know de
gentlemen Of de jury berry vell--dere
is Massa Teerpening, Of Little 'Sopus-
know him berry vell-I plough for him
den dere is Massa Trapahagan, Of our
town--how de do Massa--ah dere Mas
sa Topper, vat prints de paper at Big
'Sopus--dere is Massa Peet Steenburg
know him too--he owe me little mo-
ney--l know 'em all Massa 'Sauire-I
did go TO get Massa Lucas to plead
for me, but he gone to de Court Of Err
rour at Albany--Massa Sam Freer. and
Massa Cockburn, said they come to glib
me good character, but | no see 'em
, here" 81 0 II
Cuff was ordered TO stand aside, and
Phillis was sworn.
Plaintiff said she did not know how
. old she was-believed she was I6--she
= looked nearly 26--she lived with Hans
Schoonmaker--was brought up in the
f family--she told her case as pathetically