The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-06-07
PRICE TWO CENTS.
THE CHICAGO DIVORCE. CAsE-BlJRCp
VERSUS BURCH


arly in the West, the parties named in it are al
of high standing there, is now in of publ
cation in the Chicago papers. Mrs. Burch, the
defendant, is relative of the Hon. Erastus Corn
ing, whom she calls her "'uncle" Mr. Burch is a
large banker in Chicago, aided in business, if moi
"set up" by Mr.. Corning, and he was Mr.. Corn
lng's clerk when, in Albany, the acquaintance was
first formed with his wife. Mr. Stuart, with whom
the criminalty is charged, is the Hon. David Stu
art, who formerly represented the Detroit District
In Congress. All the parties were visitors at the
house of Hon. s. A. Douglas in Chicago, and Mr..
and Mrs. Burch entertained the Hon. Edward Ev
erett, &c, &c. Mrs. Burch, in her answer, insinu-
ates that Mr.. Burch has had improper intimacy
with young lady of Little Falls Mrs. b. also
says that the first idea she had that her husband
intended to repudiate her was given in the follow
ing letter from her husbands partner in business
in Albany, to which place she had been sent
"home" by her husband
CHICAGO BANK OF |. Ii. BURCH & Co..
Corner of Lake and La Sale sts
CHICAGO, 3lst January, 1860
Mas. BURCH-Your little ones are both well-T
DO not wish to say nard things of you, nor to
preach to you of penitence- feel for YOU and pity
you from my heart-your husband am sure does
not hate you; to say he has now any respect for
you, TAR less any lingering of love, would be false
children
VIII have fond parent in Mr.. Burch, who will
try and guide their footsteps Alright 1t NAV be
marsh to write to you so, but must tell Won that
little Hattie will be brought up to think mother is
In the grave or that she has no mother This is
very aficting for you, but if you think for a mo-
ment it will be for the best toward the little lamb
-oh Mrs. Burch, what fall What a
degradation you brought upon all your
friends! Surrounded with every comfort and
luxury this world could give you, a kind and
most exemplary husband, afectionate and loving
children, hosts of friends, a position second to
lri'ro. nEine..ne envy may say of Chicago-and all
Even upIhome-co -comfort-husband and children
LOT a worthless reprobate, who is even now seraen
ing himself by slandering YOU The news when
IL spread IN the city, received with sensation
never saw equalled: Execration against the vii
1IaInLtsympathy am Tor Mr.. Burch-and pity for YOU.
40 peleye you have the pity of the com,nunity
although there are all kinds of hard tbinps said
ana many false Iumors Misfortunes saws the old
aidage, never come singly; poor Lizzie Burch died
tnls morning, at halt-past seven. do not wish to
add to your already over-burdened heart by giving
any details of her illness. 1t is a sad thing that
one so young should be taken away; but it NAV be
all for the best. She is innocent as lamb, and
tne word with It's temptations and villains may
nave lured her away. May her soul be at peace
-, Tours very truly ly, j. r. VALENTINE.
Inc answer of the defendant to the complaint in
TINS I'M case was filed on the lst inst. The document
mis- seven columns of the Chicago papers. The fol-
lowing are its chief points: The answer admits the
marriage at Albany in lS4S, &C.; denies criminal
intercourse; SAYS specifications of time and placa
are vague and indefinite; first became acquainted
with with MIR. Burch at Albany, in 1912, where Mr.
burch was clerk in bank. He came to Chicago
with limited means, and started bank Mrs Burcb
has since ascertaned that Mr.. Burch took pains to
ascertain her pecuniary circumstances. Mrs Burch
was at the time living in the family of Erastus
corning. Mr.. Corning and friends assisted Mr.
Burch pecuniarily. In 1855, a misunderstanding
arose between Mr.. Corning and friends and Mr.
Durch' "hen the latter commenced ill-treatng her,
using grossly insulting language. which he sought
TO conceal from the public by always being kind
and attentive when others werepresent. He refused
10 give her money for family expenses.
FIRST met Mr.. Stuart in 1856, at a party at the
fremont House; was introduced to Mr.. Burch
who expressed the highest regard for Mr.. Stuart
until difficulty in business matters arose. Met
Mr Stuart several times at divers places At one
time Mr.. and Mrs. Burch, and Mr.. and Mrs Stuart
ma G,ned at the house of the Hon. Stephen A.
Douglas. Afterwards Mr.. Stuart called at
her residence, and saw Mrs. Burch alone Mr..
Farnam called. Mrs. B. sent word that she was en-
gagged and would not him. The only liberty
~ Hr' stuart ever took was taking Mrs. Burch by
the arm For some trivial matter Mr.. Stuart dis.
continued his visits for some time Did not call
again until the fall of 1859, when her husband
was present. Says that in July, 1852 Mr. Burch
dnaue maze an appointment to meet a young lady at
Saratoga, and was very attentive to her while
there Said lady was formerly very intimate with
Mrs. b.; after above discontinued intimacy Burch
proposed to young lady, imputed dishonorabe mo-
tiVeS 10 Stuart and one Burrell with Mrs. Burch
Mr.. Burch kissed the young lady when she left at
the same time treating his wife very coldly Mr.
Charles Boyd, a teacher in Sunday School with
airs Burch, was intimate with the family and at
the request OF complainant, Mrs. Burch made him
present OF a smoking-cap and ring; the compIain-
ant continually writing letters to the aforesaid
Young lady at Little Falls and received replies; on
the 'th day OF January, 1860, complainant com
menced hndlng fault with defendant about trihinr
matters, accusing her of too much intimacy with
aforesaid
smoothly until the l4th OF January, when he asked
her to sign confession; went to church together
that day. slept in same bed at night she refused to
do anything until she could send for her uncle
Erastns Corning; he said nothing would be done
until Mr.. Corning came. But on Monday January
!6, compelled her to sign a confession stat
ing that unless she complied he would turn
her out Of the house. He promised never
to show the confession, and finally forced
her to sign, after he had dictated every word
she continually protesting that it was untrue He
then made her sign another, which defendant sup
posed was what she had written, denyinp all the
charges he had made, which afterwards proved to
De the confession on which the complaint was
based. lie compelled her to acknow ledge her guilt
oy threat OF thrustng her out of doors. He tried
to make her acknowledge herself guilty at fifteen
different times. She would not. He said he had
written to MIR. Corning to come to Chicago land sent
her to Albany the next day mot allowing her to see
her children. In conclusion she empbatically de-
MES all criminal intercourse with any one and then
petitions for change of venue on the ground that
Mr.. Burch, account of his position exercises
undue influence over the people of Cook county,
the minds of the people being prejudiced. The
answer creates intense excitement in the city gene
rally
CoMPLAINANT's REPLICATION.
Isaac ii. Burch Us. Mary W. Burch, May Term,
A. D., 1860.
The replication of Isaac H. Burch, complainant 10
the answer of Mary W. Burch defendant.
This replicant saving and reserving unto himself
all and all manner of advantage of exception to the
manifest insuficences of the said answer for repli-
cation thereunto, saith that he will aver and prove
his said bill to be true certain and sufficient in the
law to be answered unto, and that the said answer
of the said defendant is untrue without this that
any other matter or thing whatsoever in the said
answer contained, material effectual in the law
to be replied unto, confessed and avoided, ira
versed or denied, is true. All which matters this
repcant is and will be ready to aver and prove as
this honorable court shall direct and bumbly prays
as in and by his said amended bill he hath already
prayed. Isaac H. BURCH
Hoyne, Miller Lewis, Solicitors.
The issue being thus joined, there is likely to be
large mass of very attractive testimony.