Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-12-19
A STRANGE CASE.

One meets in life with strange cpl
sodes Of human feeling and conduct.
There are numberless unknown TRACE
dies Of dark tint and romantic reality
underlying the placid surface of do
mestic and social life. There are
tragedies drawing out protracted ex-
istence beneath the cloak OF seeming
serenity that would startle by their
character could they be disclosed.
Every now and then some of these
hidden episodes come to the surface
and We wonder at the revelations of
tragic import that they develope.
A curious little domestic drama has
come to light in New York State, that
has smouched some hitherto spotless
regulations and unearthed n long
record of family secrets.
A Mrs. Lucy MacAIahon sued Rev.
Mr.. Holden and Francis Eidridge for
libel. The case has attracted large
attention, damaged everybody con-
nected with it, ard come TO al end
from the faint Of its OWL filthy reyc-
! lations.
| This Mrs. MacMaEon is the wife OF q
reputable lawyer, possessing large
means, good social standing a2d an
interesting family. The case has
shown a succession of facts ard ante
cedents as scardalous az they have
been undreamed Of.
This is the unvarnished chronicle
unearthed. Mrs. MacMahon was the
daughter of gambler. Eldridge was
a young man of means, who was i'll
Weighed into marrying tho girl some
thirty years ago. He spent his fortune
in dissipation, and the bride refused
to live with him and sought divorce.
Her lawyer was MacMahon, who fell
in love with her and married her after
procuring her divorce.
E'dridge, tle divorced husband,
after vagaboud life, ur..ed poor
and sick, and the intimacy between
himself and Mrs. MacMahon was
resumed. He received money from
her until he fell in love with some
other female, and Mrs. MacMahon
withdrew her contributions to his sup,
port. He attempted to levy black
mail upon he. by Threatening the pub
lication OF her letters to him and the
exposure Of her character, unless she
gave him money. The Rev. Mr.. Hol.
den was the bearer OF tho hostile
message. She declined to pay the
black mail. and sued Eldridge and
Holden for libel.
The case was tried and continued &c
the point where all these damaging
facts came out, to the intense mortifi
cation OF Mr.. MacMaEon. and the If
reparable damage Of TIC hitherto re
spected lady, when in moment o.
supre.n disgust the parties, before
the argument OF counsel, got together
and agreed to Withdraw tic MATE
from The jury. 4 condition Of The
compromise was the cuutiagratlon %
all the suggestive correspondence. The
Judge delightfully."- gave permission t,
the dismissal Of the case, sarcasticeil,
reinarhiug that il wouid have eel
. much better ii the case hal been with
drawn earlier.
The heaviest sat',e o; the whole pro
ceeding. however, is the agreement O
, ! counsel, which testifie5 to the mutua
, good character OF all the parties, ant
establishes as lovely mutual ad1n!ra
: ton society as was ever seen.
Ia this agreement AL parties are lie
clarcd recirrocally spotless. Til
pleasant fiction is energetically ur"e,
, in spite Of the mass OF unreftted tes
timony 20 the contrary. The cas-. aiik'
!, illustrates curious episode Of socia
life, and the danger oi throwing .to''i"
; by people who live in glass houses.