Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-02-11
THAT BnEACH OrspnomIsE CASE.
Mrs. Putnam VS.. DAVIS.
Novel way to collect a Judgment.


Our readers have already been appfizet
OF the suit for breach of promise brought BY
the plucky little widow Mrs. Putnam
against Mr.. Davis, in Hancock county O.
this State. The case was tried in the Uni
ted States Court at Knoxville, and a iudg
ment rendered in her favor for $4,000. The
trial disclosed the facts that in 1869 Mrs
Putnam met Davis in Washington, and 3
very agreeable acquaintance was established
without delay. Soon the two were be
trothed, and finally the wedding day was set
The ceremony was to take place at Cincin.
natl, where Mrs. Putnam was to meet hel
afTianeed. Meet him she did, bu
he now seemed inclined to temporize
and finally slipped away toward
Covington. His departure being soo1
discovered, the indignant widow, dis
daining to wiring her hands and bemoan hel
fate like an unsophisticated maiden, went
directly to a livery stable and negotiated
for the heetest nag therein. Being duly
accouteled, she Twas soon on the track of
the fugitive, and rapidly lessening the dis
lance between them. As the evening shades
descended, and Just about the hour when
according TO the programme agreed upon
between them, they should have been
standing before minister and answering
certain important queries, she overlook her
recreant swain, who was chuckliDg over his
easy escape, and drought him up with
grace and dispatch. Obliged then to tell
the truth, he informed her of the existence
of one Mrs. Davis already in Tennessee;
and on being tainted with his infidelity he
lightly said: "Well, I've only been reading
q nnTrol 70, nor - IT., yrrhi oI,
ly replied: "Yes, and I'll publish it for
you" Which she did, at an expense, as
aforesaid, of $4,000.
After the judgment, the next question
was how to get the money. The Knoxville
Press and Herald, of Friday, gives the fol-
lowing account of an interview with the
widow d.
Our sanctum was enliyened, yesterday,
by visit from the much-injured but now
victorious Mrs. Putnam, the heroine of the
famous legal encounter known now, for all
time, as the breach of promise case of Put
nam vs.. Davis, by which she acquired the
right to have and receive the sum of $4,000
of the goods and chattels of the defendant,
wherever found.
Having introduced herself with a grace
and mOdesty of manner peculiar to herself,
she begged to assure us that she was not
Washington City acquaintance of Miss
Sallie Z. Wilkinson, who is now making
herself specially agreeable to "Briclz Pome-
roy in New York court, the possibility
of which fact had been editOrially limited at
by us few days ago. We informed her
that we would certainly correct any misap-
prehension caused by the article, and asked
if there was any prospect of her obtaining
the value Of the verdict from Mai. Davis.
In the same sweet voice that had made
Sw eetest music in the ears of the unfortun-
ate Da Wis, Mrs. 2. replied: "Ohl yes. If |
had not been certain that he had property
would never have brought the action.
Why, it has already cost me for counseld
fees and inc iental expenses about two
dollars" GHe thought to mix
things" continued Mrs. P, "but he didn't
the law. His property is to be
sold on the 10th Of March, and if necessary
I'll bid it in and move in on him." Mrs. P.
yIeefnlly said that two committees had
waited on her since the verdict was rem
1ered, wishing to compromise And here
Mrs. 2. seemed struck with the entire alb
Surdity of the matter-"but l never heard
Of compromise after judgment had been
)DCalneQ.' from which we judged that
her love had yielded to her deep sense of
her wrongs, crushed affections, ETC., and
hat her ears would never be open to the
alluring appeals of Major Davis friends
Mrs. p. then said that she had read the
notice in the Press and Herald of her por-
trait on exhibition at the East Tennessee
Book House, and was sorry that the artist
mad not apprised her Of his intention to
sketch her appearance in the courtroom, as
The would have prepared her attire with a
view to that purpose. We suggested that
her loneliness needed not the foreign aid of |
ornament, but when unadOrned, etc Mrs. |
?. said the portrait had tint of grief, |
which she thought truly reflected the settled |
hadOw of her wronged life. A crimson |
low of modesty mantled her brow upon
,ur declaring the portrait did not half JUS
ice to her placid style of beauty. In closing |
he short interview, Mrs. p remarked she !
would probably conclude to reside in Knox
lille, but could not definitely say what spot |
f earth should have the honor of being her
Ocal habitatiOn until her law matters were
ettled.