The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-11-26
THE GEORGE SUIT.
Testimony and Argument Concluded

| THE CASE GIVEN INTO THE HANDS OF THE
| JURY-ADJOURNMENTU UNTIL THIS MORN
ING-A SLIGHT INSIGHT INTO THE CASE
THE FORMER TRIAL-THE TWO JURTEs-
TIE COUNSEL AND THEIR SPEECHES.
On Saturday the George suit, pending in
the Chancery Court OF Richmond, was
ended there, SO far rs evidence and argument
are concerned, and the case was given to the
Jury, which Is composed OF Messrs. William
A.sArmistcad. Lewis Fl. Blair, Coleman
Wortham, o. II. Chalkley, Peyton R. Car
rington, J. p. Yancey, J. c. Courtney,
James Gum, Benjamin r. Lipscomb, E. b.
Taylor, Orange Bennett, and F.. S. Turpin.
This is the second trial. On the first, as
now, the issue submitted to the jury (com-
posed of Messrs. R. l.. Wigglesworth, b.
F. Ladd, Moses Ellyson, o. F. Weisiger. J.
G.. Walter, P. A. Sublett, w. G. Knight,
John G. Pendleton, and Napoleon Burke)
was whether William O. George married
Caroline Jackson in the city of Philadelphia
on the 21st OF April, 1869. The jury decided
that he did not. The case was taken up to
the Supreme Court of Appeals, and on a
| legal point or points new trial was granted
and commenced on Monday the 18th and
given to the jury Saturday the oath.
THE DECEASED.
| William 0. George was a well-known and
well-to-do citizen of Richmond. He was a
man OF education and intelligence, and OF
excellent family. The testimony showed that
lie was always looked upon by the commu-
nifty as unmarried. 1t appeared also that
some years before the war, having been
long unfortunately associated with Caroline
Jackson, he moved her and her two chill
dren, Adelaide and Lee (who were almost
white), to Philadelphia. There he support
ed them in comfort and educated the chill
dren well, and purchased house and deed
ed it to Caroline for $1,000, which amount
he recepted for as from her.
On April 90, 1869, Adelaide was to be
married to Frenchman named Wilimin.
| Mr.. George went on to Philadelphia to
witness the marriage, and it is alleged that
on the 21st, returning from a visit to the
new house furnished for Adelaide, about
dark, he and Caroline stepped into the
Office OF Alderman Mink and were mar
ried. No license is required in Pennsyl-
vania.]
THE ALLEGED MARRIAGE.
The only two witnesses to the alleged
marriage were Billy johnson Ca colored
MANI, who accompanied them, and white
man named John Gaughran, who happened
to be, as stated, at Mink's. The latter has
since declared that there was no marriage,
and that be was bought by Lee George and
Willimin to say SO, rs he did in the first
place The marriage Of Adelaide and Will
limin took place on the 22d.
THE DEATH.
In August, 1869, after short illness, and
when he seemed to be getting well, ". ..
George unexpectedly died. DR.. r. e.
Cabell and other gentlemen, with the view
OF ascertaining where the deceased wished
to be buried, half an hour or so after his
death looked closely for the will. They
found none. Two subsequent searches by
others proved unavailing. No will was ever
found. Judge Ould disclaimed charging
the relatives OF William 0. George with
that perhaps it might have been in exist
ence and yet not found. Mr.. George had
said some weeks before his death that he
had made will and provided for his Caro-
line county relatives and the Philadelphia
family.
An old colored man named Jacob testified
that Mr. George told him that he had mar
ricd Caroline.
The veracity OF this witness the defend
ants doubted and stoutly attacked. \ col
ored man named Wilson, who was in at
tendance upon Mr.. George when the fata!
attack occurred, declared that deceased told
him that it was not death he feared, but
that he had made no will, from which the
defendants Judged that ii he had had 4 will
lie had destroyed it to prepare another
AS TO DETAILS.
The farther details Of the case arc highly
interesting. There are in them material for
many romances and sensational articles.
The theory Of the Philadelphia claimants was
that there was not only marriage, but will
| in favor Of their clients-thc marriage, ac-
cording to their argument, being necessary
to convey to them the property he had in
herited from his father, and which (they
said) would 90 back to his brothers If de-
ceased died unmarried, and the will neceS-
sary to give Caroline what marriage in this
case by our statute would not give her.
Judge Crump and James Alfred Jones,
ESQ, fought both these propositions yigor-
ously, and with great array OF evidence.
Mink. who performed the marriage cere-
mony, was presented to the mind Of the jury
(he was not present in person), by one side,
| in several dispositions, as reliable and
truthful man. Four or five Philadelphians
who came down here as witnesses. on the
| contrary, sworc chat he was rowdy poltl-
clan, bruiser, adulterer, and liar.
GREAT POINTS IN CONTROVERSY.
Another important point which can be
but barely referred to here: EX-Alayor
Joe Mayo swore--and his deposition was in
evidence-that Lee George and Willlmin,
upon their visiting Richmond two days
after the death of w. o. George, told him, in
answer to'a question, that there was no mar
riage that they had heard Of. There was
collateral testimony supporting the asser-
ton OF the visit to Mayo. But the other side
firmly contended, in evidence and argu-
ment, that Lee and Willmin were person.
ated by two darker men. Mayo said that
the two men who came to him were dark
mulattoes. Lee is almost white.
A visit OF. Mr. Henry George and John
Marx (coIored) to Caroline, in Philadelphia,
in search of the will, soon after Mr.. Georges
death, did notresult in any discovery in re-
lation to it. She did not refer to the mar
riage. She was in great grief at the time,
and loudly lamented that there was no will.
These two points were among the fore
most ones in the controversy. Much law,
evidence, cross-eXamination, md argument
were brought to bear upon them. A faint
outline OF them only is here intended to be
ciycn. 1t is not within the compass OF
newspaper TO 20 into them fully. The
reader who has divcd into this article so far
will plcase not forget that.
THE LETTERS.
There were many letters from the parties
in controversy read in court, including
some written after the marriage. Mr.