The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1869-04-01

we copy the following from the Gin
cinnati Enquirer of March 4th
A great sensation breach of promise
case has just terminated in the Cour
of Common Pleas, at Lebanon, War
rem county, the home of the late Tom
Corwin. The plaintiff is a Miss Mary
Ferguson, aged twenty-six, beautiful
brunette, who sues John Armstrong
Bradshaw, NJ. D., for damages to the
amount of 100000, or $4,000 for three
separate breaches of promise of mar
riage. The defendant set up a general
denial, and claimed that the plaintiff is
woman having a distinct and visible
admixture of African blood and his
counsel set up the statute of January
81, 1851, which enacts that thereafter
it shall be unlawful for any person of
pure white blood to intermarry with,
or have illicit carnal intercourse with
any negro, or person having distinct
or visible admixture Of African blood
This plea was met by demurrer, on
the ground that the statute of 1861
was superseded by the Fourteenth
Amendment of the Constitution of the
United States, or, if not by that, by the
Civil Rights bill; but the Court could
not see it in that light and the case
was sent to the jury on its merits. I'M
the course Of the trial it appeared in
evidence that Bradshaw was born in
Ireland, and came to this country when
he was only IA years old, and testified
that he is descendant of Bradshaw,
the regicide, and that his ancestors fled |
to Ireland from England to escape the
odium incurred. His appearance on
the stand was not prepossessing, being
below the medium height, and looking
as though stunted in growth, and bear
ing the indications of premature de-
.crepitude. The case is published in
full, and the points Of interest are the
love letters written by Bradshaw; all
well composed, and filled with passion
ate protestations. He sends her thous-
tands of burning kisses, and usually
concludes thus dearest, do not neg
lect to enclose few loving kisses from
those dear lips, as you close your next
letter, tor they add much to my pleas
nre and happiness during your absence.
With sincere affection, loveling, kissing
the name Of my dear, charming, and
adored Mary, | close this letter" The
fact was developed that Bradshaw tried
to seduce her by promise of marriage
This she positively swore to- and in
corroboration of her testimony, Mr.
Carpenter testified to facts
which he had observed, going to con-
irm her story. He further testified to I
= conversation he had heard between
he parties. He slept in a room next
o the parlor where the lovers sat one {
hight. When in bed he heard a con- !
7ersation which aroused his suspicious
lie rose and partly opened the door '
eading into the parlor, peeped in, and /
aw the light was partly turned down; c
le felt the delicacy of his position, but, a
'elng as he was there, thought he might {
ee and hear more, for Mary was to il
i'm as his own daughter. He listened,
nd heard DR.. Bradshaw say, MARY, b
Oh don't love me as you should, or you t.
7ould YIELD" and Mary was heard to I
ay, Il like you well enough, Doctor, t
ut ! value my virtue more than life" tt
But the time is so short before we are a
, be married, it will make no differ t,
lce.p II would not if it was only two S,
ours before" The witness then went D
ack to bed, and said to his wife, he m
guessed Mary could take care of her. e,
'lf' This settled the case, and the k
~, after q brief conference, awarded u
g plaintiff $4,000, w