Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1875-07-02
Paroxysmal Young woman
RrAach of Promise.

An interesting breach OF promise suit
has just been concluded at Union, Frank
lin CO., Mo. The defendant was DR..
Elijah Warren, a leading member OF the
Presbyterian Church, and one OF the pest
known and wealthiest gentlemen III that
part of the State. He had been superln-
tendelt of the Presbyterian Sunday School
there many years. The plaintiff was MISS
Louisa Fall, about 80 years OF age, VINO
was a teacher in the Sabbath School I'M
der him. A letter says:
Mr.. Mclean buried his second wife some
| time ago, and when it was made known
| here that he WAS to be the defendant IN
suit, which was instituted because he
would not marry a third wife forty years
| Younger than himself, the news was
( enough to unsettle the population.
| Judge Seay presided over she trial, which
| lasted three days, and in the courtroom
were gathered all the ladies and gentlemen
that could be accommodated. Miss Fall,
who in spite CT her maturing age is still
| beautiful, sat throughout the trial closely
yelled. When she began to give her test-
mohy, Mr.. Hallejan, OF Mr.. Mclean s
counsel. asked the court to oblige the lady
to remove her veil while she Was on the
|
not dictate what the witness Should OF
should not wear, but that the counsel
could make what they chose OF the fact be-
fore the jury.
Miss Fall testified that DR.. Mclean had
frequently been driving with her, and that
he took her to his residence once as II visl-
tor. While they were alone in the parlol
he showed iler the pictures of his deceased
wives, and after giving her a paroXysmal
KISS asked her if she would be his third
wife. She said she would. They then
talked of IL bridal tour to Europe. Mr.. Nc
| Lean asked her If she would like to have d
nice watch, and she said no, because she
had one; blt said that she would be pleased
with Il set of diamond jewelry. At one
time DIR, Mel an called to see her and
drew her into his lap. and kept her there
lor an hour, kissing and cAfesslng her
When this testimony WIS given there WAS
IL stir of excitement in the courtroom ,and
every eye stared ut DR.. Mclean, whose
face colured under the curious gaze OF SO
many persons
The doctor was called to testify in his
own behalf, and admitted that he had fire.
quenty visited Miss Fall and had taken
her out riding, but he paid her attention
out of sympathy AID Christian charity
because she had recently lost her mother
AS to the kissing in the parlor, he testified
that he was III the room, which was dark
ened, and Was surprised by receiving a
kiss from some unknown. person who had
entered, and that on raising the curtain he
discovered that the person was Miss Fall.
He also admitted that she sat in his lap
but he declared that she put herself there:
that she fell into his arms as though in a
fainting fit, and he began TO restore her.
He soon discovered that she Was dis
sembling and quickly put her aside.
There were two witnesses for the defen-
dant, who testified that they knew that
the lady had a monomania on the subject
of marriage, and that she had taken liber-
ties with other men as she had with Dr.
Mclean. The witnesses blushingly admit
ted that the lady had even embraced them
Two St. Louis ministers were among the
witnesses who testified about Miss Falls
strange monomania. One Of these swofe
that Miss Fall visited him in st. Louis
and told him Of her complaint against
Dr.. Mclean and asked his advice. He adj
yised her not to press it.
The jury were out half an hour only
and when they returned with verdict in
favor of the defendant his friends shook
his hands SO hard that his gray hairs fell
on their coat collars. Miss Fall went out
of the court as she came in three days be-
fore-closeiy yelled.