Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1878-10-31
A Peculiar Slander Suit.
From the Cadiz Republican. ]

| A slander suit has been in progress
/ in Court this week, commencing on
Monday, that has attracted unusual
public attention. The suit is brought
bv Mrs Samuel Ramsey of the neigh
borhoOd of Deersville, against Mrs. w.
NJ. Howes, of the same neighbOrhOOd.
Mrs. Howes is charged with circulat-
ing the report that Mrs. Ramsey was
guilty of criminal intimacy with a
Mr.. Daniel Adams of Deersville Mrs.
Howes does not deny the charge, but
testifies under oath that it was true,
giving the particulars. Mrs. Ramsey
testifies, under oath, that the report is
untrue, and furthermore that it was
Mrs. Howes who was guilty of init
macy with Adams at the time and place
referred to. 1t is very mysterious
case They are both women of stain
less character with the exception of this
scandal.
According to the testimony it seems
that on certain evening in November,
of last year, Mrs. Howes, and Mrs.
Ramsey were visiting at the house of
Mr.. Robert Howes, the father-in-law of
the younger lady. On the same eve
ming Mr.. Daniel Adams came to the
same house on a visit of cOurt-ship to
Miss Mamie Howes, daughter of the
old gentleman. The four,-Mrs. Ram
sey, Mrs. Howes, Mr.. Adams, and Miss
Mamie, remained in the sitting-rOOm
together, in social converse, until or
binary bedtime, when Mrs. Ramsey
and Mrs. Howes went up stairs to re-
tire for the light. Up stairs there were
two rooms and two beds, and one of
the beds was to be reserved for Mr..
Adams, and the other to be occupied
by the two married ladies.
Thus far the story is straight, but
after this there are two stories, and we
don't know which is true. Mr.. Adams
came up stairs to retire for the night
at two o'clock. After that time, at
least, the two ladies occupied different
beds. In this their testimony agrees.
As to which bed Mr.. Adams occupied
the testimony differs. As to what Oc-
Cured up stairs between two o'clock
and morning there are just the three
witnesses. Each of the ladies swears
to her own innocence and to the guilt
of the other.
Mr.. Adams was put on the stand, and
possibly he told the truth. But his
appearance, and manner, and his readi-
ness to recite his own guilt, were dis
gusting in the extreme. He seemed to
regard it as joke that he had betray
ed the hospitality of the family of
Robert Howes, and had brought dis
grace and misery upon two families
for Mrs. Ramsey is near relative of
the Howes family, and in any event,
and whatever the truth may be, the
disgrace is shared by all. In his testi
mony he agreed with Mrs. Ramsey as
to the main fact. Mr.. Adams Is an un-
married man and probably 80 years of
age.
There was time in the history of
this case when the whole trouble could
have heen settled On that November
night at two o'clock, the innocent UO-
men ought to have raised the alarm, ,and
Dan Adams ought to have been kicked
out of the house. That would have
peaceful household fol the
night, but promptness then would have
saved all trouble afterward.
The jury were sent out on Tuesday
evening and were out about three hours,
when they brought in verdict assess
ing damages against the defendant to
the amount of one dollar.