Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-06-05
4 strange Family History.

eSeA 1sAA91
Mrs. Elizabeth Brinckley, the orphan
daughter Of j. S. Charles, the theatrical
manager who died in Memphis, leaving his
daughter to the care of the Masonic fra
ternity, has obtained divorce and 81 200
per annum alimony from Hugh L. Brinck-
ley, Of New York, though she had never
been married to him. The husband is the
reyersionary legatee of an estate worth
81 500, 900.
In Judge Van Brunt's charge to the
jury he announced that marriage is purely
civil contract, and that if on a specified
date, testified to by Mrs. Brinckley, s'the
defendant intended to convey to the plain
tiff that she was to be thenceforward his
wife, or used words to lead to that
| conclusion, no matter aHhdt has Intentions
a'.idht haze been, according to the laws
| of the State Of New York she was
his wife, Brinckley, In his defense,
stated that his relations with the plain
| tiff were of q meretricious character,
| and denied that he ever intended to make
the plaintiff his wife. The jury, however,
preferred the evidence of Mrs. Brinckley
as to the existence of verbal contract to
the testimony of Brinckley against it.
| A few days before this case was decided
the uncle of Mr.. Brinckley, living in New
nan, Georgia, who had been in the habit
| of maltreating his wife, was the actor in
the following tragedy as stated by New
nan paper:
| A few days ago he made his appearance
| in Newman, remained here short time
! and then went to the country. On We'd
nesday evening last he returned to town.
and at about 8 O'Clock bought pocket
knife from one of our merchants. He then
went directly to the store of his wife,
Scarcely had he entered the store when loud
screams were heard, and number of
neighbors Immediately ran to ascertain the
cause Of the screams, when they were met
at the door by the dying woman as she
| rushed into the street in her flight from
her assailant, with her life-blood gushing
! from six wounds inflicted by the man who
had sworn to love and protect her, either
four of which would have been fatal. She
had scarcely reached the street before she
sank to the ground. She was followed by
and desperation, chung to her until they
were literally bathed in their mothers
| blood.
Mr.. Brinckley was of course Immediate
| ly arrested, when it was found that he had
| apparently made an effort to take his own
| life, having inflicted four slight wounds in
the lower part of his abdomen, none of
them extending through the hollow. Mrs.
Brinckley's wounds consisted of one stab
in her breast, two in her back, one in each
arm, and one in the side-four of which
penetrated to the cavity. The unfortu-
nate woman lived about two hours, and
died in great agony. A large and excited
crowd collected on the streets, and lynch
law was freely talked of. So exasperated
had our people become that many of our
very best citizens were open in their advo-
cacy of the immediate lynching Of the man
who had dyed his hands in the blood of
his wife. A conference of some of the
calmer Of our citizens was held, and they
determined to do everything in their power
to prevent any act that would add another
crime to that which had already been COM
mitted. Mayor Berry issued a proclama-
ton calling upon good citizens to unite in
putting down and discouraging anything
like lawlessness. At length better coul-
sells seemed to prevail and the crowd grad
ually dispersed. Asa precautionary meas
IRE, however, the Newman Guards, Cap.
tain j. W. Anderson commanding, were
called out for the purpose of guarding the
Jail during the night.