Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-07-24

io8.. ~ stfr .t' So a-&4t4 i.
@There General, is the horse, take
him" ,.,.. r
The General stepped in and com.
menced antyiug tho horse. Betty
Immediately fastened the door, dri-
wing the pin into the hole it's full
length, and left the General to his 70,
fections, while she attended TO her
household affairs. Time passed away
night came on; but no relief TO the
captured General. Morning came,
and with it camc BettyAtrs sitt3
"Well, General, how did you sleep
last night?' ate-i
sNot very we'll. lam ready to
compromise this matter; If you will
let me out, and show me the ford over
White Water, (the river was muddy
and high, I will leave you the horse
and return the execution, mo proper
| ty found
"Upon honor?'
"Yes, upon honor
Betty opened the door. The Gen.
oral mounted his horse, and silently
followed Betty down to the river side
"There General, you will 60 in a
little above that sycamore, and come
out at that haw bush you see"
The General started; at the second
step both horse and rider were under
water, out Of sight, and the Gener.
ais hat was seen floating down the
river. Still, he being one Of the pio-
neers, and his horse trained swim
mer. gallantly stemmed the current
and exactly struck the haw bush, his
horse swimming to the very shore
while Betty stood on the bank, scream.
ing s.a1es e.. 81 sasA :
II guess the Brookville officers will
let me alone now, till ! have sold my
pigs and bought my land"
But tie end was not yet. Time
ruled on; the pigs grew to bc well
fatted hogs. Betty mounted her po.
ny; the little boys started the hogs
for Cincinnati; they had ten days to
get there in before the land sales; the
distance was about seventy miles,
Nothing unusual occurred on the road
until they arrived at New Trenton,
at Squire Rockafellow's. The night
was stormy; tho snow fell deep; and
the next morning found Betty at the
usual hour, on the pony, well wrap
ped up, with an infant a fetc hours oid
lin her bosom. She arrived at Gin.
cinnati the day before the sale, sold
her hogs for the cash, and the late
Gen. Findlay told me that she stood
by his side on the box, and bid of
her land, with her infant in her arms
Surely, Truth is stranger than fc.
tion.
A BREACH OF PROMISE CASE.
Soon after the county of Union was
organized, / was employed by little
hump-backed fellow, some twenty.
five years Of age, certainly one of the
most perfect libels on creation that
had ever seen, to defend him against
an action Of breach of marriage con-
tract. confess 1 felt some curiosity
to see the woman that would consent
TO marry him, much less sue him for
refusing to sayt.yes" to the question
Of the squire. Court arrived; the
usual declaration, laying damages for
divers, 10 wit, one hundred suppers,
and calico dresses too numerous to
mention, all preparatory for the we'd
ding, was fled. Itwas a pure breach
of promise case, without the common
aggravation. Plea "non assumpsit;"
James Rariden and James Perry for
the plaintiff, and myself alone for de-
fendant My client whispering said,
"tbere she comes turned my eyes
and sure enough, there she was, a
most beautiful girl, large, rather
deshy, raven hair, dark eyes, rosy
checks, and a mouth filled with beau
tifnl white teeth. She walked for
ward, and took seat by the side OF
her counsel. A jury was empannel-
cd; Judge Perry opened, with an elo.
quent address to the jury, and closed
by asking the full amount of $1,000
claimed in tho declaration. The wit.
nesses clearly proved the marriage
contract, which in fact my client did
not deny; one white muslin, and two
red calico dresses were positively
proved, worth three dollars, and there
was some evidence, but not satisfac.
tory, Of gingham dress with broad
stripes. About the supper there was
no question; IL was proved beyond
controversy, or the powers of argu.
ment; or, in the language Of General
Gushing, il was q "fixed fact" Grea,
preparations had been made; six chick.
ems had been roasted whole; large
dishes Of beans and potatoes, with q
boiled ham, and turnips and cabbage
in profusion. The old lady dweIt
with evident delight, upon the big
custard pic she had made "with her
own hands," such ae no other woman
in the neighborhood could make, il
she did '.say IL herself" All this
looked bad for my client, and my
case. "We rest here" "No evidence
TO Offer" said !; all had was before
the jury, in what the lawyers call pro.
| fert In curia." The case was opened
by Judge Perry, In most brilliant
speech Of some two hours. follow.
ed, and made only two points In the
case; first that the plaintiff had sus-
tanned no damages by my client
breaking his engagement, as shs
could marry much better looking
man any day; and second, that the
calico dresses would bo needed while
courting other sweet hearts, and the
supper was eaten by the Intended
bride and her friends, and my client
got none Of IL. Mr.. Rariden, In the
CLOSE assailsd with al hls powers my
positionA but seemed 10 press upon
the Jury tho calico dresses, and extra
l.hxinah for the aupnar. ThA Conrt