The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-02-04

inadequate for the purpose and suggests an appor-
( tionment OF &c., 900 more. The report was laid on
the table for the present
SINGULAR BREACH OF PROMISE CASE.
~~~~~>~>~e->~~~~~~~~~~
Cupid's vaRaries In Jersey-Love at Eighty
three and BligLted Affections mt Half a
Century-Spicy Developments Of Loves
Old Dream-Damnges Laid mt $4,000.
In the Hudson County On. J.) Court yesterday the
case OF Mary Harrison vs.. George Vreeland came up
before Judge Bede and the associate Justices OF the
county. The case has been postponed from term
to term in the hope of compromise, but
the dispute, becoming more aggravated by delay,
has gone at length under the arbitrament Of
the highest tribunal in the county. The plaintiff
is widow, forty 1--we years Of age and charges the
defendant, mere remnant Of mortality, with one
foot on the threshold Of the grave and about COM
pleting his eghtythird year, with breach ofpromise
Of marriage. 1t appears that in the spring Of 1863
an intimacy arose between plaintiff and defendant,
and resulted, as alleged in the latter making pro-
position OF marriage, which was accepted Mr..
vreeland's family would not countenance such
proceeding, and the alleged engagement was
accordingly postponed from time TO time
and eventually broken OF. Damages were laid
at $4,000, q sum quite considerable for the
plaintiff, who has followed the vocation of school
teacher for living, while the defendant il reputed
to be very wealthy and belongs to one Of the oldest
| and most respectable families in Bergen.
perusa Of the will satisfy any one that 1t is
the most singular brought before a civil court
in New Jersey, and such case is OF such
renee anywhere that N. p. Willis was con-
sidered to have counted the pulse Of his
| times most accurately when ne gave
| the line, "YOur love In cottage grows
| hungry,n reference to an extraordinary case in
those days. To quote the hackneyed line, The course
satirica Both parties to the suit have taken fare
well, long 1arewer' to the heydey Of life, when
leaves the love-smtten youth some apology for an,
unthnking submission and and Ofrentines absolute
surrender TO the demands Of the blind god Accord.
on her all the attentions OF lOve-sick mortal
in fact, that these called friendship npened into
feeling that but feebly expressed in the word aec
| ton. And what revclry OF bliss both must have
INDUCED in when he conjure up to her mind a pic
SO soon to snareI And how Notifying must it have
been, on the other hand, when as the time for the
M no Of the alleged engagement came
| of mind setting forth that he was greatly
troubled by the perversity OF his family who were
SO ungener0us as to nsinuate that any acceptance
OF the proposition OF marriage by her nothing
more nor less than conspiracy on her part to pos-
jected to much annoyance this that 1t
was deemed advisable TO postpone the engagement.
She replied that II he desired to be released from his
engagement she was quite willing to accede. but It
Is alleged he continued to visit her.
Under such circumstances It is not to be wondered
sum commensurate with blighted hopes and disap-
TESTIMONY OF THE PLAINTIFF.
Mrs. Mary Harrison. on being placed on the stand
testified as foows:-I have lived In Greenville for
twelve years; my husband has been dead thirteen
years; taught school there and kept boarders for
some years. have no means OF subsistence outside
SaugSer have known e defendants snce the
spring OF 1868; he Is q wdower; he lives on his In
come and has considerable property; he owns
1868; he called on me about one week subsequently,
social call-and at the next call he proposed
riage; he asked me II thought 1 could marry hin,
and agreed to do so; he asked me at what time /
would be ready; told him would prefer the month
d poSn IN IN nj e
planned OF the interference OF his children;
! sand # ne was 70 be Influenced by
ne would never give me up; ! then told him as
plainly | would never give him up to please any
me 20 have patience with him: had given up my
school in July 1888; he proposed giving me 1000
copied and signed M when he called for the PAPER
told him that the paper sounded like release;
said he wanted 10 be released he should have said
so in the first place; he said he did not want a
release; thought his conduct was strange at the
time; he seemed rather hurt at that; told him he
could not remain in that position and that n he was
ready to get married was; did not think was
justified In remaining In that position matters con-
quently 10 see me- and continued his visits till the
spring OF 1885, about once week or perhaps every
zen DAYS; IN toe spring OF IL 1859 ne complained OF
y) more than he ought to pay; IN June
1885, we held the last conversation on the subject OF
marriage; he went away very suddenly; wrote to
him and he came to me: asked him the cause OF
his strange conduct; In July 1868, he announced his
intention Of going to New York. and he wished me
to be quiet In the meantime; during the summer OF
1865 he was more attentive aud kind than had
ever known him; m November following, while ne
was living In New York. he was brought home
sick, and IN that month lady came 70
me and represented herself as his wife;
4 faAt unA ana ha anfpat ~
house as soon as he was able-about ave weeks
afterwards; he said that woman who called on me
was not his wife; he only kept her; lie was very
much displeased; he said he was the victim OF me
damnedest co lspiracy that was ever known; that
she pretended to be married TO him; he asked me to
prove that he was IN my place at the time the mar
rage was alleged TO have taken place, which
agreed 70 do; by this means no gained tue case and
saved, as he said third OF his properly. and That
he would not only marry me, but ne ought to wor-
ship me. (Laugnter.)
The court here took q recess, after which the ex-
animation was continued at great length Plaintin
testified that defendant called on her as frequently
and showed her rs much attention as ever after the
occasion last referred TO- and finally requested her
to postpone the marriage for three years. In order to
evade an action Tor bigany which the other woman
tSarah l.. Cummings alas Louisa Ii. JenkInsD might
bring against him: that she did not consider this
proposition very iavorably at the time, but she per-
ceived that the defendant desired 10 withdraw al
together from the engagement.
Witness was cross-examned by Ex-Governor
Parker when she admitted that the document which
she signed after receiving $1,000 purported 10
lease defendant from any engagement towards her,
and totally acquitted HIM OF liability In any action at
law arising out Of the intimacy between them
Several letters from plaintiff 10 defendant were
read, including the following tender enuson, which
must have been most touching to the old man who
was the object OF such warm Affection
MY DxARgsr OLD PEr--wl ron come and me before
ana 70 o ~ss sn Ss 0
you here ies very arined about
you. must see you Your MARY
In another letter she says:--",ly claim upon Won
never be removed this side OF eternity. 1 have
loved you sincerely and deyotedy, aud you told me
m low mo lp slaef, rnd
would never permit him TO marry anybody but her
sef and expressed her determination 10 do
terrible thlngsr n he abandoned her winding
up I'm this fashion:-"My temperament will not
allow my feelings and affections 10 be crushed.
avn decided on this point and | will ule before
yield IT, Nearly all the letters are prosy practical
and to the point, but here and there spicy passage
occurs which an0rds key 10 the "tenpsrarnen,, OF
the writer. like the following.--"You cannot escape
me. ! shall follow you TO the furtnest ends