The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-14
A PROMISE OF MARRIAGE.

Verdict of $4,000 for Alleged Breach OF
Promise Of Marriage Against a Law
yer-A Singular story, with u Deeply
Impressive Moral.
or all the strange revelations touching the curl
Gus undercurrent of some human lives made in
our Courts there is rarely one presenting such
singular features as were developed yesterday in a
case submitted to the judicial arbitration of Judge
Sedgwick, OF the Superior Court. AS will be seen
only one side OF the story is thus far gven but the
conclusion at which the Judge arrived after listen
ing to the recital OF acts given clearly indicates
at least his implicit reliance in its credibility. 1t
was nothing more nor less than suit
for damages brougnt BY Miss Phoebe a.
for alleged breach OF promise OF marriage.
STRANGE STORY
Miss LOwere, the lady in question, is about twen-
ty-three years old, OF prepOssesslng appear
ance. She was plainly but neatly dressed, and her
manner of telling her story, 30 unassumingy and
as at once to excite the most heartfelt sympathies
OF all present. Her father-such was her stOry-in
former years was in affuent circumstances, but
reverses in business overlook him and he became
poor and unable to stand up against the shock or
ADVERSE fortune and died. Succeeding his death
other daughter ana son to support, opened
a boarding house. This was IN 1864. Among the
boarders was DR.. Magin, present rector OF st. Al
Abraham ID. Chalmers, young lawyer. Mr.. Chal-
mers speedily professed himself greatly enamored
OF her, and in course OF time marriage engage
ment was entered into between them. At length
her mother died. He was absent at the time, but
he wrote a letter to her to read to her mother on
her death bed telling her mother not to feel uneasy
on her account, as he intended to marry her and
she shOnld never be without a protector The en-
gagement continued, and taking advantage OF it
and her weakness, he seduced her. Mean.
time he had written letters to her,
cOuched in the tendcrest phraseOlOgy OF
loves passion change came over the
spirit OF his dreams. and one day he demanded
these letters and she gave them to him, and he
cast them into the CRATE where, like his love- they
turned TO ashes But this was net the worst. Soon
came the intelligence OF his marriage TO another.
This was the final crushing blow, and the only
remedy left her was redress threugh'thc Courts.
COMPENSATORY TESTIMONY. fr ~ won
Various other witnesses gave their evidence.
They all testified how Chalmers mad confessed to
them his marriage engagement TO Miss L0were.
Their recitals were but the "old, old story" SO
often told in our Courts. t .Ia ID .fIt
r-. THE VERDICT. ,f cf l.t.
Mr.. d. ]. Mitchell, OF Syracuse, conducted the ex-
Terrence, her former counsel having promised TO
do SO, as the latter lay on his death bed Mr. Ely
appeared on behalf or Mr.. Chalmers, but during
the progress Of the examination had not word to
say.
"The Court directs verdict for yOu, Miss Lowere,
for $40 600 damages, said Judge Sedgwick, In con-
cluson, and SO ended this case, which, from the
account given OF it, certainly has as high claim
to be designated ~ strange story as Bulwer's
far-famed fictitious narrative Of this title.