Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-06-14
MISCELL AN Y.
Great Breach of Promise Case .

The suit for breach OF promise OF marriage
brought by Efie Catharine Carsting against
Henry Shaw, created more excitement in st.
Louis than any which has been tried there since
the celebrated Montesqui case in 1852. The
court room was crowded to sutfocation, many OF
the first citizens and members of the bar being
in attendance The trial took place before Judge
Reber, in the Common Pleas Court. MIR. VIM.
Homes, aud Messrs. Wright and Shreve were the
plaintiffs counsel, and Mr.. John h. Shepey and
the Hon. Edward Bates appeared for the de-
fendant.
TIE complaint was filed year ago, but the
case has been continued from time to time in
consequence of the absence of witnesses. Dam
ages were at first laid at $4,000, but the lady
subsequently had her petition amended and the
amount fixed at the sum which she recovered at
the hands of the jury. The trial lasted six
days.
We learn from the st. Louis Democrat that
Miss Carstang is about thirty years of age. Her
figure is rather tall, but graceful; she has dark
hair; brilliant eyes blonde complexion, and a
mouth expressive of great irmness and decision
of character Mr.. Shaw is about sixty years of
age; his hair is somewhat gray his features are
rather sharp, but with an expression of coun-
tenance anything but dissgreeable; he is man
of great wealth, assessed for 100000, and worth
upwards of million according TO the evidence;
and Tower Grove, his country seat is one of tie
finest residences in the neighbOrhood of st. Louis.
Mr.. Shaw is one of the oldest citizens of st.
Louis; and during long residence there has
sustained character heretofore unimpeacha6le.
Miss Carstang's biography was given in the
course of the evidence. She was born and
brought up in New York city, her father having
been Methodist local preacher there and in
De- TJor thar1 1ia1i ~, tubil ila
visit to Philadelphia, and her father lived only
year afterwards. A short time previously to
his death he went to Charleston in the hope of
recovering his health, with Miss Efie, but re-
turned to New York to die. He seems to have
been pretty we'll off, and to have left his children
two daughters-some property, "enough to
make them comfortable" Soon after his death,
Miss Effie went to Charleston where she had
relatives, and, then being but twenty years of
age, opened millinery establishment. She next
resided with an aunt in Cincinnati, meeting her
sister there. The two went to ST. Louis in 1854,
where they lived together, the elder, Mrs. Sea-
men, who had not lived with her husband since
1850, taking house and renting rooms to
lodgers having, like Mrs. Bardell, in the fa-
nous case of Bardell gs. Pickwick, preference
for single gentlemen.
The plaintiff was introduced to the defendant
in the street in the spring of 1856. He called,
upon the strength of this introduction, and con-
tinued his visits till the winter of 1878, few
weeks before the institution of the suit Mr..
Shaw used to visit Miss Effe two or three times
week, and at all hours of the day. The testi-
mony of her sister, Mrs. Seaman, upon which
the case principally rested, other witnesses be-
ing mainly corroborative, is on this point as
follows:
Defendant was usually alone with the plain
tiff defendant spoke to me of his object in call
ing first time defendant spoke of some books
on botany which he brought her; said he wan
ted her to understand flowers previous to her
going to Tower Grove, (residence of defendant,
three miles from st. Louis) as he was going to
take her there; he said he was fond of flowers
| or botany; this was short tine about two
months, after defendant commenced his visits; !;
| demonstrated with my sister about receiving
defendants visits, because Mr.. Shaw q0aS too rich
TO be 0isiting people Of our standing one day
defendant said to me when he called, and she
was not ready, and received him, 81 suppose
your sister has mentioned to you about my Wis.
| its2n l said to him. "Yes, she mentioned to
me you intended to make her your wife" my
sister bad mentioned it to me.
The defence attempted to break down the
plaintiffs character, but signally failed. Every
witness swore that so far as his or her knowledge
or tirst-haud information went, there was moth
ing improper or indelicate in her conduct. The
whole effect of the testimony on the part of the
defence was to show that Miss Oarstang was, so
far from being immodest or indecorous, unusually
prudent and discreet.
Mr.. Shaw offered letter in evidence, from the
lady, to show that he offered to marry her, but
she refused. The Court, however, excludes the
letter, but the reporters seized and copied it
The following is a correct copy of the letter. 1t
was written in the spring of 1858, and was ad-
dressed to Mr.. Shaw, and delivered by Mr..
Cantwell:
"When last saw you, said that would see
you again or write to you, but delayed doing
either, as hoped your own sense of right would
lead you to seek an interview with me. write
| to you, now, not because it is pleasant task,
nor do do it to annoy you, for believe | am so
constituted that it is my disposition always to