The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-07-17
Mississippi Slander Suit.


Itoo Women A1TGyed Against Each OLber-A
touching Scene en- a Court ROonl-HoeC 1t Ter
minated.
The Macon (Miss.) Beacon recites the follow
ing interesting story. Its incidents attest the
worth and nobleness of true woman,s char
acter and instincts:-
In the County Court last week, the case of the
State against Sultana Alden for SANDER eX-
cited as much interest as any that has ever ORR
ginated in this county. The defendant, Mrs.
Allen, is an old respectable widow lady. Miss
Eliza McGowan, the lady against whose charac.
ter the slanCer was charged to have been ut
tered, is young lacy OF good family and un-
blemished character, an orphan residing with
her sister. Mrs. Aliens plea was mot guilty."
and Justification"
The examination of witnesses assumed the
broadest latitude Miss McGowan's conduct
through life, from childhood to the day of the
alleged SANDER, was made the subject OF inquiry
Nearly the entire neighbolhood in which the
parties reside we're present as witnesses Tor one
side or the other The case, without any charges
from the Court, was submitted to the jury, and
the question of the guilt or innocence of the
defendant left to their determination. In a
short time they returned verdict of guilty"
Five of the jury, on account of the age and
infrm condition of Mrs Allen, the defendant,
recommended her to the mercy of the Court.
After some consultation on the bench, Judge
McLelland, the Chief Justice of the Court,
turned to the prisoner and in substance said:-
Mrs. Allen, you have been presented before
this Court on a charge of slander, of wlfully
traducihg the character OF an innocent defense
less young lady of your neighborhoOd. In your
defense, the Court perhaps erred in permitting
you the latitude OF investigation INTO the charac-
ter and conduct OF Miss McGowan which you,
under the advice of your counsel, thought neces-
sary Tor your defense.
'If we erred in this it was on the side of mercy,
and we are content. The result OF all your in
vestigatlon has been a full vindication of the
char acter of the young lady whose conduct you
have impugned, and while this is most happy
result for her, it is most unfortunate tor you.
Iha ft1rx hr n fru WI hn va
declared you guilty OF the matters charged in
the Indictment and it now becomes the unplea-
SAINT duty OF this Court to impose the sentence
of the law upon you. In determining the pun
ishment to be inflicted the Court has taken into
consideration your sex, your age, and the recon-
mendation OF portion OF the jury who sat upon
your case, and we have, in consequence of these
things, made your punishment much lighter
than under different circumstances your crime
deserves. The sentence of the Court is that you
be fined in the sum of five hundred dollars, and
be Imprisoned in the county jail for the term OF
six months"
When this sentence was pronounced Miss
MCGOWAN burst into tears. She asked her coun-
sci if it was necessary for the complete Vindica-
ton OF her character that Mrs. Allen should be
really and actually imprisoned in the county
jail;'and when informed that the verdict of the
Jury was full and complete Vindication of her
character, she desired the Court to remit the
punishment. She said she had no vindictive
feelings against her criminal accuser; that having
no other protector; she had appealed to this
Court, and that now by its Judgment she was
fully protected from all further calumny, she
prayed the Court through her counsel TO have
mercy upon the unfortunate being who had just
been sentenced.
When Miss McGowan's request was made
known to the Court there was a Stiffness a
solemnitY, depth OF feeling seldom, il ever,
witnessed in court OF Justice. There sat the
young innocent and injured girl, pleading fol-
mercy for that old woman who had sought, by
her slanderous tongue at home, and the course
of her defense in Court, TO blacken and forever
ruin her reputation, the only patrimony left her
by her dead father and mother, Such magnani
nifty is almost beyond human conception. The
Court, the bar, the audience, were moved tC
silence, and not a few to tears-for some mo
ments the stiffness of death pervaded the assem-
bly,. The Judges were moved by the petition o
the young lady, and the fine and Imprisonment
were remitted.