The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-12-20
The Van Meas Case.
CIacuIr CouRr, WAsHINoroN, Dec. IL, 1876.
YOR PLAINTIFF coNrrvuxp

they were written under peculiar circumstancss and un
% sr.S SI S ss ss
sured him that these letters wounet be introduced and
If not. he thought Mr. ks testimony would blow up the
The plaintiff punctua TO the day In this stage of the
entered the court and took her by her
has kept eut the crowd to-day hank Cody had 90 ter
Mira wlIl1s: r.eallsd-.I have lived in tn. neigh.
borhood Of the plaintiff Cor three years. and know no
thing prejudicial to her character
Cross-eramined BY Mr.. BRADLEv.-I never had any
Mr. CoLLAaD sworn.-I have known the plaintiff for 20
years. never heard any thing against her at the navy
yars nave heard surmse1 since but nothing specinc
people could not say how many, throw out doubts
to her chastity saying they suspected and 60 bat
DR.. MAYNARD sworn.-Testi6ed, from boarding ct her
house two or three to the good character far
Fowlsr knew nothing from his own knowledge against
them. g7a4 ~ a'
Mr. BECK had lived at the Navy yard part of the city
nothing affecting the general reputation Of this lady for
MISS ANNA q. WIGHT.
Judge MASON. by permission Of the Court, and the
ccnssl on both sides In behalf Of Miss A. g. Wight Il
niscs q Cen Van Ness and long resident in biz FAINT
Court The young lady objects to testifying from
ves Of dslcacy both regards her having interest
strued settlement both Of personal and real property
had been agreed In her favor by the real heirs and
WOulQ COnAIllUI0
The COUNSEL for the defence remarked that they had
desired to avail themselves of the evidence Of Miss
Wight but in her unwillingness they had forboms to
Mr.. MAY argued that this assignment to Miss Wight
was one strong reason why she should be called upon
The CouRr decided that the testimony Of this young
lady might be properly introduced, and given to the
Miss AsNE 9. wight, sworn-she testified in very
Intelligent manner. She was an inmate Of Cen Van
Nesss family and Is first cousin OF hi. wife; the Gene
Barns, whom have never seen about two years ago
Gen Van Ness told me he had made will and had pro-
ydsd Tor ~s but he spoke Of no else he did
given to MIR Smith in the vest pocket OF the General
Paper containing lock Of hair addressed to Sr
Wallace among the papers Of Gen Van Ness saw no
paper among his papers them before nor since ad
dressed to Mr. Wallace; had conversation with Gen.
Van Ness 10 his last illness a. to his affairs.
Cross CROWNED By Mr.. BRApLEY--I was with Gen Van
Ness nearly all the time during the time his last ILL
ness heard him speak on two Of his wife and
chd he said he had little to live for that his wife and
BY side w and Ths %nas then
the North In the summer Of is4o. Che time when the
alleged marriage Of Mrs Conner with Gen Van Ness at
wighD was at Pn'iadslphia and at New York with him
ses r. p
him the 9th Of August; the next morning when he
called he said he had good deal Of trouble about the
coat Of arms but that he had got through with now
marriage with this plaintiff at any time whatever
Mr. BALL keeper of the city prison. sworn-Was call.
ed upon testify to tho character for truth Of old Tho
mas Msthngly, Of the witnesses for the plaintiff
have Deems long time acquainted with Thomas Mahing
Y Never heard anything said for or against him in
le He lives In fashionable neighborhood and drinks
lbeeve, pretty freely. That's all know. Laughter.
silence-wslk Light
the navy yard but heard down there anything said
against her want Of chastity that her husband had
left her that account
Mr. N CuLLEs rccalIed-was asked by Mr.. Brent II
he did not Mt the time of svyng the distress upon plain
tiff say that he had hoa Of letter containing
yellow lock Of hair being found among Gen Van Ness
papers, and that its discovery created considerable ex.
citement in the famyl To all this the witness replied
No. and that he had never heard Of the lock Of yellow
hair hair until called before tina court at his frat
mination
Mr. BRr,r proposed this question in another form,
when Mr. Bradley objectcd and after discussion Of
the point at law. Mr.. Brent waived the testimony.
Mr.. ARCHER sworn--Was called upon by Mr.. Brent to
ter 81 this paint but conies.inS that he had long ago
mbbed prcudices sgainst Gen Van Ness, understood
he did not wish to testify at ALL in any way in this
Miss vasIsIA FowLEH recalled sister Of the PLAINTIFF
Was shown the Philadelphia envelope. Had il
made for II at your request (sir Brent. did not hear
the request; do not know where il was found first
saw IN my sister, hand. that ink wa. not on 1t When
how the accident occurred-by child spsetting an ink
ter identifying sundry letters the witness was re.
heved for the day. and the Court adjourned
CIncurr CouRr, wAsHrN TON, Dec Is, 1876.
REsrTTIsc TEsTIMory ron THE rLArSrirr CONTINUED.
Beautiful end brilliant day.
The Counsel for the plaintiff proposed to bring in
letter written to the Postmaster at the Greer Valley De-
pot, with view, as supposed to sustain the stamps
&C. Of the Green Valley Depot letters Of Mrs Conner
OH file But the court ruled II out.
Miss VInairIA FowLER SISTER of plainf) recalled.
The testimony OF Miss Fowler respecting the contents
Of the two letters alleged to have been written by Dr.
keichum to the paintn at Bsltimore-these letters as
Mr. Brent said having been destroy edthe court were
Of opinion not strictly admissible rebutng proof
Cross erdmfned by MIR BRADLEY and examined In
chief by Mr. Brent She testified to the Rev. Mr. Ket
chums Borrowing $40 Of her sister, Mrs Conner 10 lsai
to ray the fare from Baltimore Of four Indians and in
terpreter under the charge Of Dr. Ketchum reverend
gentleman having distinctly that he had never
borrowed money Of Mrs Conner in his io, but that
had frequently borrowed money of him
Crcn-ersmined by MIR. BaADLxv.--I think Il was In
March, lsa; am about nineteen years of age; must
then have been about thirteen and ahaf years sge
him pay the money back; DR.. ketchum In rs
called to get board at house, but could &C.
commoda,e him; our house wa: full: bssdes, as min.
lister Of the gospel thought he did live up his
profession; he called frequently and wished the family
to their influence with some gentlemen boarding
the public buildings, tho race which Mr.. holland had;
distinctly recollect his borrowing the $40.
other reason for not taking Dr. Ke.cSum a. bostaer IN
ss5, except that she did not wish 10 DO troubled with
any more bosrders.
Mr. BRApLrv questioned the witness particularly res
pecting the conversation between Dr. Kstchum and Mrs
Conner in 1884, and the alleged borrowing of the $40 by
Indians this do know. Ss; sess him borrow The mo.
ney Of my sister, and that the Indians the
house that evening" don't recolect the exact purport
oil conversation between my sister and Dr. Keichum
on that occasion; TO question proposed by Bradley
Miss FowLsa.-why, Nh Bradley, you ask me to stale
one thing and the next m ment you ask me to contra
MIR. BrADLxv:-oh. no, Miss, not at all; I don't want
to puzzle you but want to reconcile possible, what
you first said with what you say.
Miss FowLsR-I have come here, Mr.. Bradley. to tell
the truth the whole TRUTH and nothing butt the TRUTH and
MIR. BsApLEv.IThsts all we want, Miss Fowler; we