New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1844-01-05
Cutier rs. Oatmans;

Or the Perils of Loce, Lau and Matrimony.
Our Circuit Court has been mainly engaged
for the last three days in the trial of an action
brought by Willis Cutler, carman, against Dr.
Joe! S. OatnGn and Harriet, his 1oJe, for vlo-
lation mot by the Doctor but by his now wlle)
of an alleged promise of marriage made by the
lady 10 the carrnan aforesaid The case IS one OF
so much intrinsic interest, in connection with the
fact that it is the second ever brought in this
Statc-and we think the fourth or fifth ever
brought any whereby a man against woman
for Breach of Promise, that we shall endcavor,
after careful attention to the evidence and
charge, to give its substance as briefly as possible
to our readers.
Mrs Oatman is the daughter Of the late John
Pye Esq. who died in August, 1912, leaving a
property OF 100000, which he had accumulated
by bis own industry and assiduity. In l84l, she
was the widow Coles, having been left at the de-
cease Of her first husband with two children and
little or no property. Her father being aged and
invalid, she aided him in the collection Of the
rents IN which his income consisted, and received
pecuniary assistance from him in return. In May,
lS4l, she went to reside in one of his houses, l46
Third Avenue, occupying the lower part OF the
house, with her young children, whom she educa.
ted, and here managed the letting of tcnements
and collection of rents in this and the neighbor-
mo buildings belonging to her father. Here she
was soon called upon by the present plaintiff, Cut
Ter, who was the intimate friend ola Mr.. and Mrs.
Canniff, who occupied apartments IN the same
house and were acquainted with Mrs. Coles
Cutter was widower Of 40, living door or two
of. but made an GRAND Of wishing to hire rooms.
Having thus made the acquaintance Of Mrs.
Coles, he continued il, aided by his friends the
Cannills and was very assiduous to her through
the term of her residence IN the house, which,
however, lasted but two months, one half Of which
time she spent at her fathers. In July, she gave
M her rooms here, and removed to her fathers
house. where she remained until his death, in Au-
gust o: the next year. The acquaintance between
the parties was thus limited 10 two months for,
although they met twice afterward it was under
circumstances not at all pr0p!tlous to the widow.
er's wooing. But during these two months, it
was contended for the plaintiff that an acquaint-
ance had been formed. had been warmed INTO IN
tmacy, and ripened into love, and that an engage
nlent OF marriage had been the result.
In support OF tins allegation, the principal wit
uesSes were the Mr.. and Mrs Canlltf aforesaid
who testified that Cutler frequently visited Mrs.
Coles, { every night was the repeated assertion
Of Hrs .Canntf that he spent his evenings there,
staying often 20 q late hour; and once, they both
testify, he was shown to the door by her at ? o.
clock in the morning. Cannif testified that he
once saw Cutler put his arm around Mrs
CoIess waist, but that she -eproved the liberty
He once heard her say that she thought Cut
Ter would provide good living for wife, and
again that when she married Cutler she would
have some alteration in his household. Ms,
Canpif said that 31rs. Coles remarked that