The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-06-22
MONDAY. JUNE o, 1874
LOCAL MATTERS.

The GEORGE SUIT--THE jury DECIDE THAT
Mr.. WILLIAM 0. GEORGE WAS NEVER MAR
RlED.-1n the Chancery Court of Richmond
Saturday evening the jury rendered ver-
dict for the plaintiff in the case of Pitcher
US. George. The issue the Judge directed to
be made was as TO the marriage of Mr.. Will
liam 0. George with Caroline jackson (col-
ored) on the 21st Of April, 1860, and the jury
said in substance that there had been no
marriage. Mr.. George was Il native of
Richmond, nearly his whole life was spent
here, and he was well known to our
people. His association with Caroline jack
son existed for about thirty years. Previous
TO the war he sent her to Philadelphia to
live, In order that their two childen, Leander
and Adcline, might be educated, and the
three were ut all times literally supplied with
money by him. Mr.. George visited Phila-
depbia frequently. The last time that he
was there was on the 22d of April, 1867
the day upon which his daughter was mar
ricd to Frenchman named Constant Willie
min.
1t was alleged by Caroline Jackson that
Mr.. George married her on the evening pre-
violls to the marriage of their daughter. The
ceremony is said to have been performed in
Philadelphia by Alderman Charles Mink
and witnessed by one white and one colored
man. AT any rate certificate of the
solemnization Of the marriage was given by
Mink. Soon after the death Of Mr.. George,
Lee Jackson alas Lee George, and bis
brother-in-aw, Wicmin, came 10 Richmond
to find out il Mr.. George had left Il will.
They aScertained that he had not, and they
then went TO eX-Mayor Joseph Mayo and in.
quired of him if they could Inherit his es-
tate. Nlr. Mayo told them that they could
not unless Mr.. George had married Caroline
jackson. He asked Lee if this had been
done. Lee replied that he had never heard
OF any such marriage. Before this time Mr..
Henry George and John Marx "a colored
man Of this city, went to Philadelphia to in
quire if any will had been made and left
there. Both of them had long conversa-
ton with Caroline jackson. She knew no.
thing about will, and said nothing about
marriage, but complained that Mr.. George
had promised to provide for her, and had
died and lett her destitute.
y very short time after the interview Of
Lee George and Wilemin with Mr.. Mayo the
two left for Philadelphia. In less than
week they returned with marriage ccrtiti-
cate and witnesses to substantiate the mar.
riage, and after some delay Lee George was
appointed administrator of the estate by
Judge Bramhall, then judge of the Hastings
Court of Richmond by military appointment.
The relatives of Mr. George here were salts
fed at that time that no marriage had ever
taken place, but they had not collected their
proof, and were unable to expose the fraud
they were sure had been committed.
This suit in chancery, brought as matter
Of form in the name of Mr.. Pitcher, was in-
tended to establish the fact that no will had
been made by deceased and no marriage had
taken place between him and Caroline JACK
sou.
1t was in testimony that when seized with
the congestive chill, of which he died, SIr.
George expressed to bis servant deep regret
that he had made no will. This the latter
told Or. CaLell when lie called him in TO at
tend Mr.. George.
1t also appeared in evidence that the par
ties who pretended to have known OF the
marriage stated more than three months
after its alleged soleinnization tsat they had
never heard Of any such thing; and 1t was
very clearly demonstrated that the marriage
certificate had been fraudulently procured
after the death OF Mr.. George.
The case was argued for the plaintiff f. e..
the heirsat law of Mr.. William 0. Georse) by
Judge w. w. Crump and Mr.. James Alfred
Jones, and tor the defendant by MesSrs. a.
K. Holladay and Chastain White, and Dir.
Shippen, Of Philadelphia. The jury was
composed Of excellent material Their YER
dict will be recorded in the Chancery pro-
ceedings and it involves about 100000
worth of property, chiefly real estate, IN this
city.