The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-06-04
Interesting Suit for Breach Of Promise
in st. Louis.
Verdict for SOC, OO0-Thc Plaintiff New
York Unsuccessful Attempt to
Defame Her Character,

breach Of promise case Of very interesting charac
ter has just been concluded st. Louis, in which the
plaptn recovered the unprecedented in damages of
100000 The plaintiff New York ady-Mss Efne G.
Cstang, daughter Of Rev. Gideon Carstapg for many
years Methodist preacher In this city and Brooklyn.
The lady, who is between twenty thirty years
old 1t appears, removed TO St. Louis years ago,
where she resided with her aunt and sister Here she
made the acquaintance Of very wealthy gentleman Of
about sixty five, named Henry Shaw who paid her very
marked attentions for two years, and finally proposed
for her in marriage, and accepted. For
or other however he changed his mind and brske off the
engagement, whereupon she brought suit against him
OF $4,000 damages but subsequently, by the advice of
her counsel, laid the damsges at 500 0o0 the entire
rnount Of which the jury thought Ahe entitled to
upon hearing the evidence The defendant put as
plea the character of Miss CarsaDg which he alleged had
been bad during previous residence in Charleston s. c.
ana more recently in St Louis, bu. he failed to sustain
the allegation by the testimony. He also offered
Of the PLAINTIFFS, written him in the spring Of 1853,
which he claimed a release from his promise TO
marry. The Court would not receive the letter
dence therefore made no part OF the proceedings but
rs it details perfect history Of the courtshp
duct OF MIR. Shaw, we give IL here
LETTER OF MISS ClRsrASG
When last saw you said that would you again
write 10 you but delayed dong either hoped your
own sense Of right would lead you TO seek interview
win me- write TO you now, not because it is pleasant
TASK nor GO DO to annoy you for believe am 40
constituted that is my disposition always TO heal rather
than wound but. at the same time, consider my
sef under ali circumstances, bound protect de-
fend my own person, honor and reputation let who will
suner and write now to remind you that by your at
tentons the last two years TO and our engagenent
and your subsequent deserton Of me- you have attacked
and comp omised all three. 1t is unnecessary for
say that am much put cut and dissatisfied, though per-
baps GU think ought TO have had better tnaa TO
have believed you. 1t rs over two years since you
sought my acquaintance, and requested permission
character and POSITION and yery soon after s yVoe
your proposal 10 marry. You said your wealth
and business did not answer for company; you
very lonesome that your mother too old TO live with
you that your single sister would probably die, be-
fore your mother and Mrs Morisse had her husband
company. After delaying lime to test the sincerity
Of your Offers becoming satisfied that you really desired
me Tor Your wife, accepted you, and from that time you
were constant visiter You sent flowers and fruit
and made me presents from time to me and frequently
invited me to ride and seemed to desire that relation
should be made public You invited 10 meet friends
at your house in ne city, and ride out your country
seat. You sent me piano, and desired that should
employ teacher You told sister that you were going to
take me away, and finally named the time when would
marry, and made preparations for the The time
arrived, and postponed it, of your desire
to perfect your arrangements in relation to the botanical
garden You removed the piano TO your house.
the preepce that you desired account OF muecal
party 10 be held there. Finally you visit me- and
your house, you insult me with proposition which any
true woman would reject During engagement have
avoided general society, and declined the attentions
Your attentions have been remarked by many, and am
now subjected TO all the unhappness and modification
arising from your deserton of me. Had you called
ns gentleman, and offered any reasonable
this treatment, or simply asked release you from
this engagement and assigned reason, trust shond
have bad too much pride not TO have complied at once
but your desertioD as is deserves whatever punish
ment the opinion Of just public may visit upon its au-
thor and you may rest assured that my counsel ad
vises such PREPARATION shall be demanded you as our
laws grant to my sex under the circumstances.
twas proved ON the trial by The S a on S u
that Mr. Shaw owned property TO the amount o.
million ana Of collars and this fact no doubt ia
fuenced the jury materially in making up their verdict
For the better understanding Of the case, give
extracts from the leading portions of the evidence.
ATTEMPT TO DEFAME TIE PLAINTIFFS CHARACTER.
TESTIMONY OF ROBERT CAUSE.
By Mr.. Shepey-Q. Have you ever seen this lady be-
fore pontpg 70 MISS Cars'ang)f A. have seen her A.
Q. whenp A. In '49 or so.
Q. DO you know her general reputation there9 A.
What the general report as to character; good
Cross examined BY Major wrkht-o Where do you
live? A. In st. Louis.
Q. What your businessP A. Commission merchant
9. When did you come nere' A. january, 1856.
9; Where did you come from' A. Fom Charleston,
q. Did you speak Ito her in your lief A. never
9. How old was she then, A. Can't say, .ir
Q. Where did you see her, on the street or in your
storeY A. On the street and in her own store.
Q What kind Of a s'ore2 A. II was a millinery es-
Enlistment and dressmaking; don't know her father;
dOn KDOW sDe mad father living there that
not man Of fsmiy then; am Dow was married in Mas
sacbusets; have children; have sisters living in the
South; one in Charleston single and in Nashville who
is widow; Miss Carstapg lived on King street, near
BeresfoTd street.
Q Was anybody in the store besides herself9 A.
number OF ladies' were there whom she employ ed In car
ryng on the millinery business.
Q. Do you know her well enough to distinguish her
from oibersP A Yes.
Q. Bave you reen her before in this cityp A. Never.
Q. And though ten years have elapsed, and she has
grown from young girl into wonanhood yet you
distinguish her counterance through her ve A. Yes,
Q. What is the color Of her hairg A. Don't know
q. DO you know Mr. shaw A. No; was introduced 10
Mr. shepley yesterday afternoon by Dir Peck have been
talking with several parties about this suit parties who
are from Charleston; know her name there Madame
CarstaDg.
Q. How do you knowit was the game person who has
brought this sui? A. Was told
Q. What the latest time you knew her In Charles
toni A. In '51, or Isl and 50.
O. What DO you mean BY general reputation A. From
Do know what the people thought about her who
knew herr A. Among young men did
@ How do know they knew herr A. They merely told
O. Was there any popularity about this Ma lam Cars
tang that ou should recognize her after years alb
sence2 A. She looked very gay.
O. Does she look very gay here9 A. She looks diae.
rent here. '-
Q Did you her in gay colcrsP A. Yes, rather
O Did che not always dress in black while in Charles
toni A. never saw her in black.
O. Can you pane one single person in Charleston who
knew her? A. Yes; Mr.. Gronnig; Mr.. Caspar; have
seen Mr.. Grooming with her.
o How many persons have you ever heard spea, of
herY A. great many.
O. Out Of such great number suppose you can give
US at least few paDes2 A. Yes, three or four.
q Wen let us have their namess A. The two brothers
Jeford
q. Where did they live9 A. In the same CITY, about
dock and half from Madam CarstaDg's; knew o Mr.
Miller who knew her; my father q Frsnchman: NV
mother BostoniaD. ~
DID you never bear ofMiss carsang having sister in
the essabishmentY A. am not positive think have
seen an In the papers announcing the re-
receipt Of new Poocs
9. How wes her name speti A. Same as II is here.
O. Bow Is II spelled herep A. Don't know
70 Then how DO you IL was spelled there an Il Ia
herep A. Well, can't say.
In this caufe? A. do not consider It q mystery: vss
summoned yesterday.
Do you ever see the sister Of this lady Charles.
toni a. have seen lady said TO be her sister.
Q When old this lacy leave Charleston A. can't nav
q Apo you can't remember the last time YOU sac her
In Charleston? A. Can't say think about $50 or Isl vben
they ,sit the establishment was occupied by others.
Y How many ladies were there when Mas Carstane
was there? A. Can't say; quite number. yranv -