New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-10-08
A MUCH MIXED LITIGATION.
The Perils of AcQuaintanceship with At
tractive Females = An Avalanche q!
Law Suits-A Mine of Rare Family Sc
cYets to be Unearthed.

IN
cHets to be Unearthed.
From the New York Herald.
A curious and complicated case has arisen
in our courts, which exhibits some of the
dangers to which single gentlemen of means
and standing are exposed, and which
promises q development of transactions
which threaten to implicate the character OF
no less person than an ex-member of Con
gress, and to disturb the social relations of
several parties of both sexes whose reputa-
tions have hitherto been supposed to be I'M
blemished.
1t is alleged that Mr.. H. Dawes Slower;
who is wealthy and respected citizen OF
this city, and whose probity of character is
unquestiOned, having some matters Of diff
Jennie Rhoades, who was then a Miss Jen-
ME Cogswell, of Skaneateles, New York.
agreed with her to refer the same to an ar
bitrator, which was done, Charles B. Sedg-
wick, a well known lawyer, of Syracuse,
New York, being agreed upon as arbitrator.
1t is claimed by Mr.. Slower that at the time
Mr.. Sedgwick was selected Mr.. Slower be-
Ieved him to be gentleman entirely i'm
partial and Indifferent to the cause, but that
he has since ascertained that he was then
the personal adviser and counsel of Mrs.
Rhoades.
The principal question before the arbi-
traitor was whether Mr.. Slower promised to
marry Mrs. RhOades. The arbitrator found
in favor of Mrs. Rhoades to the tune of
$500, contrary, it is said, to the evidence,
which disclosed letters Of Miss COgswells,
in which the idea Of marriage was by her
secuted and repudiated, and the award, it
is further gravely charged, was obtained by
the inducement of a promise to the arbitra-
tor by Miss Cogswell Of twenty per cent of
the amount awarded.
Mr.. Slower refused to pay, and so law
suit in the Supreme Court OF OnOndaga
county, to enforce the award, was immedi-
ately instituted. This action was defended
by Mr.. Slower, who interpOsed in defense
the plea that the award was obtained by
fraud and corruption, and a counter claim
for a large amount of money which Mr..
Slower claims he lent to Mrs. RhOades.
Then came an action in the Supreme
Court of this county to set aside the award
on the grounds substantially stated above
as a defense to the action brought to enforce
the award. Mrs. Rhoades, however, during
the illness and absence of Mr.. Slower, sue
ceeded in taking judgment by default in a
suit in Onondaga county. But after in
effectually endeavoring to open the default,
Mr.. Slower obtained in the suit in this
county an injunction restraining Mrs.
Rhoades from collecting the Judgment
which had the effect of making her very
angry and discounted at the i'll success of
her scheme in taking the default. So she
appealed to the general term to have the in
junction dismissed, and the argument there
on was had last week before Presiding JUS
tice Ingraham and Justices Barnard and
Cardozo, Messrs. ArnouX. Ritch and Wood
ford-the last named gentleman being the
candidate for governor-representing Mrs.
Rhoades, and Richard M. Bruno, and
Thomas W. Pittman appearing on behalf of
Mr. Slower. The case is now awaiting de-
CisiOn.
Out of this case has sprung a series of
suits in which Mr.. Slower is plaintiff, one Of
which is against the husband of Mrs.
Rhoades, and another against Mr.. Sedg-
wick, in which it is alleged that the latter
obtained from Mr.. Stovers agent the sum
of $4,000 by means of false pretences. Many
of the witnesses in these cases are ladies
and gentlemen connected with some of the
first families of Syracuse and Skaneatcles,
and rich exposures of high old family secrets
and well-preserved domestic jars may be
expected. Mr. StOver's great wealth has its
attractions, and Miss Cogswell that was,
who is represented to be utterly impecuniOus
and irresponsible, was nOtinsensible to them.
1t seems she is not altogether inexperienced
In matrimonial Vaccinations, and affairs of
love appear to be her passion, if not her
profession. She formerly boarded with DR..
Porter Of Skaneatelas, her board bills being
promptly paid by gentleman of New York
and her antics and wild capers when she
uVed III Skaneatelas were so excessive as to
become the town talk. She subsequently
lived or stopped at No. 1874 Livingston
street, Brooklyn, but it seems she has not
had any very permanent place of abode.
The statement in, this suit circulated that
Mr.. Slower borrowed lady's diamonds for
the purpose OF procuring money for his bust
ness il simply ridiculous, Mr. Slower as hoe
already been intimated, being a yer s
wealthy gentleman, owning large real estate
and personal property and business inter
ests both in this city and in the suburbs be-
sides several extensive plantations in the
South