Litchfield enquirer., 1845-07-24

look back upon life successfully devoted to rais- ing savage people to the comforts, re6nements and virtues of Christian life.
 - From the SfeMben (.N Y) Courier.
 BREACH OF PROMISE TRIAL.
 Mary finn Rhodes us. .Nath0n .Afiller.
 This was an action brought by the plaintiff a- gainst the defendant for breGch of promise c mar ridge. E. Van Buren and E. Quin, for plaintiff: l D. Rumsey, Jr., and w. Barnes, for defendant.- As is usual in such causes, there was considerable anxiety manifested by the spectators to catch glimpse of the parties, particularly the Cggyieued. l They undoubtedly expected to see some blooming maiden, signing like furnace for the loss of her fahless lover, appealing to the strong arm of the law to protect her injured innocence, and render her some little compensation in dollars and cents for the irreparable injury i; and last, though not least, teach all gTaceless scamps to be careful in fl- 1 ture how they make promises but to break them l But no, the plaintiff, though maiden lady was not young, nor strikingly beautiful, although she might have been at the age of "sweet sixteen," in the eyes of very passionate lover, but now, alas l the mschevious fingers of time had stolen many a charm, leaving unmistakable and iDdeible evidence | upon her features that she was several years, at least, the blind side of thirty-i thirty and a.p. ,card Her appearance ewasrespecta6le--hetm man. ner precise and dignfed, her countenance indica. ted ixedness of purpose, not to commit suicide or die of broken heart-but to make her recreant 1 | The defendant was widower, we should judge about 45, plain sort of farmer. with nfsee chill dren, worth some $5O00, which counsel alleged an important consideration with the fair plain tiff in bringing her suit we'll as listening to his.
 Ii appeared that the defendant, soon after losing his first wife, began to think about getting another talked to the old women of the neighborhood about being lonesome-wanted housekeeper-could'n d'nt stand # so, &c which, as matter of course, enls- ted their sympathies. He finally stated his case to a MT. Bolt-told him he wished to get married did not like to marry woman with family be- cause he did not want two kinds of children, and for another reason not altogether dissmar, he was unwilling to wed maiden lady, unless of certain, or rather of an uncertain age.
 Upon this statement, said Bolt intimated that Miss Mary Ann Rhodes, or Polly, as he called her, would be just fit, and consented to become proxy, or sort of conductor of mutual love and affection between the two-saw Miss Rhodes, made known his business to her, she exclaiming, with some sur prise and much apparent regret, "Why couldn't I have known this before:" for alack and alas she was engaged to be married to another man in about week. No time was to be lost personal inter- view of lovers was thought advisabie-was had. when and where it was agreed by and between the said lovers, that the said Miss Rhodes should most unleellngly and ungraciously sack her former beau after which she and the defendant were to become l one flesh. This was accordingly done-we mean, I the fellow was sacked-and he like true philoso. pher to show that there no love lost, also that he was punctual in all business transactions wooed, won and welded another damsel in about week thereafter, so that he was married at the time ap- pointed, though not to Miss Rhodes.
 Time passed on. Miss Rhodes carefully preser- vtd the wedding dress prepared for the first occa. sion, for the second, and making other prepa- rations-but MT. Miller, in the mean time, became enamored of more youthful and blooming maiden, and, in turn, gave Miss Rhodes the "mitten, " for which she brings suit, &c.
 I The proofs of the contract and the violation thereof by the defendant were clear and conclusive; Bolt and certain old ladies, being cognizant of the facts, being quite efficient witnesses, an admoni- ton to all widowers and bachelors to do their ting in propria persona, and be careful how they trust their secrets to others keeping.
 The defendant alleged, by way of defence, that the plaintiff came into court with bad grace to re- cover damages of him for what she had played up- on another and att empted to show in mitigation of damages, if not in bar of the action, the plaintiffs general bad character in the neighborhood where she lived.
 One witness was brought upon the stand who swore to enough, but the jury would not believe him. His testimony, if true, showed him mos, shameless vllan-if false, very dangerous one and if the jury entertained any doubts of his having impeached himself, they were pretty efectually dis pelled by the testimony ofother witnesses.
 The proofs being closed, the cause was ably summed up,' the Judge committed the cause to the lury in a charge which showed him not insensble to the wrongs of lovely women, and the jury after due deliberation, returned with verdict for the plaintiff of four hundred dollars, to com- pensate her for acerated feelings, blighted hopes and crushed affectons-the loss of husband worth $5OOU, and-nine children.