Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-09-28
Suit for Breach of Promise.

fsner, the case OF Eizabetn Gresham
against Bartram Leins--action for breach of
promise and seduction, claiming damages at
Sl0,0tO-vas taken up: Messrs- Bradley and
Phillips for plaintiff, and Davidge and Fendall
for defendant so
MIR. Phillips opened the case to the jury,
stating that the plaintiff claimed damages in
consequence OF breach Of promise of marriage
and seduction. This was similar to all cases Of
this character, defendant first obtains the love
she had been most inhumanly treated. The
plaintiff lived for years at Mr.. John Beyer's
and he besought the plaintiff to marry
him, getting Mrs. Boyer TO intsrcede for him;
and after she gave her consent, he took her To
his house that she mi yht see her new home: aud
on pretence Of getting her to look after the in err
e3tS of his children the being a widower) she
succeeded in the purpose he had in view. He
then asked how much money she had, and get.
ting an answer that she had but little he went
70 New iork, and on his return he said thar he
could not marry her. They expected to show
that he then drove her from his home shortly
aiier TINS ne married another woman, and the
only redress she now had was before the Jury.
MT; Fendall followed for the defendant say.
ing me statement made by the plaintiff was
somewhat remarkable. The defendant kept
saloon and the plaintiff lived there until a few
weeks after the death of Mr.. LIS first wife.
A year or more after the death of his wife he
met her at Mr.. Beyers, and while there Mrs.
Boyer suggested that Mr.. l.. and the girl would
make good couple and il was Ioked about by
l.; and others. MIR. l.. subsequently employed
brother Of the plaintiff and the plaintiff went
to see him and staying there too late remained
all night. The next night she came again and
L. did not offer or give her room, but she took
one OF the children out of bed and laid in his
place. LENS told her to leave and ordered her
away, but when she refused he drove her
away. He believed that this was trumped
up case for the purpose Of extorting money
from the defendant
Elizabeth Gresham, the complainant, a fine
looking woman, of about twenty-eight years
OF age, was sworn, and testified that she first
became acquainted with Mr.. Leins at Mrs.
Beyer's, on A street, Capitol Hill; lived there
four years; Knew Boyer all that time; Il. came
there atout once u month. Leins asked her to
marry him on the 4th of December, 1850. He
spoke first to Mrs. Buyer, and then he called
witness out and asked her what she thought,
and she said so and so, and she went to Mrs.
Boyer and told her that it was all right; got
some wine, and he treated; next morning he
came about seven O'Clock, and told her
TO come out to his house with Mrs. Boyer.
Witness went out with Mrs. Boyer, and ne
took her back about eight O'Clock the next day
Next day he asked her if she wanted to keep
her word, and she said she wanted 10 keep her
promise. He IL ,ins) lived hen on Pennsyl-
vania avenue, between eth and 9Th streets.
Next Friday he met her In the cars, and he
went with her 10 Beyers: he called her out,
and said he wanted to go TO New York, ami
WOULD like her 70 stay with her brother and his
children while he was gone. Saturday witness
went TO LENS to take her brothers Clothes
and the brother wanted to take her back, and
LENS said no, that she could sleep with his
daughter. Witness did so, remaining until
Monday Next day he asked her TO come out
and take care OF the children, and she said that
she did not think it would be right until she
was married. Leins little girl then called her
up stairs, and told her to wear a watch which
he gave her, and she said that she was not so
proud. He asked what minister she wart d
what religion she had-and she said that she
was no Catholic, and wanted Mr.. Finckel, and
he said he was not particular. She refused TO
take the watch. He spoke to her about getting
shirts, &c. He did not go TO New York until she
left the house, and kept putting of the mar
of the little boy. In the second week she was
told by Liens that the children should sleep In
one bed. Witness put them in their own
beds. He came about eleven o'clock to
her ana took Julius out OF her bed and
put him In his own bed; witness was
In bed at the time. Witness sand that she did
not think 1t was right, that she was not mar
rled. tiere witness burst INTO tears He said
be was just as good as married, and his word
was good. He came the next night and took
j ullus out again. Next morning he SAID
that he wanted to go to New York before
he married her. She asked him to
marry her that day. The third night, at ten
O'Clock, he came home, and sail he had
seen Matilda, saying that he was entitled to six
or seven thousand dollars, and as ked her about
how much money she had and she said that
her money was but little. He came back to her
bed that night and she ordered him out Next
morning he said that he was going to Mrs.
Arms This mother-in-law) and told her TO get
a bottle OF wine. He returned about O'clock
and asked if Mrs. Boyer had been there, and
said that Mrs. Il. SAID that she would not b.
good for the children because she was not 4
Catholic: and also, that she was not a good
woman. Witness answered that he had known
her long enough. He gave her a room, and he
was there three DAYS crying; did not eat any
thing, and was ashamed to get out OF the house.
he came again on Saturday and said that
he would not keep his word. Here she again
burst into tears.) He offered her hundred
m 10 to arn sc
she said she did not want 10 go; and he then
proposed that she should go to board at MIR
S'aIlys. She asked TO speak 10 his motner-in-
law, and he would not let her. Thai day he
took the KEY from her room and told her 20
leave: that he would drive her out, and told
one OF the children to throw a bucket of water
on her, Witness LETT the house on the 5th of
J uary, and went TO Mrs. kraft's and staid
over a year, and then to DIR. Krauss', where
s he lived four weeks, and then to Mrs. Beyer's.
Defendant was with her but two nights Next
little boy, and she asked If he was noe ashamed
before his little son. He repeated that he in-
tended to marry her.
Witness was cross -examined by MI Dayidge
al great length, during which She said that on
the 18th OF December, 1866, she worked at Mrs.
Beyer's, doing the homework, and cleaned the
bar room; sometimes she waited on people In
the garden Witness was not visited by de-
fend3nt in the parlor; he was not drunk when
ne asked her 10 marry him; did not tell Mr.
Finkle; she was ashamed 20.
Re direct examination by Mr.. Bradley:-Wit-
ness Is not married woman: did not drink
with LENS after he said he would not keep his
promise; never told here brother of what LENS
did; she was sick. and did not leave immedi-
ately he said he would not keep has promise;
when they threatened to throw water on her
she SAID she would leave. Witness brother is
now in Oregon; went there in l567, unbeknown
TO witness ct the time
Re-cross-examination by Mr.. Davidge:-Wit-
ness did not drink at LENS during last two
weeks.
The Court took a recess, and on resuming
MIR. Dorothy Boyer was sworn and was giving
IL her testimony as our report closed.
TIE SUPPLY OF WooD AND CoAL.-Freduent
applications with reference TO the matter have
caused an inquiry as TO the comparative guam
-ity of wood and coal now in the market with
that of last year, the result of which IS the as
a thQra il q Aho