The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-11-25
Grim. Con. and Divorce Cases-Ths Re
cord OF . Week.

Grim. Con. and Divorce Cases-Ths Hs-
cord OF . Week.
We have been compelled, in the discharge
of our duty as faithful chroniclers Of pass
ing events, to give up q large portion Of
our space to the evidence in three cases
Of conjugal inndelity, in all of which the cir
cunstances are somewhat singular, and in one
altogether unparalleled. In two instances suit
is brought by the injured husband for divorce
on the ground Of criminality. The third case
was an action for Grim. con-, and the evidence
gave singular view Of life in the middle
stratum OF New York society. This was the
case of member of the Brown family who
sued one Davidson, described as portly, mid
ole aged person, and demanded twenty five thou
sand dollars damages for Mrs. Browns virtue,
which, it was alleged, Davidson had taken
away. 1t appeared in evidence that Brown, a
few months after marriage, had permitted his
wife to go her ways; that he had neither cher
ished nor supported her; that she had emigrated
from the classic shades Of the modern Athens to
the wicked city of New York where she met Da-
wilson, who was represented by Browns counsel
as roaring lion going about seeking maids
and matrons whom he might devour, and that
Davidson seduced Mrs. Brown (who lived here
as q spinster, and as such was afiianced to
signing swain of the name OF McChristy) from
the paths Of virtue. Brown, it appears, was
terribly shocked at this state of things, and
only found out his wifes actual value when
he ascertained the condition of Davidson's bank
account. Then Brown went into court and
asked for twenty five thousand dollars worth of
balm for his crushed and bleeding heart But
Browns witnesses proved too much. They
gave the jury to understand that Browns wife,
before she met the portly Lothario Davidson,
was not like Caesars wife, and the jury made Q
reduction Of twenty four thousand nine hundred
and ninety nine dollars and ninety-four cents
in Browns claim. So Brown has come to grief
and cruel bill Of costs.
There are a good many portly gentlemen
like Davidson, pretty women like Mrs. Brown,
and husbands Of an unconventional turn Of
mind like Brown, but they very rarely entertain
The public by bringing their troubles into
court.
TIE other cases referred to above are suits
for divorce. The most interesting is that of
MIS- Burch; the most singular, that Of Mrs.
Beardsley. The latter cause is now being tried
at Brooklyn, Mr.. BeaIdsley sues for divorce.
and complains that his wife has been guilty nf
adultery with one Mahan, son of the Emerald
Isle and disciple of Hippocrates. The cem-
plant sets forth that Mrs. Beardsley met Mahan
at Broadway saloon; that che encouraged bis
advances; that she represented herself as sin.
mour; that Mahan, being taken in by this gay
delusion, was married to his charmer by a
Catholic priest, the banns being dispensed with
through the kindness of a right reverend pre-
late. The defence is divided into two parts:
first, that Mrs. Beardsley is not the person who
was married to Mahan; second, that the CON-
plainant, Beardsley. has been guilty Of adul-
terry, and therefore cannot ask for divorce on
that ground.
This case IL very remarkable one,
and is conducted by those eminenuy
refined and courteous gentlemen OF the
long robe, Messrs. Chauncey shafer and
Richard Busted, with Characteristic suavity
and polisness. Already several indictments
for bigamy, conspiracy and perjury have been
threatened Mahan, the chief witnes, for the
complainant had a ten hours Job OF ii on Fi.
day, and the counsel bsdgered him in the most
approved fashion. This case is yet unde cided,
and we do not purpose to discuss its dement's.
P7'ino focie il looks excessively odd.
The Bnrch Gaze has been 40 notorious that
everybody must be pretty well acquainted
with both sides Of the pitiful story The 70.
nance opens with Burch-the now wealthy
and protege Of arailwsy king, removes to the
West amasses wealth. keep. the best house,
gives the best dinners and makes the longes,
prayers efany man in Chicago. His wife is leader
in the beau monde, one OF those sweet docle
aaectionate. quiet. retiring women Of whom
no one could suspect wickedness. AL at once.
however, there is revolution in the Burch
family. The pious money changer puts away
his wife, and accompanies the act with SO many
exhibitions Of petty meauness as to turn the
tide of sympathy in her favor In due time
Mr. Burch's action for divorce comes on, and
the lite Of the Illinois bar meet at a email town
upon the prairies for contest in which pro
feseioral courtesies will be dispensed with .
The evidence Is telegraphed Ia full all over the
country, and We presume that everybody, in
GLIDING the parsons. has read It. The defence
denies, in the first place, that Mrs Burch was
ever guilty Of any criminal act; and, secondly,
they intend to show that Burch was no better
indeed not so good-as be ought TO have been.
II win be noticed that In both Of these d.
vorce cases, the parties belong to what is called
pious society. The defendant In the Brooklyn
case Is the daughter Of Methodist clergyman,
and Burch is accounted among the elect II may
be pleasant to some OF our republican cotem.
poraries who are fond OF preaching about the
immortality Of the South TO know tba, such ex.
hibitions Of depraved state Of society rarely