Charles City intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa) 1864-1866, 1866-05-03
From the Dubuque Herald, March e2i
A Novel Breach of Promise Case.

An exchange says curious case Of
breach of promise has just been COM
menced, and is now pending in the
Circuit Court of Buchanan county, in
which $4,000 are claimed.
1t appears that young lady of
Franklin county, Pennsylvania, said
to be exceedingly handsome as well as
rich, by the death of her father in the
spring of 1868 became sole heir to
some $4,000 worth of property,
mostly in money, bonds, and stocks.
At the time of her fathers death she
was only 20 years of age, and, under
the rigorous laws Of the Key Stone
State, was not permitted to enjoy her
wealth i'll her own way, only through
a conservator OF guardian, until she
became twenty-one years OF age. Be
fore this anticipated period Of her hap
piness arrived, a gentleman, formerly
from the State OF Iowa, engaged in
the great field of petroleum specula-
ton, became smittcn with her charms.
Although not he: equal, as regards
the worlds goods" yet being gen
'tlcman Of unimpeachable character
and excellent capacity, his love ifsucll
it was) was reciprocated by the charm
ing heiress.
lie urged an immediate marriage,
and, as an excuse for such haste, tried
to convince her that her guardian or
conservator was misapplying her prop
erty to his own use, while, from the
hour that he should become her hus-
band, he would be her legal guardian
and protector, and she would not then
be dependent on the will of a ''penu-
rious banker" She heartily agreed
with him in everything, but persisted
i'll putting off the marriage, saying it
would only be few months before she
would arrive at her majority, and as
soon as she became Of age, the mar,
riage should take place--in fact, the
time for the wedding was set. The in.
tended husband continued to engage
in profitable speculations, all the time
writing her the most endcaring letters,
which she now has in her possession
and apparently praying for the day to
arrive when he could call her his own
As soon as she arrived at the age oi
twcnty-one years, and competent un
der the laws of Pennsylvania to trans
act busmessin her owp- -bekaIf, shesim
n,esiatay eRploxed the Asetvices-d a
couple OF, Lawyers in, Franklin, and
executed certain instruments in wri
ting" placing her property beyond thu
reach Of any person she might marry
for all coming time.
This was done secretly, no ono
knowing anything about it except her
self and her attorneys. This happen
ed only one week before the time Sc
for her marriage. The intended hus
husband, Ill the meantime, succeeded
in acquiring quite a fortune by specu
lation. The wedding garments were
ready, and all due preparations for th,
happy occasion were made. just thre.
days before the time set for the wed
ding, the intended husband, by som,
means, mistrusted she had made dis
position Of her property in such a wa,
that he could not come into immediat,
possession of it. lie at once searche,
the records and found it all true, where
upon he Immediately wrote his lad,
love a note, saying he was engaged il
some enterprise which required his i'm
mediate attention, and begging of he'
to have the marriage ceremony post
poned short time. She was grieve'
at the request, but consented.
1 Before the next time set for the mar
riage to take place he discarded hel