Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1872-11-16
Breach Of Promise Case---The Story
Told in the Witness Box.

very painful scene has been exhibiting in
the Circuit Court room here for the last week,
perhaps the most painful one that can be i'm
agined-that Of woman telling the stsry Of
her shame in the witness box, before crowd
of idle spectators. The case on trial is that
of Mrs Sarah J. CARRIER against David Myers,
for $4,000 damages for breach of promise Of
marriage, under which promise she testified
she was induced to yield herself to the defen-
dant and fell. A little girl three years old, of
which it is claimed the defendant is tie father,
was produced in court. The parties were in
Court sitting by and constantly communicating
with their counsel Mrs CARRIER, the plaintiff,
is widow about 36 years of age, has ford
oaplexion, full black suit of her own hair
aud blue eyes. She is of medium size aud was
dressed plainly in close fitting drab merino
dress, wearing heavy plaid shawl and exhibit
ing no ornament except broad gold breach.
Her manner was self possessed and her answers
to counsel clear and prompt except to some
questions touching her relations with the de-
PENDANT, which were not answered until after
painful pause. Her story was not long. 1t
appeared from it that when her husband died
aud left her with three children, the defendant
was one Of his executors and was thrown good
deal with her, and in 1868, two weeks after the
burial of his own wife, he made her an offer OF
marriage that she told hin, such an offer was
unbecoming in him so soon after his wife's
death that in her own words, - he threw
himself on his knee as humble as child and
cried and begged me so" that she consented to
become his wife, and that few days after that
promise he ruined her. An effort had been
made, so she testified, to deter her from this
suit by persons who told her that the defen-
dant could produce witnesses that would ruin
her character. He promised to marry her in
the fall aftef he ruined her, and agreed at one
time to go away together and get married.
The defendant is very respectable land
owner residing about mile from New Hope,
on farm adjoining that owned by Mrs. Gar
her, His character, like hers, has always been
good, and his appearance is very little like
that Of Lotharo. lie is a tall, composed,
respectable looking gentleman of about so, with
grey beard and hair, and was arayed in plain
grey suit Of Virginia cloth. He has horid
complexion and grey eyes, and a serious cast
of csuntenaDce. Both parties to the suit were
in constant consultation with their counsel,
and on some occasions when Mr.. Baldwin
would get defendants witness III a tight
place, Mrs. G. seemed to enjoy it as much as
any one. The defence introduced several wit
nesses to break down the reputation Of the
plaintiff.
The array of legal talent in the case is very
strong. The plaintiff is represented by Mes
srs. Baldwin G. Cochran, and Echols, Bell &
Cstlett and the Defendant is represented by
Messrs. Shelley & Bumgardner aud Fultz &
Fultz.
The case had not been given to the jury last
night.-Staunton indicator, Sh.
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thurs
day were consumed in the examination OF
witnesses, and Friday and Saturday by the ar
gumeut of the able Counsel engaged. On
Friday the case was argued by Major II. NJ.
Bell for the Plaintiff, aud by Judges David
Fultz aud II. w. Shelley for the Defendant,
and the argument was concluded on Saturday
by Hon. John B. Baldwin. Both sides were
ably represented After short retirement, the
jury rendered verdict in favor Of the Plain
tiff and assessed her damages at $4,000.
1.Stdunton Spectator, 18TH