Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-08-08

tue next ltTul III tUC YOU'LL.
MARRIED ONCE. Bur ONLY A LITTLE. -
Snme men are fastidius 10 selecting wives
others are hot at all nice 10 matters matrimo'
uial. But breach cfrromise case 10 Arkansas,
10 general, is too rare AID serious to eavo a
loophoIe for laugh to COM in.
Mr. Johnson Topp moved from Tennessee
across the Mississippi toto Arkansas. lie was a
man Of meaus and bachelor. lie was not
wholly averse to matrimony, but he had tea.
Of widows. Grass widows especially were a
terror to him. He had moved from Fast Teunes
see TO Middle Tennessee, from that section to
West Tennessee, aud 6oally over ioto Atkan.
sas to escape from real or faocled mat1lmonlal
danger arising from cntcrprisog, perhaps
charming, Tennessee widows.
That being Mr.. Johnson Tops history, it
surprised bis friends that he should appear as
defendant 10 tho case of Dublin w. Topp;
suit for breach of promise. Bat the circuit
court docket for Crittcnden county disclosed
the fact the suit. and tho affidavit ct Mrs.
Maliuja Dublin set forth the particulars
The plaintiff was put on the stand to tell how
wckedly she had been led into false hopes by
the middle aged bachelor.
II live at home With NY Old dad, she said.
land this Teller kept comm round thar maxim
believe be wanted to trade mules. Alter he
traded time or two till that was played out he
come wantin cotton seed. | kDoWed he only
wanted an excuse to get to see me, and told
pop when he come again to brlog him and see
whether he d talk turkey or not if ho had fair
chance. And that was Just what be wanted.
You never see O man set up to woman pearter
than he did as soon as ever pop Introduced US,
tsllin him, This a my darter, Malndy. lie
WAS powerful shy at the offset; but let him git
fairly started on mules or shoates, and he was
dead sure to end with sparkln'. And 1t ap-
peared like he couldn wait more mint for
a woman to say yes | didn't fool with the
man as lots do, but said yes; and about the
next thing that happened he was tryln to craw-
fish, That's about the whole story.
But her lawyer did not think it was the whole
story, and he WAS right-tbere was moro to be
told.
evil you state to the jury how it happened
that the defendant, Topp, went back on his
word. after he had asked you to marry bin =
well, as sail before, he was the most
uneasy man until be got his answer, which was
yes. The fourth day Of July, | allowed, would
couldn't wait till then, 1t was impossible. |
tOlQ ulu u call pup III auu ION ~ ose''
went ever to the kitchen to get up ss1ar
meal and show the man | could do the tsllest
cooking 10 Arkansaw, when | let myself out
for it 10 dead earnest.
And what happened when your father and
the defendant, Topp, talked it oVer?"
Before eft'em told pop the man was on
the marry, and I reckined it was all right. Pop
allowed the'd best have something to tako l
set on the whiskey and sugar an told them thar
wss cooking to do if they perferred mint in
theirs they knowed just where to get it. When
came back saw things WAS wrong The first
thing the man said, and lookin' aoberin' fune.
rsl: 'CouTnel Dublin, allowed your gal, Ma
Indy, was single gal till this mint. Is she
single, or is she ever been married sfora? And
pop he told the truth. lookin' him plumb in the
eye; She's boon married once, but only little
only a little And l said, That's SO he's
tskin' the Gospel facts only little The man
lit out then mighty suddint; and me and pop
thinks if thsrs any law in Arkanasw he orter
pay.
The defendant urged that no didn't want a
wife who had been married ever 60 little. He
thought he had been deceived The jury saw
il differently. A little married didn't count in
Arkansas, He must pay, and he did pay.