The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-02-17
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DAMAGES, GENTLEMEN!

DAMAGES, GENTLEMEN!
u.. p.coi. the only RecOmpense."
Tins went nm the cry in the Circuit Court dur
ipe this week from Monday till Thursday noon |
On Monday the case of Moore ps. Jcnnett was call
cd an action ia assump sta breach Of contract,
and the contract Il contract of marriage. Now
a Breach Of Promise case is not an event oc
curing at every term Of this or any other cir
emit court. hence the case attracted not littleI
attention. especially among the younger male
portion of society and the grey bearded youth
who are lust starting in life, and may yet need
"points" on this phase of the law, so as not to-
be roped in like the defendant and Simon Cam
eron and Others of the rdscreet youth Of the
land. As consequence, the court room was
crowded throughout the entire progress OF the
trial by men and boys, Of all nationalities and
classes. Their appearance was inspiring
clean face outside the bar was star in the dark
ness OF cloudy night; man with combed halr
would have disgraced the company, and the man
with paper collar on was too heightened to Sill
in that crowd for fear OF soilng his clothes-he
generally stood up on the benches. The aver.
age spectator was appreciative. He appreciated
the situation exactly and never failed to smile
an ambiguous character. If it was not ambigu'
GUS SO much the better-it did not require So
much thought to see the rougher side OF it.
Within the bar sat the lawyers, lawyers clerks
and students and all others who had the right
par ercelle,ce-of clean faces-and whose business
was of minor consequence compared with the
variety Of breach Of promise suit, the parties
to the suit, and their counsel--E. +. Bull, Judge
Gilman and j. b. Johnston for the defendant and
Col. Cameron W. W. O'Bren, of Chicago, and j.
B. Rice for the plaintiff.
On Tuesday morning the ball fairly began roll
ing by the examination of the plaintiff. She is
Il modest delicate, and pretty good-looking
Young lady of between 25 and 80 years OF age
she does not know her exact age-and native
OF Ireland She lives with her brother Steven
Moore, in Usage township, in this county. She
said that the defendant Hugh began making his
visits to her about eight or nine years ago, and
continued to come for four or five years, FIRE.
neutrality-suspicious. once month, sometimes
two or three times a week, never less than once
month, "sat up" with her, gave her his photo
graph, pocket book, and promised to marry
her, to all Of which the defendant testified al.
hrmativey except that he never promised to
marry her. He only came, he said to enjoy him.
self " 18th her society; and always warned her
against thinking too much OF him rs he intend
ed to live ana die an old bachelor. She also
testified that on three occasions he took improp.
er liberties with her which she resented on the
instant and that he did on each occasion quiet
her fears by the statement not to be afraid OF
him, as he " intended to make her his own" He
also testified to these liberties but declared both
that he had no intention Of harming her and that
he never Quoted her in the way she affirmed,
These facts were also sworn to by other witness
cs for the plaintiff; one that on one occasion
when Hugh came to Moore's in the rain, he
asked Jos. Moore to put up his horse, and at
Joe's remonstrance that he had put up his horse
often enough already, Hugh said: "Never mind
Joe; I know you have put up my horse often,
but you won't have to do 1t much longer, and
when marry your sister Kate and you come to
our house, I'll put up your horse the other,
that she had heard Hugh make the statement he
"intended to make Kate his own" when she (thc
wtness) came upon them in the orchard.
After three or four years Of counting, Hugh's
visits grew beautifully less and finally ceased
entirely; and stories began to 20 the rounds OF
the neighborhood derogatory to Hates charac.
ter and also that she had begun suit for breach
OF promise. Whereupon Steven Moore at his
sisters request sent Hugh TO her, who asked
him to redeem his promise and stop the stories
offering to go to their parish priest and lay their
differences before him as national returning
board" but he said Priest be ID, won't mar.
nv YOU till see further" This is her testimony
corroborated by that Of Steven. Jennett denied
the vital points in toto. The parish priest, Faith
er McDonough, said that she came to him with
her troubles but told him there was no distinct
promise of marriage on Hugh's part only he had
of the neighborhood also swore that Kate once
told her in the garden, after the reports were in
circulation, that she (Kate) did not see why pco
ple had to relate these stories about her and
Hugh-it would be time to sue for breach Of
promise after promise had been made and bro,
ken. This is about the testimony offered on both
sides The examinations were concluded on
Wednesday afternoon, after which Col. Cameron
opened the arguments for the plaintiff He was
followed by Judge Gilman on Wednesday, ard
F. F. Bull on Thursday for the defense. and W
W. O'Brien for the plaintiff. At noon Thursday
the jury retired to make up their verdict This
was rendered on Friday about p. NJ, when they
found for the plaintiff, fixing damages at $500
The case will probably 60 to the Supreme Court
Go and see the bargains in clothing ut VI
Stiefel * Cos.