Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-02-12

you would find a dozen Capt. RS and M. +. WIS.
If witness ever heard of his marrying the plain
tiff he wanted her to use her influence with DIR.
Baldwin to get him quarters at the Lunatic
Asylum. He admitted plaintiff was pretty and
sprightly but thought she was crazy on the SUBJ
ject of marrying and would even marry Mr.. ].
F. E. if she couldn't get any one else. Plaintiff
told witness one day that she heard that she
had said that defendant was flirting with her.
Said she would like to see defendant flirting
with her, the times were hard and she would
just as leave make money by getting damages
out of him any other way.
Capt. T. S. Doyle was boarder at the Kalc-
rama; knew Rochester; bro ught him up to see
the widow Scruggs. He came up very frequent
ly. Thought he did it to worry Mr.. D. c. Meg.
who always wanted to go to bed early and
wanted to see everything that was going on
Knew Rochester to be widower with three
children now in West Virginia. He owned real
estate in West Virginia, and also had $4,000 in
the Augusta National Bank. Mrs. Scruggs had
asked him how Rochester was getting along
since the war and he told her of the property
he possessed. When witness found out that
the plaintiff was about to marry the defendant
he advised him 10 leave.
Jack Thompson IA colored boy)-Yas, waited
on Mars Dolph; carried notes to de gals fur him
Took 'em to great number of gals; he was
great favorite wild de gals, yes he was. Used to
take notes to Kaloramyj; always give 'em to
Mars McGuf1in. You know, boss he likes to
get notes, specially when dey hab good en-
dorser and bring thirty-three per cent. One
day when went dere wild a note from Mars
Dolph, stopped at de door, for heard some
gentleman talking to Missus Scruggs, and
| thought may be as they might be remarking
| on my pusonal appearance. When I pulled
de bell, I heard Missus Scrusgs say that 'horrid
Rochester is always sending notes to me-"
den opened de door and saw Mars Tinsley sit
| ting mighty close to Missus Scruggs, but he
drawed his chair back when opened de door.
1 saw ring, and think in dc. confusion, you
| know, which my coming in so sudden caused,
dat de ring got on Missus Scruggs' finger
About dis. however, cannot say wild certi-
| tude beyond all certainty of a doubt, as you
| learned gemmen in de law wonld say.
Master Sam1 Yost, jr.. was boarding at Kalo-
rama. Several fellows came up there to see
Mrs. Scruggs. Saw Mr.. Harry Tinsley came up
there one day, and as he was going up the steps
he dropped little box and ring rolled out of
| it. He picked it up and went on in the house.
| Here the testimony for defense closed, and the
| court adjourned until Friday night.
FRIDAY NIGHT.
| The Hall was again crowded, and the jury
| being called were all found present.
| The counsel for plaintiff asked leave to intro
duce certain letters from the defendant, which
| the latenesss of the hour on the previous night
| had prevented them from reading, which was
granted, and similar request on the part Of the
defense.
FIRST LETTER FROM ROCHESTER, TO MRS.
sCRUGGS.
This letter was dated at Fluvanna c. H., May
| 3lst, 1865, and announced the death OF Mr..
| Scruggs from wounds received at Waynesboro',
and conveyed the dying messages of deceased
to his widow, assuring her Of his unceasing
love, and that he had died as he had lived, low
| ing her alone; that his married life had been
one of unalloyed happiness, and that he would
have died happy could he but have pillowed
his head upon her bosom and breathed his life
out sweetly there. The letter closes as follows
Permit me again, madame, to renew my
| sympathy and to plead my right as an old
friend and Acquaintance to sorrow with you
since your husband by the frequent mention of
your name, Araminta, induced me to enquire
| your maiden name, and surprised and shocked
me to know that from my culver the arrow
| must be drawn to wound your breast.
| Your sympathizng friend,
G. ADoLPHUs ROCHESTER,"
| Mrs. Scruggs replied to this thanking him for
his sympathy and said she was the same Ar
aminta whom he had known in her geish I'M
clouded days. noW, how changed!'
Your sincere, though sorrowing friend,
| [Signed] ARAMINTA SCRUGGs.
| 2ND LETTER FROM ROCHESTER.
| This letter is dated Staunton, May 3lst, 1875,
i stating that he had seen her at church on the
| previous Sunday and had learned fro5ss@r, E.
| that she was stopping at Kalorama and desired
| the privilege of renewing former acquatn-
lance. Hagreeable he would get Mr.. E. Or his
friend Capt. Doyle, who he understood was
pretty regular to bring him up.
Your friend and acquaintance offormer years.
| G. ADoLPHUs ROCHESTER.
/ REPLY.
Dear Mr.. Rochester.-Your note caused me
qreat agitation. In the words ofthe poet "many
the changes since last we met but nothing has
been able to Danish all memories my "friend
of former years." 1 shall be most happy
to receive you at your earliest convent
ence. As neither Mr.. E, nor Capt. D. seems to
be reliable in any particular, suggest that yop
ask Mr.. Addison G. to pilot you here. He is a
regular, steady visitor, and would not be likely
to interfere with as after getting to Kalorama.
AS in days of yore, sincerely,
ARAMINTA 8.
The third was q note from Rochester asking
, "Dear Mrs. Scruggs to drive with him behind
the blacks entreating her not to be unkind,
f but send him favorable answer.
IL REPLY.
Dear Mr.. Rochester, OF course could not be
"unkind" to yoI. will be ready at P. M
fl Are you sure you can manage the blacks? But
have no fears-for can trust yoM with all my
| I,oo VI J,Jx
> ARAM1NTA-S.
Sept. 18th, 1876.
' nth LETTER FROM ROCHESTER,.
Is dated Staunton, Dec. 18th, 1876. after Mrs.
s. had returned to Tarboro', and begins, my
dear Araminta." 1t is rather equivocal as will
be seen from the following extracts.
"Kalorama is deserted, even old Nc. seems to
be sunk to a reasonable size and is frequently
taken in the Bank for Sam Baskins."
81
h 81 often think how near I have frequently
: been to speaking to you on subject near my
heart. What comfort it would be to me had
asked you how they cultivate peanuts in
your Southern home. That was not what I
started to say, but you can guess, can you not?
Now just try"
"Oh, that were poet, but 1 will get our
laureate P. A. B. to put all down for me. They
say he writes as never man wrote"
1 Il + = "
> II oftenrwish I were man who could see his
way clear to matrimony. 1 think if I could, /
t could make you happy. From one whom you
t kn9w and don't know"
II ROCHESTER,
EELLy,
Under date Of Dec. Doth, 1875, Mrs. S. says she
5 knows he must be unhappy, for his little play
} fulness about peanuts made it evident to
her that he was only trying to conceal his real
l feelings. He must be sure to send her any Of
the Staunton papers containing Mr.. p. A. BIS
contributions, as she was collecting gems fol
her scrap-book.
What had become of that pretty little French
girl with SO much name. How Mr.. Doyle and
1 Mr.. Wally Allen and Mr.. Efinger (of course
and Mr.. stribling usea 70 fiutter around her.
0 Was Mr.. S. really pining. Thai faf-fefchsd pan
q reminded her Of that remarkable and impressi
BILE Mr.. Grattan. Who and what was he any
IL hour To ha raollv a orrind rnao0