New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-12-06
A SINGULAR LIBEL CASE.

| The case which has for some years been
on the calendar Of tho Circuit Court for westchester
County, and which was instituted by Mrs Lucy Ann
Mcmahon against the Rev. Robert Holden ana frahclS
T.. Eldrdge, has at length been reached ana us ud'y
sessions are attracting much attention at White
Plains and the neighborng towns The strange history
Of this case may thus be briefly recounted
| Nearly 30 years ago young man named Francis r.
Eldridge inherited fortune OF about $4,000 He was
the son OF well-iodo merchant, had received GOOD
education and had acquired considerable culture inc
sudden Inheritance OF fortune OF $4,000 proved dsas
trous to the young man OF 30 whose ardent
nature had heretofore been held in check only
| by his pecuniary inability to crafty every
| desire He was surrounded by temptations, ana
| found many acquaintance whom he called MS
friends. BY these he led astray In company with
| "a number Of young companions from the Southern
States he visited the residence OF Mrs Harrison, the
wife OF a gambler. and both the woman and her
| husband at manifested unusual
| interest in him. BY them he was detained
after the departure OF his comrades and subsequently
| he visited the house. AT length Mrs. Harrison made
mention OF her daughter. who at that time In con
vent the Southern States. aud at once to her evident
| satisfaction, awakened interest in the mind OF
| Edrdge. She soon returned TO New York, nav
| ing been absent many years, and being, 1t Is
said entirely ignorant OF the character OF her parents
Edrdge introduced to her, and at the lnstlgatoh
OF her parents, finally clandestinely married her'
Edrdge accompanied by his wife, visited his rather a
hi- own house, but the marriage studtously CON
cealed, and the woman was introduced aS h''s h"i
| risoD.
few months later, Eldridge departed for st. LOUIS
for the purpose of engaging in business but was un5ue
cessful and returned penness to his former home
! He now made public his marriage. notwith-
| standing the wishes OF Mrs. Harrison, who threat
! encd terrible vengeance, while the father OF
Eldrdge equally enraged. Eldridge at once disap
peared and entered upon wild OF dissipation In
this city, while all efforts the part Of his wife were bent
toward obtaining dYorce. Mrs Harrison strongly sec
onded her efforts and application was made to
| II. w. Warner for that purpose BY him the case
was referred TO former pupil Dennis Mcmahon, who
had recently been admitted to the bar. The divorce
was obtained the ground Of adultery on the part
OF the husband. This the early part Of 1913. BY
| his frequent interviews with the woman the lawyer
| had been strongly influenced in her favor
| and an attachment spraug up between them
which resulted in marriage Oh Oct. %, loi9'
Some later Mr Mcmahon purchased residence at
| Morrisana, where at removed with his
family. Here they lived years appar
| entity in perfect harmony, and here several chill
| dren born Meantime Eldridge had been
| leading ia rowing life Of dissipation and strange
stories related Of his misconduct in California.
He returned this city and attempted suicide. He
removed TO Bellevue Hospital. and an account OF
the affair reached the eye Of Mr.. Mcmahon He related
the incident his wife, and the two called on Edrdge
at the Hospital The tenderness which Mrs. Mcmahon
had manifested to her former husband was
means to relieve his suffering He was sent 70 Unsas-
yile and provided for at the expense OF Mrs Nc
and Mss ne ts w his
former wife, who at once withdrew the aid that had
been contrloted to his support IherempOn
his intention to publish a book entitled My Former
wife, which should expose the character Of her parents
ing 10 youth Of both sexes The bearer this
| the Rev Mr.. Holden, with whom Eldridge had
70 e aSanSoned If She Womb furnish to EtdridSe
s275O at once, with annual stipend OF sl.200 To him
self and his children who might survive nun, ana
Mcmahon refused 10 comply.
ON the alleged libel contained In this letter the
was founded. on THURSDAY, the opening day. the wit
nesses called were Mr.. Mcmahon for the plaintiff and
A. b. Crum for tho defonse Their testimony related
mainly to the facts just stated.
At the opening of the Court yesterday morning the
Rev Robert Holden testified as follows: never knew |
that Mrs Mcmahon had been divorced from Eldridge, !
or indeed that Mr. Eldridge had been Mrs McMabon's
husband until July u, 1871 when ! called upon Mr..
opened some papers, and said that Edrdge had written
Mrs Mcmahon and threatened to reopen the question
Mrs. susanuah Holden testified am the wife of
Robert Holden one OF me deiehdshts nave Deeh mar
have acquainted with Mr. Mcmahon and tis family;
he attempted suicide Mrs. McMshon to our house
and told me that he had been an early suor OF her;
been the means OF il; she expressed great sym
patty for him, and cried; she would dc every
him into the country away from temptations;
every time met. which was nearly every day, Mrs.
after that before he to house in the Spring
following. Mrs Mcmahon said that Mr. Eldridge wanted
To come down from Uncasville for short time get
some articles OF clothing and she wanted US TO take
ho a ' Mr. Holden at first objected to
HIM. but at last consented, II Mr.. Mcmahon should
ssse dre was aO the day that he to Su house saw
April 1870 Mrs. Mcmahon had previously described
Ia that
had been her husband; Mrs Nc Mahon had spoken
Mahon had engaged board for hin. she came to
our house for the purpose Of arranging his room
phaeton; remember that Mrs Mcmahon had arranged
Tor children to with her to Pelham Bridge they
came TO our house; attended entertainment given
BY Mrs. McMahop. which was the first time wa.
ET Eddge sever eorsymen Wsrs ihe asG
Mrs. McMshon's children frequently came to our
he went out riding with them; the children
used e M a% gn's r f as sas ms
house, she talked about Mr. Eldrldge and said that he
mothers choice this several days before he left
the first tune when IL was known that he was going
stay longer, and / did 50 but he would
not stay saw Mrs. McMahon a day or two after Mr..
have nothing more to to hlm-tbat he was villain
that If received any letters from him. either return
them TO him unopened. hand them over TO her. sub
sequenty asked her why she had changed her opinion
Of Mr. Edde 50 much cs she Implied tnns ne had been
names Iof Miss Palmer OF Uncssville and Mrs Thomp
son. and said she thought that was sufficient
Al this point a number OF letters written by Mrs Nc
Mahon TO Mr. Eldridge were read. in which she ox-
pressed her readiness to her for his comfort
and indicated her lingering feelings OF attachpent
him.
Francis +. Eldridge testified: I first became ac-
auainted with Mrs. Mcmahon through her mother.
known as Julia Brown; also knew John Harrison, the
stepfather Of Mrs Mcmahon; he kept gambling estab
iishment at No. Park place the plaintiffs maiden
name Rathbone; Mrs Harrison sent for me one
and told that she and her husband had been
consulting together about the future OF their daughter
and had decided upon ne her future companion but
never to divuge the occupation OF her mother TO
her; she was then nj convent, and IL was arranged
that should 10 with Mrs Harrison to accompany her
from he In Georgetown, ID. c. think: |