Smyrna times., 1872-11-27
A Romantic Lawsuit.

n
vile Ledger, which has been for some time G;
pending in the courts of Kentucky and lndi Y
ana, was brought to a termination day or two &
ago by the agreement of the parties to the suit
to a compromise. II
1t will be remembered that some years ago {
German gentleman named Gustavus Schurman |
resided in Louisville He was the possessor of L
a considerable amount Of property, lived IN y
good style, drove fine horses, sported a foot !
man in livery and claimed to be German a
nobleman He was married to German lady,
had young and interesting family, and to all 2
appearances was prosperous and happy. But,
as in so many families, there was a ghost in a
this one, the secret of whose existence did not
come to light until the death Of the principal
actor in this little social drama.
Gustavus was a resident of AiX-la Chapelle,
a little city in Rhenish Prussia pursued the
business of cloth manufacturer, and was what
might be considered we'll off, his real and per-
soEal estate being worth about l40, 900 thalers,
or about 100000. He loved, or thought he
loved, a lady named Amelia Eberhardine Coll
daughter of one Of the royal counsellors, and
in 1915 he proposed marriage, was accepted,
and the marriage was performed in that year.
An ante-nuptal contract was entered into be
tween the two, according to the code Napoleon, |
which was in force at Aix-la-Chapelle, by |
which in case of the death of the husband be |
fore the wife she became entitled to oDeeighth |
: in fee simple of his entire estate, and one
: fourth of the estate during her lifetime, be-
: sides having a community of interest III all
acquisitions to the common fund after marriage,
which community of interest would entltle her
to one-half
Z The two lived happily together for some time,
or apparently so. The life of the wife, how
e ever, was soon rendered wretched by the dis
b covery that another had supplanted her in her
If husbands affections. This however, was not
G exactly the case; it was she in reality who had
taken the place which nature had assigned to
c. another. Schurman had in his employ num-
t. Der of factory girls, .One of whom, Catherine
le Bengels, was possessed of more than ordinary
Of beauty. The impressbe young bachelor was
E. smitton with her beauty hut the inexorable
ID laws of society governing the little Rhenlsh
lie province in which he lived held over him a
iy terror of prescription which prevented him
ne from doing that which his heart prompted.
ch He loved Catherine Bengels, and his love was
d. returned; but he married Amelia f.. Coil, who
IS, brought to him proud name and an extensive
at dover. But for the crime which Schurmar
O. had committed against his nature he wa
he amply punished.
he His married life was unhappy, while his love
tai for the lOwly Catherine BeHgels became ever
all more intense, now that it was impossible to
sk them to be legally united They met clandes
led timely, and the intercourse coming to the knowl
edge of the unhappy vile, she became dis
to tressed beyond measure, upbralding her hus
re- band with his per6dy, and threatened divorce
A This rendered the husband desperate, and
OF openly avowing his attachment, took Catherln
BILE Bengels into his dOmice. Becoming discor
/ tented with this condition of things, Schul
Ugh man decided upon emigrating 10 America, an
Who came to this country. He returned in lS4'
ife, and gathering together what property he couC
,lsy departed in 1850 for the United States
ace company with Catherine Bengels. Before h
ave departure his wife institpted suit for divorc
Ipa- On the arrival of Schurman he proceeded
een Louisville, where he took up his res1enc
arty and sued for divorce from his wife Amell
ws which was granted when he Immediately ma
his red the woman who had clOped with him.
IZed Gustavus Schurman purchased real esta
our in indianapolis and Louisville, and by his ia
rries and business management increased his veal
an TO over a million of dollars At the time
ion. his death he had seven children-twO by
ican first wife and FIVE by his second wife.
rmy making his will he left his Prussian proper
les to his two German heirs, and his Amerc
ason property to his American heirs.
any The first wife, Amelia learning Of the dea
lsk of her husband, obtained possession, by lel
'mbs process, of the Prussian estate, and sued
ever her share, as per marriage contract, of the
pro- cedent's estate in America. HersOn-GuStaN
The +. Schurman-represented her with powers
Mt is attorney and the ablest lawyers in the c
the were employed to prosecute the case.
dis pleadings we're vouminous, and as V
ourts amount of property was involved, great int
hold est was manifested in the result. 1t appear
nder however, that as the case progressed the pla
lould tiff weakened somewhat in enforcing
the claims. Being in foreign country, and cor
the of proceedings in foreign courts being freque
f the ly rendered necessary as testimony in
esult American courts, she became wearied,
s in finally agreed to compromise by accepting
lieu of all claims, the sum of one hund
thousand dollars.