New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-06-04
THE COURTS.
THE BRINCKLEY DIVORCE SUIT.

A NRw EDITION or THE OLD STORY of ihooiHs"
AFFECTION
The Brinckley divorce suit which mas Deen
on the June calendar for trial in the supreme 0ouis
and OF the most noted cases to be triec TINS
was begun in earnest yesterday, before jugs van
Brunt in Circuit Part H., without jury, ooth saes
copsenting 70 have IL heard before the Judge aohe'
The names of the counsel guarantee sharp ooh'ee"
They are Messrs VIM A. Beach and 4. r. bro"n io' .u'
plaintiff and ex- Judge VIM. Fullerton ana "m f. ~"
thon for the defendant The paintin IN TINS case " III
Elizabeth Brinckley, and the defendant her hu'Da"u
Hugh L. Brnckey The first testimony put IN was 'na'
OF several hotel clerks and clearinghouse Keepers
taken by commission establishing the fact OF tne TWO
partes I'm action having lived together as man anu WHO
Mrs Brinckey herself was then called to the "ltnesS
stand and received the curious Chances OF al proSo'
most of whom were familiar with the circumstances VI
this interesting case. Mrs. BrincEey Is lauy VI aOou
80 Of dark complexion small figure very in'oi"Sph''
aud apparently well educated. Her testimony was
give very clearly. times emphaticaiy' Without any
bIe embarrassment or emotion of any kind until she
WAS reonested TO identify letters directed 70 ar.
Rrinckley Here she suddenly broke down ana SoODeu
historically. Her story. told by herseh' un'oS "o
own birth in this city June a. 1913, her maueh hae
being Trowes. At this period her father anu mo'ne
were both on the stage New-York but suoSequonuy
went to Memphis There her father Deoaiie
manager Of theater, and there she hersei
received her education. Mr.. Brinckleys family resiueu
near Memphis and before meeting him she became wen
acquainted with his brothers and uncles ono VI '"o
latter Austin Brinokley, being ranked among ner
closest friends. II in 1864, AFTER she had 'el'
Memphis and boarding with lamuy III
Twenty third-st IN this city that she first met her
future husband Hugh Brnckley, who was presented 10
her by Mr. Hunt, afterwards witness against her Az
this time she was teaching music and she expressed
It. other literary branches" Mr. Brnckey soon began
to visit her daily took her to places Of amusement and
she states treated her " with the greatest ustncIon
I'm May she consented to marry him, understanding az
the same time, from his statements tnat no
was wholly dependent on his father' anu that
the preudces OF his family were such that II "oud DO
financial ruin him II his marriage were 10 become
known 10 them Said Mrs Brnokey: lnyseii knew tne
preudices OF Southern people, having had 10 Daule
against social pride all my life, ana knew tnat MS
of An actor and an actress and who had herself been
educated out OF charity by the Masons He wanted me
unfortunately refused to do this i, however tOld nun
/ would consent to private marriage. Loving hun
on May II / told him that would marry him ON the
l4h advising at the same time the persons win whom
1 was boarding that going TO get married Mrs
Brnckley continued her recital, statng substantially
that the day appinted Mr. Brnckey called or hGr IN
a carriage and they went to the theaer together They
returned the house and to her room together Where
held out her finger telling him to put on II tne ym
bo of their marriage She had previously demanded or
him that he should purchase ring and pledge himself
her at least in this incomplete and rash way probably
only satisfactory her from its dramatic Color ana s
effect upon ardent and romantic temperament very
naturally inherited from parents whose life was passed IN
10 be easy way OF quietng scrupulous conscience
boom according TO her narration, was denied
her When the moment came he appeared confused,
and said had forgotten the ring but recovering him
self took from his watch cham gold cross formerly
worn by his mother Handing this 10 her, no said IN
earnest would not give you this 1t were not
sincere and were not giving 10 make you my wife"
Having full confidence IN him. she accepted the pledge,
and their married life began from that moment Mrs.
Brnckey described their married life their yari
GUS iourneyings from New-York to Niagara Fails, Mem
phis New-Orleans, Vlcksburg, Nashville, and other
cities They boarded for short Tune In this city at the
~ Tan under
son his middle NAME aud at the various hotels often
registered under that NAME but sometimes as MI and
Mis- Brinckley." At last IN 1869, she brought him
paper setting forth the facts OF their marriage, and
asked him TO sign It. He had frequently prom
ised that he would give her such document.
They were at this time in Memphis, and repeated de-
Law in fulfilling promise had caused feeing 10 rise
between them At last she told him that she would go
10 his father and tell him the whole story unless he
signed IL. He said that unless sne gave him his own
time TO the marriage public he would disown her,
and insisted that he must sign the paper or leave
her He took the latter alternative and t1ey separated
Several letters put In evidence The crosse KAN
nation then commenced, and is still going on Inc de-
Tense briefly that there no Intention 10 marry.