The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-02-27
THE RURCH CASE IN CHICAGO


As this has created an intense excite
ment in the various western cities as well as in
this, and as it will soon come up before the courts
for investigation, we give place to reorganization
OF the matter. Some of the Chicago papers CON-
ment freely upon the action of all parties at the
time of the occurrence:
Before another week had passed the case began
to wear Few aspects, and now is matter Involved
in darkness and doubt.
Then came the stunning reply from Mr.. Stuart
that for months he had not visited the house of Mr.
Burch and certainly was not there the day in
question.
the effect that Mr.. Corning, unwilling believe
his niece guilty is determined to protect her rights,
and has sent on agents to investigate, far pos
sible, the truth of the aspersons the lady's
character. The agent or agents, and we are aware
that they have been here, are satisfied that the
whole is plot by jealous husband to put away
his lawful wife, This, her noble protector deter
mined to resist and he has placed the cause of Mrs
Burch in the hands of Mr.. Beckwith, an eminent
lawyer of this city, who will be assisted by Mr..
Merrick. These facts to be taken in connection
with the rumor that hen Mr. Beckwith follow ed
his disgraced wife to Albany to settle the terms of
separation betwixt himself and her, his reception
by Mr.. Corning was very different from what he
expected.
The cause of Mr.. Burch has not been improved
by the manner in which he is said to have treated
his wife, subsequent to the alleged discovery of
her guilt. He degraded her, and in picking her
name out of the linen, and erasng it from the plate
he erased it from that property which he declared
some years ago, in defence to tax suit, all OF it
belonged to her and not to him. This, with his
refusal to allow her to see her children before
leaving, forcing her to make her exit from the rear
of the house which her marriage dover is said to
have given him, has not worked in his favor. 1t
is now boldly asserted that the confession was
extorted from her after confinement, and others
aver after pistol had been presented at her breast
The document was sworn to before Mr.. Burch's
partner, who is notary public, and the grave
charge of conspiracy is now levelled against them
both.
Be this part as it may, Mrs. Burch now denies
the substance of her confession, saying that
it was extorted from her. Whether she can with
draw it, is another question: and, under the State
statutes it cannot be used evidence against her
in divorce suit, if she prove that it was OBJ
tanned by menace or conspiracy, while it is but
seldom that such confessions are useful evil
dence.
The case is to come on in the February term of
the Circuit Court, in the form of an application by
Isaac Il. Burch for divorce from his wife Mary W.,
and 1T will be matter of interest in all respects,
the Union over. The wealth and standing of the
parties, Messrs. Corning, Burch ard Stuart the
eminent legal ability which will doubtless appear
in the suit, and the interest of the case ITSELF all
combine to make it of the most remarkable
cases ever tried in Chicago Court.-Cin. CONNER
cial.