Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-03-27
From the New York Commercial.
NEW. YORK SUPERIOR COURr-March %
Mcho.l Hull Us. UiLlian l.. Pratt, late o 1ren

NEW. YORK SUPERIOR COURr-March2 %.
lhcha.l Hull Us. UiLiam l., Pratt, late o 1ren-
ton, Ner Jersey.
Thi, was an action commenced by the PLAIN |
tiH. a seafaring man, nate OF the ship Albany, |
of tho H,yre racket line, against the defendant:
.or criminal eOnCsrSalOn with his wife during MS
essence, on a vOyase at sea.
II was admitted that the plaintiff and his wife
we're married in South Carolina, in 1928, and
tina, he brought hs wife to this city, where they
boarded with his father, who keeps sailor board
inc house in Walter street. IL appeared in EVIL
dence that they lived happily together and that the
plaintiff furnished her with all nccessaries. Prall
ne defendant, came there TO bard In April last
After he had been there about three weeks, he ask
ed eave to visit the part of the house where the
females lived, which was granted tn him. He soon
commenced paying more attention to Mrs. Hall
than any Of the inmates--was frequently in her
room alone, and on one occasion I've was sitting
there whilst Mrs. Hail was lacing her corsets be-
fore the looking glass. Mrs. Verify, her mother
IN law, reprimanded her, and she replied that she
was young, and did not mean to be debarred the
pleasure Of seeing company.
At another time, in july or August last, Miss
Mott, who WAS then serving tor Mrs Verify. went
into Mrs Halls room between 3 and o'clock
in the evening, Prall aas either sitting in her lap
or embracing her. Mrs. Hall, at another time,
requested PraIl and other females in her room.
to leave as she wished to retire to beds and short
" afterwa, ds. Prall was heard stepping lightly
70 her room, where he remained the evening. On
hsIng reprimanded afterwards, aud told that Mr..
Hall, on his return. would bring him to account,
be replled,-'s Dam him, fH shoot the riAatn."
Mr.. Hall afterwards moved tn Delaney street
AS soon as he went to sea, Prall commenced his
visits almost daily to his wife. and continued them
until the day before Halls return; one afternoon,
three daughters Of Mr.. Verify, and a Mr.. Lock
wood call led ON her, and went up stars to her room
and Knocked at the door; 1t was locked; after a
few minutes, Mrs. Hall opened IT.; they went IN;
re window curtains were down, aud the room
dark; her hair was hanging loosely on her Shout
dcrs, SC.
Here and elsewhere, we have omitted some of
,he more disgusting portions of the testimony.
On the other side. il was cOntended. thatIMrs.
Hall had been treated cruelty by her husband
anh MS fathers familv that she was not furnish
ed with necessaries; that Mrs. Verify and her
husband had b-aten her, and that the house
in question was one of ow character; that in New
York he visited places OF bal character, and was
absolute in his habits, and that Mrs. Hall had to
take Ia washing TO support herself sc. sc.
The defendant produced witness. who swore
that when he was in the bed room OF the PLAINTIFFS
wife in Delancev.street, he went there to write
letter for Mrs.Hal, and that he did not remain
Ten minutes; that Mrs Hall was unwel, and had
been Tying in bed nearly all day.
Capt Robinson, of the Charlemagne, testified
that Hall had been mate with him two years; that
he was good officer, aud man Of good cha
racter.
Thirty-three witnesses were sworn. The
cause was summed up BY John An,hoa, for the
plaintiff, and Frederick \. TaIlmadge, for the
defendant.
His Honor, Judge Hoffman charged the Jury,
IN substance, that the action was brought against
the defendant for criminal conversation with the
plaintH's wite-Or. IN other words, tor Seducing
her affections from him, aud violating her person
That from the course the cause had taken, and
the evidence introduced. there could hardly be a
fnubt OF the fact that the defendant had had cri-
mlnal connexiun with the wife of plaintif-tha
there was no positive proof Of the fact, but
that the circumstantial evidence was so strong a.
TO leave no doubt of his guilt. That IN a case
IKE this the jury could not require positive evil
drnce. That, admitting the guilt OF the defend
ant If Mr.. Hail had taken mis- wife TO a brOthe',
or house of i'll fame. tas the defendant has con-
tended he would come into Court with bad
grace TO ask for damages, and they ought to find
verdict for the defendant;Or il the plaintiff had
been guilty Of like criminal connection, it would
be circumstance greatly to mitigate the dana.
ses. That It was true that the house in ques.
ton was sailor boarding house-but the witness
es concurred in stating it to be as reputable as
any one in the city. The testimony Of several
witnesses, as to the character Of the house put it