Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1843-08-18
.an,nsfns Report Of a Breach Of Promise


I he following amusing report OF case
Of breach of promise III marriage. tried In
New York, on Monday last. before Judge
Kent. in which Selma PANEL. a pretty
milliner, was plaintiff, and William Dunn
berson, ajolly sea captain. was defendant.
we find in the New York True Sun:
In this case the defendant is fine.
whole souled fellow, who commands a
fas. sailing clipper built schooner, trading
from New York TO various ports Of North
and South Carolina, and the fair plaintiff
is a very pretty and highly intelligent
looking young milliner and dress maker,
residing in Madison street, New York,
and the action is brought for the neglect
of the defendant in not marrying the fair
lady, after solemnly promising SO to do.
The principal Witnesses for the fair plain
tiff were +" John Jones, of New York" a
silver beater by trade, and civic lamp
lighter by profession, and his quaint look
ing little wife Lucy, who appeared to have
been the bosom friend and confident of the
fair plaintiff.
From the testimony of these witnesses,
it appeared that the gallant captain and the
fair milliner both came from the same viii
lage in the land of steady habits, and that
in the year 1899 the captain came to visit
Miss Selma at The house of "John JONES'"
where she resided. Every time the gal
liant captain was in port he used to come
constantly and sit with Selma in her own
room-Miss Gertrude, sister of Seina's
being there to play propriety. They also
walked out together. and this constant in-
.imacy was KEEP! up for the space Of five
years. when news came one unlucky day
that the gallant captain was married at one
of the ports TO which he had been consign.
ed after he left New York.
The reason for his feelings suffering
this .'sea change" was not explained, ne.
Their was the sister Of the plaintiff, Miss
Gertrude. called TO give any account Of the
behavior of the parties, but the whole case
rested on the testimony of John Jones, of
New York, and his quaint little wife, Lu,
cy, who only guessed at the strength of
the Captains love by the constancy of his
visits every time he was i'll port.
Four letters were read, which the de-
PENDANT had written to the fair plaintiff du-
ring his absence. In one of these letters
!" he lamented the necessity which exist
ca for young men laying up some capital
before they got married and hoped to talk
the matter over with his dearest girl on
his arrivalin New York, when they would
have regular built promenade
In another letter he complained of Sell
ma, not writing TO him or appearing to love
him and said that if she was not sincere
they would dissolve altogether.
In another letter he used the following
curious language. which we give verbatim
ct li,eratum 80 I'm glod to hear that all
my old grass widows is well, as am. If
/ was there would try and alleviate their
distress" In the same letter, "Tell Pat
~ TO behave herself, and keep her mouth
clean and l will kiss her when come
back"
Mr.. Peter Wilson, for the defence, NOV
ed for nonsut on technical grounds of
pleading. which were overruled by the
Court.-Mr. John B. Cox was then called
TO the stand, but objected 10 on the ground
that he was the bail of the defendant.
The case was then summed up on both
sides and went to the jury under the
charge of the Court.
Verdict, for the plaintiff. Damages s5,-
900 and costs.
PURsulr OF KNowLEDGE UNDER DlFFIcuL-
H. IL
by the river side, to take the noble coup dacit
Of the new steamer Knickerbocker. we over
hear little anecdote connected with the wa.
ter. aft which made our companion merry all
the way home, which we shall here trans
oTlbe, and which it is hoped will please
II seems there was-nay, We know, not seems,
there aoas-a verdant youth from the interior
OF Connecticut for the first time aboad steam.
boar. His curiosity was unbounded. He
examined here and he scrutinized there; he
wofmed from the engineer a compulsory lee
aure on the steam engine and mechanics in
general, and from the fireman and essay on
the power Of white heat, and the average
consumption Of pine cord wood
Al length his inqni'ing mind was checked
in its Investigations, and the pursuit of
knowledge under difficulties made at once
apparent. He had mounted to the wheel
house, and was asking the pilot, What are
you doin' that for, Mister' what good does't
do! when he observed by the capain, who
said, in gruff voice 60 way from there
Don't you see the sign, No talkin to the man
at the hellum!' Go way! .Oh! certing-
yeas; | only wanted to know Well,
youde know now that you cant talk 10 him
so 20 'way.'
With unwilling willingness the verdan,