The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-11-26
ROMANTIC LAWSUIT.

A very remarkable lawsuit, says the Louis
Vile Ledger, which has been. for some time
pending In the courts of Kentucky and Indl.
ana, was brought to termination day or
two ago by the agreement OF the parties to
the suit to compromise.
It will be remembered!that some years ago
German gentleman named Gustavus schur-
man resided In Louisville. he was the pos
SCISSOR OF considerable amount of property,
lived 10 good style, drove fine horses, sported
footman in livery, aud claimed to be Ger.
man n0bleman. He was married 10 q Ger
man lady, had q young and interesting family,
and to all appearances was prosperous and
happy. But, as 10 30 many families, there
existence did not como TO light until the
death of the principal actor In this little 80.
o'ei austaVns % was resident of Aix-la. .Chapelle,
little city In Rhenish Prussia, pursued the
business Of cloth manufacturer. and was what
might be considered. we'll of, bis real and per-
sorial estate being worth about lao 900 thalers,
loved, q lady named Amelia Eberhardlne Coil,
daughter of one Of the rpysl counselors, and
in l8a5 he proposed marriage, was accepted,
and the marriage was performed In that year.
An ante-nuptial contract was entered Into De.
tween the Two, according to the code Napo-
leon, which was 10 force &C Aix-la-Cnapelle,
by which In case of The death Of the husband
before the wife che became entitled to one
eighth In fee simple of his entire estate. and
one.fourth OF the estate during her lifetime.
besides having community OF interest In all
acquisitions to the common fund after mar
rlagp, which community OF Interest would en-
title her to one.half.
M uuod h,nnfIu f0uathar f0r ANNA
time. or apparently 40. The life of the vile,
however, was soon made wretched by the dis
coyery that another had supplanted her In her
husband's affections. This, however, was not
exactly the case; 1t was she IN realty VINO nad
taken the place which nature had assigned 10
another. Schurman had IN his employ mum.
ber of factory girls, one OF Whom, Catnerlne
beauty. The impressitie young bachelor
was snitten with her beauty, but the inexora'
BILE laws OF society governing the little Rhe-
nIsh proyince 10 rhich he lived held over him
a terror of prescription which prevented him
from doing that which his heart prompted.
He loved Catherine Bengels. and hls loved
was returned, but he married Amelia q. Coll,
tenslye dover. But tor the crime which
Schurman had committed against bis nature
he was amply punished.
His married life was unhappy, while his love
for the lowly Catherine BeDgelB became even
more Intense, now that 1t was Impossible for
them TO be legally united. They met cIandes.
timely, and the Intercourse coming to the
distressed beyond measure, upbraidlng her
husband with bis perfdy, and threatened di.
yorce. This rendered the husband desperate,
and. openly avowlng his attachment. took
Catharine Bsugels into bis domlcile. Becom-
Ing discontented with this condition of things,
Schurman decided upon emigrating to Amer
lea. and came to this country. BE returned
he could. departed Ia 1850 for the United
States, in company with Catharlne Bengels.
Before his departure bis wife Instituted suit
for divorce On the arrival Of Schurman he
proceeded 10 Louisville, where he took up bis
residence, and sued for divorce from his
wife Amelia, which was granted, when he i'm.
mediately married the woman who had eloped
with him.
Gustavus schurman purchased real estate 10
InIanapolis aud Louisville, and by his tact and
business management increased his wealth to
over a million of dollars. At the time OF hlH
death he had seven onildren-two by bis frat
wife and FIVE by his second wife. In making
his will be left his Prussan property to HIS two
German heirs, and his American property tn
his American heirs.
The first wife, Amelia, learning of the death
of her husband, obtained possession, by legal
| process, of the Prussian estate, and sued for
her share, as per marriage contract, OF the de-
cpdent's estate In America. Her son-Gustavus
F. Schurman-represente her with powers Of
attorney, and the abest lawyers in the ciIy
were employed 10 prosecute The case. The
pleadlngs were voluminous, and az vast
amount OF property was Involved, great inter
eat was manifested In the result. It appeared,
however, that as the case progressed the
plaintiff weakened somewhat in enforcing her
claims. Being in q foreign country, and copies
of proceedings in foreign Courts being ire.
uuently rendered necessary as testimony 10
| The American courts, she became Wearled, anc
| finally agreed to compromise by accepting
IN lieu Of all claims. the sum of one hundred
| thousand dollars.