American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-11-19
Correspondence of the BaItimoreCIipper.I

Important IriaL-Ihe Yam Ness Case. The
issue joined between Mary Ann Van Ness and
Cornelius P. Van Ness, administrator of John
P. Van Ness, came up before the Circuit Court
this morning. Counsel for the plaintiff, Messrs,
Gilpin, of Philadelphia, Brent, of Baltimore,
and May; for the defendant, Messrs. Cox, r.
G. Bradley, and Carlisle
The jury being empannelled, MIR. Brent
opened the case, by telling them that the issue
they were to try was, whether Mary Ann Van
Ness was, in truth and law, the widow of John
P. Van Ness, and referring to the resignation
of the counsel which had first been engaged to
manage the case for the plaintiff, viz: Messrs.
Dallas, Dent, and Lee. He described the
character and history of the late General Van
Ness, and also those of the lady, and said the
counsel would be able to show, by circum.
stantial evidence, that Gen. Van Ness was
married to Mrs. Conner, in the city of Phla-
delphia, etc.
Mr. Carlisle (for Ex-Governor Van Ness,)
commended that this case was unparalleled in
the annals of the Court. We live in COM
munity where crime never shot up such a
trunk or bore such fruits and the pretensions
Of the plaintiff could not be justified except by
the grossest perjury and forgery. They would
show that the letters purportmg to be from
Gen. Van Ness were forgeres, and adverted 10
the fact that Mr.. Brent had taken an article of
assignment from the lady, which
Mr. Brent acknowledged; and, at a subse-
quent stage ofthe proceedings,
Mr.. Marbury was sworn, who said that, on
one occasion, he had taken an assignment from
a client to secure his fee.
This app ears to have been suggested to re-
move any prejudice which might be entertain
ed towards Mr. Brent, and, as a consequence,
to prejudice his cause.
Mr.. May, one of the counsel ofthe lady, read
the testimony of Mrs. Moulder, of Phlladel-
phia, at whose house Mrs, Conner stopped
when she visited that city, as to this fact, and
as to Mrs Corners conversation with an old
gentleman said to be the late Gen. Van Ness
at the house of the lady mentioned. Also, the
testimony of several gentlemen of that city.
He likewise read the petition of Mrs. Mary
Ann Van Ness, sworn TO, stating that she is
the widow of Gen. Van Ness, and praying the
Orphans Court that the letters of adminlstra
ton on the estate, taken out by &. ?. Var
Ness, ought to be revoked, aud letters grant
ed to her instead This is dated July 7, 1916
Mr. Bradley, one of the counsel for Mr.. c.
P. Van Ness, read the answer of that gentle
man, in which he says that he has no knowl
edge or belief that the pretended marriage wa
solemnzed. Several of the letters accompa
nying the answer, spoke of a child, of which
the late Gen. Van Ness was said to be the faith
err, and urged upon Gov Van Ness, his brother
some action in "animpottant NATTER" of which
he was left to Judge by letters enclosed i'll al
envelope and previously sent to him.
The court room was crowded during the pro
ceedings A larger report would have beer
given had there not been many importan
points which cannot be stated sufficiently accu
rate in sketch, and if there were not appre
tensions that injustice might be done to tn
very able gentlemen who opened the case.
Without coming to a conclusion, the court d
four O'Clock, adjourned till tomorrow morn
ing. G.