American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-11-23
baltimore CtItpper.

WAsnINeroN, N0y. 2lst, ISi6.

which Time Sle was sGdtCH'
Mr.. Bradley commenced the cross-eXamina'
lion in the course Of which the young lady
.oid that Gen Van Ness refused to permit her
IN accompany hun and her mother when they
vent TO be married She had no recollection
If the extent of time her mother was absent
from the boarding house. The general wore a
white hat, like Quaker, but her mother was
not dressed like Quakeress, but IN mourning
uWas she dressed IN whtei" asked the coun-
eel.
"No, sir, " she replied, ''lades in mourning
don't dress in white to be married"
"Ah!" replied the counsel, 81 was not aware
of that"
The young lady said that when her mother
resided on the avenue, her aunt Catharne was
married to a Mr. Gray. DIR Isaac ketchum,
a minister, performed the ceremony. This
marriage was kept secret, and a secret, and
certificate given to the bride. Mrs. Conner !
was not in attendance, and did not know of
the event till six months afterwards. Miss Sc
yeua, when the carriage came for her mother
in Philadelphia, did not notice which way it
came or went, or whether it turned round
Her mother informed her that the General had
a certificate, and would be at Mrs. Mouder's
to dinner, when she would get it, HeI mother,
however, did not receive the certificate. Ill
did not strike Serena as singular, believing, as
she did, that Gen. Van Ness was gentleman,
and would act as u gentleman towards u lady
She did not know the reason for the marriage
being private Her mother had told her some
of the circumstances, but did not say record
oft had been made. The marriage was to be
kept secret till the parties themselves should
snake it known. She went to school with the.
daughter OF Mrs. Mouder IN the city, but did
not remember whether it was day or Sabbath
school. 1t was many years ago.
"Many years ago!" exclaimed the counsel.
"Yes, sir" replied the lady.
"Why, how old are you2"
81 am not out of my teens, yet, SIR" was the
ready and mild response.
The lady said she had 10 knowledge of any
other business that took her mother to Phila-
delphia but to get married; and, in reply TO a
question, responded that she had been a scholar
in the Methodist and also in the Presby terian
Sunday Schools, and that she was now teach
er in the Sunday school attached to Mr.. Sam
sons Baptist Church on E street, of which she
was member
Mr. Hall, connected with the line of stages
which run between this city and Baltimore in
lS45, testiti.d that Mrs. Connor and daughter
(Serena) left Washington for Baltimore ON the
I'd of August, of that year, and thinks he help
ed them IN the stage.
Mr. 1hos Matungly said that the last time
he saw Gen, Van Ness was in January. In
October, lS45, he and Gen. Van Ness were
talking, and he remarked, "GeneTal, as rich as
you are, would you not be more happy if you
had a wife, or companion;" The General re-
Piled "Mr. Mattingly, have wife and one
@hild" The witness being poor man ana the
General u rich one, he said nothing more about
It.
MIR. MatlingIy lived on land owned by Gen.
Van Ness, and ON the occasion alluded to had
taken him butter, eggs, etc, as payment OF
rent
Mr.. II. b Robinson, an officer of the court,
stated his belief that certain papers submitted
to him were in the handwriting of Gen. Van
Ness.
Mr.. Josiah Melvin, who was the foreman of
the "Madisonian" office from the time of its
birth until it died, knew the handwriting of
Gen. Van Ness, and was of the opinion that the
General would alter or nterlne to make what
he wrote suit him. He thought that the Gen
eral when he penned the letters did not con-
ceive that they would ever meet the public eye;
they were, TO the best of his knowledge, in the
handwriting of the deceased. He had once
printed deed for the General, written in his
hand.
A conversation took place between the Maj
and Mr.. Bradley. Tho latter asked questions,
such as edo you think an educated man would
write "its," for at s3"" "Now," said Maj.
Melvin, with his usual good humor, ''l'll ask
you question:" ooh, mol" replied several
gentlemen, and, if ii had not been for prev-
Gus warning of the court, there would have
been general out burst of laughter. AS it
was, there was mach gggng.
Mr.. Carberry considered that one person
wrote the whole of the letters, which were
shown to him. He should have taken them for
Gen. Van Ness's beyond doubt under ordinary
circumstances. When he first saw the letters on
the files of the Orphans Court, he was in
doubt as 10 their authenticity, but since, after
closer examination, much of the doubt was
removed.
as have, as already known, made my
notice of this interesting epistolary-giving an
idea, without details. All other news in the
city seems to sink into nsignifcance compared
with this. At the corners, at the hotels, at the
Preside, every where, and among all classes and
conditions, this is the prominent topic OF con-
versation. Chow is it goIng?" says one
"For the lady" "Ah! don't be so fast, you
have not heard the other side yet" "I'l bel
on it, There's Mr.. So.and-s says such a
thing" "WeIl, what of 1t, that doesn't have
much weight" "More to come out yet on
both sides" Evsn the ladies talk about it !!
Hope the minister OF our church Will not al
lude to it tomorrow in the sermon.
The Court requested the jurors, on the ad-
journmeut to-day, to have no conversation
about the case. They will doubtless obey the
injunction; but, as before observed, every body
is talking about it, and the jurors can't help
from listening. c.
Correspondence of the Baltimore ClipperI
WAsHINGToN, Nov. 90, 1916.
The metropolis is as quiet, just now, as q
Quaker meeting. We have not a solitary
place of amusemont--no Theatre-no Museum
no Circus-in word, not one of those de-