Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-07-26
EVENING STAR.
THE REFEREE CASE
AN OLD ENGLISH STORY.


SSsS2s an almost .aexhaustible fund cf legend
2Ty lore, whose most interesting .aovdotes and
most comic tales are but recUliections OF past
scenes, ot which re can say, n rLo lansIaAe
OF +hIeas, "CnOr's". alag7Iz pa, mi
! Many years sgo," said Mr.. r han-
pened To be one Of the referees in 3 case which
! yxclted unusual interest in our courts, from
| TIE singular nature Of the claim, and thc
strange story which il disclosed
| Inc plaintiff, who Was captain Of a ni.r-
! chaat ship which traded principally with Eng
land and the West Indies had married Quit.
! ariy In Iiie, with every prospect of happn -
! His wife was said 10 have been extremely bean
uful. and no less lovely iii character
- Alter living with her in the most uninter-
| ruPted harmony for FIVE years, during which
| time two daughters we're added TO his family
| be suddenly resolved 10 resume his occu. "a
ton, which he had relinquished on his mar
riage; and when his youngest child was but
tlree weeks old sailed once more for the West
| l Idies.
His wife was devotedly attached to him.
! serrowed deeply at his absence, and found her
only comfort IN the society of her children and
the hope Of his return But month after month
passed away, and he came not, nor did any
letters those insufficient but welcome subst;-
/ tUtcs, arrive to chCoT her solitude
| Months heightened into years. vet no ii
! dinS- were received Of the absent husband
/ and after long hoping against nope. the un-
! happy wife was compelled 10 believe that he
! had found grave beneath the weitering
ocean.
| Her sorrow was deep and heartfel,, but
lne evils ot poverty were now added to her af-
| iiction, ard the widow found herself Obliged
! to resort to come employment, in order 10 sup
| port ner helpless children. Her needle was
/ heT only resource. AID for ten years she la
! bored early and late for the miserable nit
| tance which ID ever grudgingly bestowed on
| the humble seamstress
| a merchant Of New York. in moderate but
prosperlng circumstances. accidentally became
| acquainted with her, and pleased with her
gentle manners 10 less than her extreme
| beauty, endeavored 10 improve their acquaiut
| ance with friendship.
| After some months be offered her his hand
| and was accepted As the wife Of a successful
| merchant, she soon found herself in the enjoy
Eent Of comforts ant luxUries such rs she had
never before possessed. Her children became
his children. and received from him every
advantage that wealth and affection could
procure.
Fifteen years passed awey; the daughters
married, and by their step-father were fur
nlshed with every comfort requisite in their
Few avccation Of houSekecpers But they had
| scarcely quilted his roof when the mother was
taken i'll.
She died after few days Hines, cEi from
that time until the period Of wh,h [ sreak,
ne ",do"eE hdC reSlueH WITH lac youngest
daughter.
Now comes the strangest part of the story
| After an shseLco Of thirty years during which
time no tidings bad been received from him
t5e first husband returned a. suddenly r. 10
had departed. Hs had changed his ship.
ADOPTED another name, and spoL: thc -Thy.c Il
| that long period o. time Oh the oocan, v. b
only trSfient visits Oh shore, while idhsng a
| or Giscksing cargo; having been careful
| e!so, never 70 come nearer h0ne than v - v
| Orleans.
why he had acted in this unpardonaJ.e
! manner toward his family no one could tel,
and he obStnately refused all explanation
Ihere were strange runiyrS Of slave-tradiag
aHd piracy af0at, but they were only wh;speTs
OF conjecture rather than truth.
- m2tCTer might have veen bis motive for
such conduct, be was certainly anything bu
Indifferent 10 his family concerns when - re-
turned
Il He raved like a madman when Informed
of his wife second marriage and euusruuelt
death, vcwing vengeance upon his succtsso-
sui terrifying lis daughters by the most aw-
fol threats in case they refused to acknowledge
rs claims.
" He had returned wealthy, and one Of those
mean reptiles OF the law wnO are {" be fOuLi
crawling about the balls OF justice advised
him TO bring a suit against the second hus-
band, assuring him that lac could recover
heavy damages The absurdity of instItuting
Claim for a wife, whom death had already
released from the jurisdiction OF earthly laws.
was SO manifest that it was ut length agreed
oy all parties TO leave the matter 10 be ad
judged by five referees.
- 1t was on a bris sht and beautiful afternoon
IN spring that we first met to hear the singular
cas". The suniiy yht streamed through the
dusty windows # the court room, and shed
halo around the long gray locks and broai
iorehead OF the defendant; while the PLAN
TIN : harsh features We're thrown into sill
bOlder relief by the same beam which softened
the placid countenance Of his adversary.
Z" The plaintiffs lawyer made a most elo-
quent appeal for his client, and had we not
been better informed about the matter, our
hearts would have been melted by his touch
ing description of the return of the desolate
husband, and the agony with which he now
behold his household gods removed to cOnse-
crate strangers hearth
" The celebrated Aaron Burr was counsel for
the defendant, and We anticipated from him
a splendid display Of OTatOry. / had never |
seen him, and shall certainly never for get my |
surprise at his appearance.
Small in person but remarkably well |
formed, with any eye ds quick and brilliant !
as an eagles, and brow furrowed by care |
tar more than time, he seemed a very different |
being from the arch-trait0r and murderer / |
tad been accustomed 10 consider him His |
voice was one OF the finest ever heard, snd |
tie skill with which he modulated it, the va
riety Of its tones, and the melody of its ca |
dences, were iaimitab
But there was Que peculiarity about him
that reminded me of the depth # darkness
which lay beneath that fair surface. You
will smile when tell you that the only thing
I disiiked was his step. He glidcd rather
than walked; his foot had that quiet stealthy |
movement, which invoiuntarily makes OLE
think of treachery; and in the course OF a
long life l have never met with a frank and
honorable man TO whom such q step was hab-
itual.
Contrary to our expectations, however,
Burr made no attempt to coniute his opponents
oratory.
" He merely opened II book Of statutes, and
pointing with his thin fingers to one of the
pages desired the referees to read it, while he
retired for moment to bring in the principal
witness.
We had scarcely finished the section which
fully decided the matter in our minds, whsn