The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1869-02-19
AN AGED LOVER.
A Wealthy Resident of Hudson Connty,
n. j., Asked to Fay $4,000 for
Breach ct Promise


A suit brought by Mrs. Mary A. Har-
rlson, widow lacy, to recover $4,000
damages against George VreelaDd, a wild
over, Tor breach OF promise, was com>
menced in the Hudson County Supreme
Court, yesterday, before his Honor, Judge
Bedle. The parties in the case are resi-
dents of Greenville, the plaintiff being
about 40 years Of age, while tie defendant
"a wealthy man-has passed his S0th
year, and has been life long resident of
his present place of abode The case, as
all scandal cases do, excites great deal Of
interest, anC as consequence, the court
room was filed with interested spectators
during the entire day.
Mr.. Dixon, Jr., appeared for plaintiff,
and Hon. Cortland Parker and James
Fleming, Esqs., for the defendant
This declaration sets forth that this action
was brought to recover damages for a
breach of a contract of marriage that on
the 9th OF January, 1866, defendant en-
gagged to marry plaintiff whenever so re-
CURED /; second, that defendant promised
to marry plaintiff within reasonable time;
third, that defendant promised to marry
plaintiff as soon as certain (divorce) suit
was decided between him and Caroline E.
Vreeand, and FINALLY that be promised to
marry plaintiff on the LIST OF June, 1867, all
OF which he failed to perform.
Mrs. Harrison was first placed on the
stand and testified that she had lived in
Greenvlile, during the past twelve years ;
that her husband had been dead one year
when she first commenced to reside there :;
she had obtained livelihood for herself
and her daughter By teaching school; she
related the circumstances which led to
her acquaintance with Mr.. Vreeland she
first spoke to him 10 1862, in making appli-
cation, to borrow $50, which he lent her
upon the security OF legacy, which had
been bequeathed her !; subsequently in tbs
the spring of 1868 the defendant called
upon her and proposed marriage; the
month OF July, 1864, was fixed for the
time when they should be united they
frequently talked upon the subject, but
the time arrived and the defendant was
not prepared to make his offer good in the
month of September, of the same year, he
began to complain Of the interference of
his children and relatives ; She told him
that if he was to be influenced in that way
against her she did not want to come into
his family, when he replied that he could
not give her up to please anybody the
defendant frequently called upon her until
the spring OF 1864, asking her to have pa
thence with him, tor he would soon be able
to marry her; witness in 1863 had given
up her school, and when she reminded him
OF this, he said he would remunerate her for
loss, and proposed to give her 81 900 ; she
consented to take the money when he
brought the money he also presented
a paper, which he desired her to sign :;
she kept the paper few days, took copy
OF 1t, and signed 1t, delivering it to him
with her signature attached ; she told him
when she gave 1t TO him that it sounded
like release from his promise, and
remarked that If he had desired tC be
relieved he should have said 50 at an ear
ller day p; he replied that he did not want
release, and that be would not give her up
on any consideration witness told him
that she could not remain IN that position,
and that II he was ready to get married
she was; he continued his calls as former
Is, at intervals of about a week between
each visit until in the spring of 1865 /; he
said that be had been unjustiy taxed to
large amount, AMI that when he had set
tied that matter he would be married du-
ring the summer of 1865 he was more at
tentlve aud kind than she had ever known
him to be he soon afterward went to New
I ork TO live, aud in November he was
brought home III a state of illness E; soon
after he returned lady called at witness
house and represented herself as his wife
witness then wrote to defendant and he
came to her house as soon as he was able
to do so, about. live weeks aiterward he
then said thar the woman was not his wife;
that he was only living with her to which
witness replied that In such a ccse she
would have no more to say to him at this
MIR. Nreeand seemed to be greatly dis
pleased, and asked her forgiveness for his
Lad conduct; he confessed that he had
treated her shamefully, but he said if she
would give him her forgiveness, sym
pathy and aid, !" he would try to do better,
and that he would marry her he said that
he was the victim OF id cOnsplra-
Cyl that the woman, Mrs. Shelly, wanted
to prove that she was married to him,
and that it Was in witness power to prove
the contrary witness then consented to
help him if he would lead "a decent and
respectable life. aud marry her on the
following Christmas ; he promised to do so,
and she consented to become a witness for
him Dy her testimony he gained his cause;
after the trial was finished he came to see
her, and told her that she had saved ones
tDlTu VI His property auu ludG he ought
not only to marry her, but to worship her,
he then began to plead for more time to
perform his marriage contract, and told
her that Mrs. Shelly had three years
time in which to appeal the case, aud
that if she should tnen gain it she would
arrest him ior bigamy he spoke of having
Mrs. Shelly indicted of perjury and sent
to prison, but witness suggested thai she
could be sent to California, to which place
she had offered to 90 if Mr. Vreeand
would pay her expenses; negotiations were
entered into to get the womap to 60, but
they were broken off by Mr.. Vreeland, who
said that witness must wait three years, or
if she preferred to commence suit, she
might do SO that he would fight her to
the last. Upon cross examination the
witness stated that in The first commence
ment of the courtship there where no
love passages; subsequently there were
many Vreeland had given her money at
two different times besides the one thou>
sand dollars the first time he gave her
fifty dollars to purchase a new set OF teeth;
and after the suit with Mrs. Shelly was
finished, he gave her $3.50 to commence
a suit against the Sunday Mercury. for IL