National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-11-22
Ending ofa Remarkable Lawsuit.

a
been for somc time pnudiug in the
courts Of Kentucky. and Indiana, was
brought to n termination . day or two
ago by the agreesient OF the parties to
the suit to o compromise. ..4..s.
Some years ago q German gentleman
named Gustavus .Schurman resided in
Louisville. lie was the possessor Of
considerable amount OF property, lived
in good style, drove fine horses, sported
u footmnn in livery, and claimed TO be
German nobleman. Ho was married.
70 German young lady, had young
and interesting family, and TO all appear
ances was prosperous and happy. But
as in so many families, there was ghost
in this one, tho secret of whose existence
did not come to light nutil the death. of
the principal actor IN this little social
drama. ttHF it.
Gustavus was resident of Aix-la-Cha
pelle, little city in Rhcnish Prussia,
pursued the business of cloth maniac
turer, and was what might be considered
we'll of, his real and personal estate
being worth about 100000 He loved,
or thought he loved, "a lady named Amelia
Eberhardine Coll, daughter of one Of
the royal counselors, and in lS45 he pro.
posed marriage, was accepted, and tho
marriage ceremony was performed in
that year. An ante-nuptial contrsc
was entered into between tho two, nc
cording to the code Napoleon, whicl
was in force at Aix.la.C .Chapelle,b by which
in case OF the death of the husband be-
! fore the wife, she became entitled to one
eighth in fee simple of his entire estate,
and one fourth of the estate during her
life time, besides having a community
Of interest in all acquisitions 70 the COM
mon fund after marriage, which commu-
nity of interest would entitle her to
one half.
The two lived happily together for
some time, or apparently 50. The life of
| the wife, however, was soon rendered
wretched by the discovery that another
had supplanted her in her husbands
affections. This however, was not ox-
actly the case; it was she in reality, who
had taken the place which nature had
assigned to another. Sehurman had in
his employ number Of factory girls, ,one
Of whom, Catherine Eengels, was pos
sesscd of more than ordinary beauty.
The impossible young bachelor was
smitten with her beauty; but the iIexor-
ablc. laws of society governing the little
Rhehish province in which he livod held
over him terror of prescription which
prevented him from doing that which
his heart prompted. Heloycd Catherine
Bengels al 4 his love was returned, but
he morried Amelia e, Coll, l,wbo brough,
to him proud name and an extensive
dover. But for the crime which Schur-
man had committed against his nature
he was amply punished.
His married life was unhappy, while
his love for the lowly CathariPe Bengel'
became more intense, now that it was
impossible for them to be legally united.
They mot clandestinely, and tho inter
course coming to the knowledge of the
unhappy wife, she became depressed be-
yond masure,. upbraid ed her husband
with his perhdy, and threatened divorce.
This rendered the husband desperate,
and, openly avowins his attachment,
took Catherine Bcpgels into his domi-
cile. Becoming discontented with this
condition Of things, Schurman decided
upon emigratin9 to America, and came
to this country. He returned in 1S49,
and gathering together what property he
could, departed in 1850 for the United
/ States, in companyAwith Catharne Ben.
gels. Before his departure, his wife in
st;tutcd suit for divorce.
On the arrival OF Schurman. 1T
lea he proceeded to LolhSXi1 49,
took up his residencee A., "a
vorce from his wife Az IA his \ i
. granted when he imnJ III q
the woman who had clobea b
i Gustavus Schurman, pur1 es1
estate in Indianapolis and Lod Siu M
by his tact and business mAnaC CmS
creased his wealth to, 60
dollars At the time Q1
seven children, two h j
five by his second n his
will he left his p VI N - his
two German ~ 1kderican
property to.
The tirst.l ang of the
death Of ~ lned possess
sion hy. BW the Prussian
esta41 Ter share, as per
mAf1 u the descendants
esta1 - 06a[ Her son, Gustavus
t. S0k represented her with pow
er of ek,kd6 land the ablest lawyers in
the ely w. employed to prosecute the
c9a. Tht pfeadings were, voluminous
aid as a vast amount of property was in
kolvcd, great interest was manifested in
The result. II appeared, however, that
as the case progressed the plaintiff weak
.ened somewhat in enforcing her claims.
Being in foreign country, and copies
OF proceedings in foreign courts beng
frequently rendered necessary as testl-
mony in the American counts, she be-
came wearied and finally agreed to a
compromise, in lieu OF all claims, for the
sual of ,one lruadred thousand dollars.
A CORPSE MrsLA A Boston CORE.
spondent vouches for the following
g A certain Judge was visiting friends
family when the death Of an infant child
occurred. The bereaved parents re-
quested the iudga to watch by. tire
remains OF the departed, and OF course
he consented. As 'the.night hours spread
their weary length along, the judge
became exceedingly sleepy Apd. weary
so, looking around he saw a bureau
and, trying the upper drawer thereof
found it enpty and capable ~ being
locked. He accordingly placed the deat
baby in drawer, locked it, took ou'
the key. put the latter in his pocket ant
retired to rest on the sofa. Awakening
early and having call out. he entirel,
forgot the. events of the preceding
night. At court hour he was punctua
in attendance, and deeply engaged listen
ing to counsel when strong whlspe
startled him where's the baby
A fumbling in his pocket, the deliver!
| of tLa Ln,, and q few exnlanatOrV MOrd.