The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1830-12-02
From The .NeD. York Standard.

Yesterday was brought 70 conclu-
sion in the Circuit Court Of the United
States now sitting at the City Hall one
of the most interesting causes, so faras
d0mS&tic peace anil professional co4f-
dence are concerned, that we have ever
known. So great has been the crowd
to witness its progress, and so literally
has the court room been bcsicgrd by
auditors, that it is scarcely necessary
to add that we refer to the trial of DIR.
Charles Ball, Of BROOKLYN, on the suit
of Mr.. Joseph Badger, late of that vii
lage, but now resident in Connecticut.
The facts lay in n narrow compass, al
though six days were occupied in the
investigation.
1t was an action brought by the fa-
ther for an assault npon his daughter,
undcrth following The
plaintiff being about to depart upon n
voyage of some months, and anticipat-
ing the confinement of his wife during
his absence, employed the defendant
as his family physician, to attend from
time TO time, as his services might be
required. In July, 1923, one of the
plaintiffs daughters, aud on whom the
subsequent outrage was charged to have
been committed, was unwell, and the
iamil Y physician of course was sent for,
He prescribed remedies, and the young
lady recovered. About month after
wards, her mothcr-in-law was confined
and was attended by DR.. Ball. The
third day after the accouchment, the
DR.. descended from her sick chamber
into the hall or parlor, enquircd for his
former patient, and sent for her from
him on the sofa, when he commenced
n conversation on the subject Of her fa-
TIERS expected rcturn--soon spoke of
the too tight lacing Of her corsets-
thrust his hand into her bosom and pro-
cccdcd To the commission of other and
grosser and outrageous acts of wonton-
ness and indeccncy until she swconcd
away. lie then led her to the air TO
recover, and after advising her not to
tell her mother, left the house.
Duringthe whole of her waking hours
on that night she exhibited strong and
alarming indications of insanity-lan-
cied her fathers portrait moving on the
wall--that DIR. Ball was in the room,
and requested search-and by her
wild and unusual department, denoted
n wandering of mind, if not a partial
alteration of intellect. This continued
with gradual abatement, for three or
four days. In the forenoon of the day
after the transaction, the mother was
bolstered in the bed as she penncd 4
note TO DR.. Ball, of which the following
Is a copy:
"Dr. Ball is requested to suspend hi
visits at No. III Hicks street, as the,
will be no longer agreeable. II DIR. y
wishes for an explanation, he will fine
one on reviewing his conduct of last c
vcning. Conduct which drove one o
its very sensitive inmates to the border
of insanity, aud entailed a night Of cy
treme anxiety and watchlulness on hi
suffering patient. l.. w. H."
From that period DIR. Ball was ney
cr permitted to visit the family, eithe
personally professionally. The plain
tiff returned from his voyage in Decem
bcr---had been unfortunate in buslnes
and foilcd-but without any stain or re
proach upon his character. This Gil
cumstance, however, and the neccssar
attention to his pecuniary affairs whic
it involved, together with dcfcreuc
TO the wishes of mutual friends that Il,
affair might be hushed and forgottei
were the grounds ON which the delay I
prosecute was alleged by the plaintiff