Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-06-08
The Burch Divorce Cu.e at Cbic,yo

The answer of the defendant to the com.
plant In this case was filed June Ist. The
document is very lengthy one. The follow
| ing are its chief points The answer admits
the marriage at Albany in 1S48, &c; denies
criminal intercourse; says specifications Of
time and place are vague and Indefinite: first
became acqusi' ted with Mr. Burch at ALBANY.
IN lSI2, where Mr.. Burch was clerk in a bank.
He came tn Chicago with limited means, and
started bank. Mrs. Burch has since ascer-
tanned that mr. Burch took pains to ascertain
her pecuniaTy circumstance Mrs Burch at
the time was living in the family of Erastus
Corning. MIR. Corning and friends assisted
Mr.. Burch pecuniarily. In 1855 a misunder-
standing arose between Mr.. Corning and
friends and Mr.. Burch, when the latter COM
menced ill-treating her, using grossly insult
ing language, which he sought to conceal from
the public by being always kind and attentive
when others were present. He refused to give
her money for family expenses. First met Mr.
Stuart IN 1896, at party at the fremont
House, was introduced by Mr. Burcb, who ex-
pressed the highest regard for Mr. Stuart
until difficulty in business matters arose
Met Mr. Stuart several times afterwards ut
divers places. At one time Mr. and Mrs
BUrch and Mr.. and Mrs Stuart dined at the
house of Hon. stephen Douglas Afterwards
MIR. Stuart called at her residence and saw
Mrs. Burch alone. A Mr. Farnam called
Mrs. B. sent word that she was engaged. and
would not see him. The only liberty Mr..
Stuart ever took was taking Mrs Burch by the
arm. Tor some trivial matter MI Stuart dis
continued his visits for some time. Did not
call again until the fall of 1859. when her hus-
band was present. Says that in July, 1859,
MI Bgrch made an appointment to meet
young lady at Saratoga, and was very attentive
to her while there. Said lady was formerly
very intimate with Mrs. Burch, but after
above discontinued intimacy Burch proposed
tosyoung lady imputed dishOnorabIe motives TO
Stuart and one Burrell with Mr. Burch Mr.
Burch kissed the young lady when she left, at
the same time treating his wife coldly. Mr..
Carlisle Boyd, teacher in Sunday school with
Mrs. Burch, was intimate with the family
and at the request of complainant, Mrs
Burch made him present of a smoking
cap and ring; complainant was continually
writing letters to the aforesaid young Iady ut
Little Falls, and receiving replies; on the 7th
OIL January, 1900, complainant commenced
finding fault with defendant about tr1einu
matters, accusing her of too much intimacy
with all of aforesaid parties, things went on
more smoothly until the 18th of January, when
ne 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, Erastus Corning. he
said nothing would be done unil Mr.. Corning
came On Monday, January l6, he compelled
complied he would turn her out of the house
lie promised never TO show the confession. and
finally forced her to sign, after he had dictat ed
every word, she continually protesting that il
was untrue. He then made her sign another,
which defendant supposed was what she h "a
written, denying all the charges he had made,
which afterwards proved to be the coufessiop
on which the complaint was based. He com.
PEELED her to acknowledge her guilt by
threat OF thrusting her out Of doors He tried
to make her acknowledge herself guilty at
tfteen different times. She would not. He
said ne had written to Mr.. Corning to come to
CnlcaSo, and sent her to Albany the next day.
not allowing her to see her children. In cor
ciuslon she emphatically denies all criminal
intercourse with any one, and their petitions
Tor change Of venue on the ground that Mr..
Burch, on account of his position exercises un-
due influence over the people of Cook county,
the minds of people being prejudiced.