Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1835-07-23
from the " l. Tmts, July II.
BREACH OF MARRIAGE PROMISE.

GcOrgc H. Ba1Hdrd rs. J0hH !. Gdnt and
Nary H. his rife, formerly Mary II. Pomcrs.-
This was an action for breach of contract Of mar
fiagc, made between the plaintiff, who is pee
table jonlneyman ornamental painter Of this city,
ami Mary II. Powers, now the wife If John |.
Gaul Of lhe city Of Hudson. The damages were
laid at Z 10 900.
From the testimony, oral and written, adduccd
on the trial, il appeared thai the parties litgant
were acquainted with each other from very early
life, and that the plaintiff and Miss Powers were
particularly intimate for more than cloh years
past, aud had maintained an episoldry corrcSpon-
dencc Of an amicahlc, and finally OF an amatory
ch,ractcr ever since the month of July, lS27.-
There was no tie Of con>anguinity that bound them
together a. relatives, bu, the marriage Of the IA
lef Of Mary H. Power, to the aunt of Mr. Barnard,
is his second wife, about ten years ago the plain
hh and Mlfg called each other cousins, and cher
shed all the kindly feelings that the tie Of blood
enkindcs
The father Of Mar, Mr. John Powers, was a
man OF high responsibility of cllaracter and Of
considerable wealth; and his hospilablc doors
were eyer open to the reception of his friends,
who were uniformly greeted with hearty wei
come. Mary, his daughter, although she had not
been blessed with a superior education vet her OPP
portunltie, FOR the acquisition of knowledge had
been happily improved to her advantage, and her
mind, naturally intelligent, spr'ghty and active,
had been enriched by reading, observation and re-
Election. Her associations also, being OF the most
/ respectable character, and her companion,hips l.
mon@,t the nohlc,t OF the place whic, she resided,
her manners had acquired refinement and case
and her onNer,aiona degree of scnsblencss aud
variety, which rendered her society particularly
pleasing.
Her habit, being Of a domestic character, and
! he nm ullrh wit Il,
ties of the household finer father she had obtain
ed such a knowledge OF the proper management OF
the affairs OF a family, as to render her desirable
! le-companlon for a man who could properly APP
! psccialc her worth. As She did not attend balls
and parties, she was not extensively known in tic
gay and fashionable world her circle of society
/ being of graycr anl more useful cast than fashion
generally approves. To those qualities were su-
peraddcd the alventitou, aid of beauty of face
and symmetry OF form; aud her company was con-
sequcntly considerably cour;ed.
Such was the lady 10 whom the plaintiff com
mrnccd pay my his addresses, aud whom he en-
deavored to WOO and win to his arms for life \.
he was frequently i visitor ather fathers domi-
Gle, his opportunities, OF discovering her merits
and exhibiting his attentions, not unire-
quent aud the friendship he felt soon became !
cherished ltyc. But wish to advance his for.
tunes by successful prosecution ofhis business,
carried him to this city; and in July, 1927, their
epiStolary correspondence commenced, and wa,
continued, At short intervals, until April, 1893
Daring part OF that period, he was in New Or
leans and Cincinnati, 10 which places her lct,cr
were Addressed to him, and from which his COM
munications were transmitted to her. The cnr,
chain of their correspondence was produced il
court and read, and exhibited the history of til,
courShip they had carried on.
, Her letter, W,,r, 81 characterized hX an int,li
gcncr and sprghtlincss seldom surpassed, an,
+ proved the warmth oi her feelings and affection,
= and the undSsuScd irankncSS and mgcnaousn ne /,
other mind. Iii, epistlcs to her also bore evdcnc
ola respectable portion ofinieecl * SprightlinesS
e hut occasionally tl.1 wore sprinhled wilh harsh
ness of expression, GOODNESS of feeling and rude
4 ness ot remark, calculated to wound rather thu
5 10 Soohe the feelings OF a refined senshility. Il
5 September, 1882, he submitted to her proposals .
: marriage, in writing and four days afterwards, he
- answer, dated 10Th September, was returned I
h HIM IN the negative, say ag--" With my prescn
t feelings, canno, say that will become your part
o nor Tor life
o Ca the 2Sth of the same month, she repentcd {
= her rejection of his proAercd hand, and wrote hin
q most atcctionate and pathetic letter, socitin
n lns pardon and forgiveness for what she had hast
:; ~ done, and agreeing 10 become his wife. lie
e language is" Oh George, If YOU still value m
as your friend, and say YOU will receive me as ON
e OF Your choice, shall then say | am han
e py, but not till then for | never though
: ! loved enough to marry till now This acccp
is lance OF his offer lei Immediately to the renewal
n the correspondence. which continued with som
= occasional acidy of expression on his part, an
II some payiulncsS and appearance ola little alcctc
n coauctry on her part, until il terminated in an opc
q rupture.
- In the thr after mart of tho c,rras