The New York herald., 1873-12-08
THE WEsTCHEsTER LIBEL SUIT.
A Card from the Husband OF the Plain

Card from the Husband OF the Plain
tin.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
Your account OF the closing scenes OF the libel
suit OF Lucy Ann Mcmahon VS.. Francis Edward
Eldredge and Robert Holden is in several respects
so unjust to my dear wife, that would ask, as a
matter OF JUSTICE the insertion OF the following
corrections. viz. You say that the direct testi-
mony OF the plaintiff was completely rdded by
the dexterous manner In which the cross-examina-
tion was conducted" whereas the truth is that the
plaintiff appeared on the witness stand so we'll
that the junior counsel for the defendant Hol-
den informed me that they had failed to
shake her in any particular except in
discrepancy OF dates, which every lawyer of
prominence knows is OF but little Importance; in
fact she 30 completely explained the apparently
telling circumstances against her, as that two o.
the most eminent counsel at the westchester bar,
viZ:-Ex-Judge Emott and Colonel Crane, who
appeared for Mr.. Holden, did not hesitate imme-
mediately to sign their names to certificate that
her character for chastity and her conductas wife
and mother were unimpeached by the develop
ments Of the trial. and they further added
clause which your report leaves ont viz: ''that
they" u. e. character and conduct as above) s.are
without bemish." Those gentlemen were perfectly
satisfied from her explanations that the objection
her house with Eldredge were forced out of her by
threats, which frightened her into believing that
an attempt would be made to bastardize her issue
OF the present marriage with the subscriber They
secuted at the idea that there was any criminaty
on her part. Your account OF the conclusion OF
the case also states "tnat the hustandr (meaning
the subscriber) was much distressed by the
shocking developments OF the preceding day.
That was not the fact The said husband
was much distressed at perceiving the evidences
In his wifes correspondence OF the men,
tai alteration occasloned by the threats OF
gnf al idn fhn n
vorce Your account also concludes by observing
'that 1t would be fortunate for the future happi-
ness OF the plaintiff and her husband II the conse
quences OF the scandaous disclosures brought
about by the trial could, like the smoke Of the
burning letters dissolve In thin air,n &c. This de-
mands from me the following observation The
object Of the suit was fully gained by the plaintiffs
husband. He fully vindicated the character OF
his vile, which vindicaton was affirmed to by
four OF the best and purest counsel in the country.
He secured the destruction OF an imprndent cor
respondence, so that no Cherdiier dIadustrie
could after his death torment his children with it,
and he demonstrated to the world that there was
husband fearless enough to accept the issue
rendered by a writer desiring hush money, even
though 1t involved narrowing up the memories
OF relatives long since deceased In conclusion,
permit me 10 say that the attack made on the men,
mory OF my dear wite'S mother-deceased now
there Is no saving effect in Christian repentance,
for that lady mad been for four years prior to her
death-and was at the time OF it-a member OF DR..
Baulch's church In Bleecker street. In conse-
quence OF the promise made the Junior counsel of
Mr. Eldredge, on MS surrendering the Objectionable
letters. not TO pursue him any further have
language 1t deserves; but the idea latent in your
report that he changed, by his testimony the
character OF tne public feeling against him in White
plains, IS SIMPLY preposterous. As he was irrespon
sibe, and gained the object OF my suit, were the
reasons ] did not pursue the suit any further.
Yours, with respect, ID. MCMAHON.