The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-03-24
BREACH OLE PROMISE.
A Gardiner Woman Seeking Balm for
Wounded Affection.

A large crowd was attracted to the Augusta
court house Thursday afternoon to witness the
trial OF the suit of Margaret Ann Grover of
Gardner against Ebenezer S. Bonney of Lew
lstoD, Tor damages by breach of promise of
marriage The plaintiff issa lady of thirty
seven, the defendant we'll preserved man of
forty five. l. D. Clay of Gardiner, appeared
for the plaintiff, and Calvin Record of Auburn
and H. +. Pillsbury of Augusta, for the defend
ant.
The afternoon was consumed in the presen-
tatlon OF the plaintiffs case. The interest cul-
minated when Miss Grover was put upon the
STAND. She took a chair which was indicated
10 ner, and drew a brown vail from her face,
walcn mad been covered up to this time. She
was very much affected and her silent sobbing
would occasionally break out into right down
oiu-Iasnloned crying She testified that
sne mad lived in West Gardiner, from which
place she went to Lewiston to work in the fac
Tory. she first met Bonney at Duley's house,
wi she boarded. Duley had told her that
ne Knew man in Auburn (meaning BOnney)
ana WouI1 talk to him about her, That seems
10 nave brought about the meeting, for the next
week she was introduced to him at her board
ing place He invited her to take a ride and
tney u'd SO, on two or three occasions, going
ana AUBURN. He would call a. her boarding
mouse weekly, and sometimes oftener, and to-
gether they would go to her sisters where they
were accustomed to sit alone IN the sitting
room, the rest of the family having gone to
bed, or withdrawn to the kitchen, and these
Visits were often prolonged into the SIN all
hours OF the morning. She made him presents
OF linen pocket handkerchief, cuffs. cuff
buttons and two pairs of stockings. At New
year 74, Bonney made her a present of
ten iollar bill: One night Bonney said he
tnougnt tney mad been going together long
enough to be married and asked her to become
his wife She had heard that hs was good
man and consented
he wanted the marriage to come off before
Thanksgiving, but she told him than she had
a good deal of sewing to do, and didn't know
as she could get ready by that time But it
was finally fixed that they should be married at
Biddeford, in November Miss Grover bought
bedding, web of sheeting, and other articles
in preparation for housekeeping, made her in
tended husband his wedding shirts and pre-
sented them to him. He told her that he was
getting his wedding suit made at the best
tailor's in Lewiston, and that it would cost
him forty-fve dollars. She saw him after the
engagement. He took her out to farm he
owned in Lewiston. and they talked pleasantly
of the happy hours in store for them. At this
Gardiner, to the bedside of her sick mother.
Bonney consented to her going, with the under
standing that correspondence shonld be kept
up She wrote him afterwards, asking him if
be wanted her to 60 to Lewiston and be mar
ried, but there was no response. She wrote
still again, informing him that she would be at
Lewiston on the 23d of December, and asked
him to meet her at the depot. But no answer
came, and Bonney did not appear at the depot.
She found him 10 the city, and talked over the
engagement, but he said his house was in poor
condition, and the event was postponed until
spring. She went from Lewiston to Bddeford,
but although she afterwards wrote several
times, the Correspondence on his part ceased.
Several other witnesses were called, who
corroborated these statements.
- THE SUIT WITHDRAWN.
AUGUSTA, March %.
The breach of promise case of Margaret A.
Grover of Gardiner against Ebenezer S. Bon
ney of Lewiston was withdrawn from the jury
to-day and privately settled.