The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-25
TIE WIDOW 0LIVER'S SUIT.
Why THE NON 4. q. RIDDLE DID NOT
WISH 10 MEDDLE WIN II.
The strong Lnnrnnre ,hn, simon Cameron

Nscd when First spoken To nbOut the
finintiH's Various Claims and Condition.
WAsHINGToN, March 2-The case OF Oil
yer against Cameron was resumed in the Cir
cult Court to-day.
DIR. George Gould OF Kentucky was examined
The witness is n preacher and in charge OF tho
Mersburg Female College. He will bo 81
yoars Of age next December. Ho lived in
Raleigh with his father and mother. They left
there in the year 1852. His mother was a sister
OF Mr.. Thomas Oliver. just before they left
North Carolina Mr.. divers mother camo to
live with witnesses family. Ho knew nothing OF
her adopting any child while thoy lived In Ra-
leigh. and one could not have lived in the house
without his knowing It. He went to Louis
vile with Mrs. Alico Oliver. The plaintiff did not
accompany them. They went to Cincinnati in
November. 1852. and remained six weeks. then
to Paris. KY. and finally returned to Louisville
TO live In August. 1853. Tho plaintiff was not
with thcm at any timo during this iourneying.
They lived on Walnut street in Louisville. and
the plaintiff never resided with them in that
city but his grandmother did all the time. He
saw the plaintiff in Louisville in the year 1854.
She was living in the house on Walnut street from
which his family had previously moved. with
his uncle Thos. Oliver. He never knew Of either
| his grandmother or sister visiting that house
| while she was In IT, Tho circumstances under
which she lived there were known to them. The
first he ever heard of his grandmother having
adopted tho plaintiff was aftor he reached this
city. in reading the account ofan interview in
Of the daily papers. They were living on Broad
way before Mr.. Oliver separated from the plain
| tff. The witness was in her house once In 1861
and that was year after the separation. She
was to SEQ her that he made the visit
H.a tN IN
| 1866. when his uncle tried to get possession OF
| the child. He accompanied him To the house.
| The plaintiffs condition seemed to be poverty
| stricken-she was very poor. II was the opinion
| OF the community in which they lived that she
Was Mrs, Oliver. Witness called her Aunt
Mary. She commenced writing to witness in
| 1870 about tho child. and continued 90 do so
| down to some two weeks ago. He did not think
the letters valuable. and destroyed them They
| came frequently during the time stated Tho
| general purport ot the letters WAS that u the
| witness did not use his influence with Mr.. Oliver
| TO have him restore the daughter or pay the
plaintiff somo money she would prosecute the
uncle for bigamy and disgrace tho whole family.
that the answer be mailed TO THIS city to the care
OF Judge Marshall. Ho knew that the letter was
sent for the witness mailed IT,,
Gen. Butler-l call on the defence for the pro-
Mr. Peters~We have not got it, and have not
Gen. Buter-we think this Marshall is n
myth. We cannot trace him, and II seems that
the other side cannot DO SO either.
tho rules Of evidence. They have not proved
that the witness ever saw her write. or know
anything about her handwriting, yet the wit
ness testines that he saw letter purporting to
have come from her.
Gen. Butler-Very well we will settle that.
Witness resuming; He had seen the plaintiff
and has received letters from her ior. the past
Oliver sent IT, and it was detailed statemcnt OF
his uncle's knowledge Of the plaintiff 1t was
| written either in last October or November.
examined by Mr. PeiersHc is a Doctor
He knew That the Hlainbpn lived with his uncle
sstant at the school az Mllersburg over which
the witness had charge. He knew that for the
past twenty years the life OF Mr. Oliver had
been very exemplary one
Tho Hon. A. G. Riddle was then called. and
Mr. Darneillc said that he must object.
Gen. Butler--What do you propose TO show
Mr., Dnrnellle-l wish {. show that Mt Riddle
WIS first the counsel of Mrs. Oliver, and that
aiterward he went over TO the other side This
/ wish to show Further. that he Is not com
petent 10 testify 10 interviews that occurred be-
tween him and his first client
The Court-That would be truo II you had not
put the plaintiff on the stand and brought the
matter out yourselves. II she could testify TO
H. then II must be an inevitable sequence that
Mr. Riddle was then sworn after execution
and examined by Gen. Butler. He said he had
been an attorney ut law sinco 1910. and had
Rractied in all the ETinripgHl A. f91rts OF ne
Office as far as his recollection would serve
him in the latter part OF March, 1876. Her first
inquiry seemed to be ns to his identity. She said
that she was the granddaughter Of Commodore
Stuart-the daughter OF isson- and that she was
the widow Of late deceased officer named
ShS thcH RsS said that Mr. csmerop was friend ei
Commodore Stuart's. and Interested himself in
securing place i2r her IN one St the bureaus
herself useful about his rooms and onlce, in ar
ranging his papers and acting as CLERK. and
by So doing had incurred the displeasure OF
ono Annie Davis n cousin Of his wife. who was
Interfering 70 preyent her from discharglng her
clerical duties 10 Mr.. Cameron. She wanted the
witness to write letter Ia Annie Davis warn
ing her against interfering with Mr. Cameron s
arrangements about CLERK. She was IN the
hour. He explained his inability 10 write such
n letter was wanted and informed her that he
would not be mixed up In the matter az all. She
| then went away. and he did not see her again
until in August. 1876. she theh called nsaiu AT
his onleo on Saturday. coming from the
alone. Sho went on to say that she had lady
friend occupying q similar place as herself IN
| the Treasury building, and wished To- tell him
the story Of that friend. and SEQ II he could
give her any assistance. She said inat hc%
n distinguished Senntor He Interrupted her
and said tina, he could have nothing 70 do with
Tor ! he had his hands iuil oi that kind Of bust,
ness now. He had lust disposed OF one a1air
between a young lady and Senator. and he
had now on hand another case between mar
Gen. Bptler Was it a good day for Senators 7
Mr.. Riddle-They seemed 10 be pretty thick
witness added that he told Mrs. Oliver that she
had better bring the lady friend 10 him anl let
| her mako her own statement. TINT he could moi
| advise somebody else about IT, She replied that
II was not necessary for her to do that ms she
was fully posted upon the circumstances, and
could tell him Just as much as tho lady herself
He then asked II in this state OF affairs any
promise OF marriage had been given and she
replied none whatever He then told her that
| probably this providing OF an office was cOnsld-
cred an equivalent for what had been given. He
asked If any writings were in possession OF hel
lady friend and she replied none whatever
as tho Senator was prominent man. ana did
not write letters. Sho further said that the
lady condition was being noticed 10y the ladies
OF tho Treasury Department. When she frs
began talking at the interview, the witness go
the impression that Mrs. Oliver was placing hel
own case before him under the disguise OF 4
lady friend; but soeing that she was not In tn,
condition she claimed her lady friend 10 be. he
concluded that II must be some ono else that sh,
was taking about. He declined 70 take the case
She then asked permission to write q letter
which was granted After the letter was llnis shed
she placed II In an envelope, unsealed, ant
asked him to mail it, which he did. II was direct
, ed to tho Hon. Simon Cameron, Harrisburg. Pa
! While in his Office she did not complain OF sick
ness, or of having taken any medicine, or tina
her friend had done so. He understood her a,
saving that the lady referred TO had never re
J coved from Mr. Cameron anything In writing
I but that the messages generally came through
| pages and servants. He had never told Mrs