New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-03-18
OLIVER AGAINST CAMERON.
THE STORY OF THE WIDOW.

5. Oliver against Simon Cameron for $4,000 damages
for breach OF promise OF marriage was called up the
Circuit Court, Chief Justice Cartier presiding to-day.
The attorneys having upon The calender preccd
ing 1t gave way.
On February g. 1877. Mary S Oliver fled bill OF
complaint agans, simon Cameron. She alleged that
December T. 1879, The defendant being unmarried she,
ai ha instance, areed 10 take him for her husband and
he unifed in engagement OF marriage with
her. the marriage TO ensue in reasonable
period She AYERS that the time for this
purpose long elapsed, and although has
always held herself in readiness TO perform her part Of
the compact, the defendant has wholly refused and
stu refuses 10 marry her In consequence OF this
duct she claims damages to the extent Of $4,000.
The defendant. on March g. 1877, made answer deny
ins that he every promised alleged, and issue
joined.
On April %. 1873 motion was ed by Mrs divers
attorney requesting that Ex-senator Cameron be ordered
to produce at the trial all the letters written by her
him during the years 1874 1879 ami 1876 ana es-
pecLy those written by him to bearing
date Harrisburg, September D. 1879, and which she
claimed contained an absolute promise to marry her.
This competed the papers prepared IN the
both Sides and from that point the began to-day.
Mrs. Oliver, accompanied by Miss Carlton, a lady
friend arrived some time before the trial began. and
when II came occupied a seat beside her counsel,
Hessrs Peters Peters, b. J. Darnies and Sterling b.
Toney, OF Kentucky. Ex-senator Cameron was seated
A. u.
Colonel William A. Cook tie looked In excellent health
aud aside from the personal annoyance the has
created, he said that he disturbed by 1t. lie
charged that it wa a OF deliberate attempt at
blacsmall, and the evidence would disclose it.
Mr.. Peters, addressing the Court, sa d, that this
had created quite a sensation, and attained great
public nOtoriety. preferred that Juror should
sworn his voir dire, and when that was completed
they would select from the panel such men,
competent to sit in the cause, suit
able TO them according to the other side the
privilege To this end he challenged the whole ar
Of jurors. Colonel Cook did O6j.ctto the
proposed the only desire OF the deendent was to
fair trial
The Court remarked that it the hr~t time within
fifteen years that such course had been pursued in
that court Still. it perfectly proper, and the only
question involved was how they should proceed.
The process OF impaneling jury then proceeded
with, and while this progress Justices Wyie,
Hagner and Cox entered the chamber and took seats
upon the bench beside the ChleJustce. where they
NAMED some time watching the movements In the
The following jury selected TO try the J. b.
Wells. Henry X. Wood James W. Coley. Isaac b. Lums-
ford, James Ashford. Cornelius Clark J. r. Norton. W.
II. Gashns, William Rothwel, James E. Rogerson,
Jared Dorsey and James A. Clark
Mr.. DarnIele opened for the plaintiff, and gave
brief statement OF the case. He said. among other
things, that Mrs. Oliver poor
who came from a Southern stlte 10 this city
looking for position She brought letters
from friends OF Mr.. Cameron to that gentleman,
asking his assistance TO procure her a situation He
obtained a place for her in the Treasury Department
For some cause she removed and afterward got
into tie Interior Department. During this time
the marriage contract was made. Subsequently,
Mr.. Cameron met Mrs. Oliver in New.Orleans,
and through his inducements she returned
TO this city. Time passed. and there being fnlfment
of the contract Oliver nervous aud after
iah laH off, sha HuHtp bar
self deceived had to the court to make her final
appeal for Justice.
The defence stated that they bad opening make
Mrs. Oliver was then called TO the stand. General
Butler asked permission question the witness before
she gave any testimony to her condition and posi-
tOn for the purpose Of ascertaining whether
she was competent to be party to the He did
80 as duty TO the defendant and believed
If such a course was permitted it would
result in greatly shortening the Investigation He did
not propose TO ask word about the contract the
breach Of anything In relation to the defendant OF
to tue witDes~ but simply to Mrs. divers social
position in life and the relation she sustained to
to whom she was married. II she married. and the
man was still living, and there had been divorce be-
tween them. then there end to this
Mr. Darnielle could not understand how such ques-
ton was com uetent at this time They max
ing an tnq,tiretdo lundteo This proposition was
enormous outrageous to shock the sens'bities
of any one.
Mr. Peters could not understand under what rule such
an inquiry at stage OF the hearing could be adms
bic.
Judge Cartter-wel II she has a husband living you
don't want her another sue because she dld
not get one But II objection is made. the question is
not proper at this time.
Mrs Oliver then gave her testimony, which to the
following IF -ct:
The witness lived in this city and had since
1878 She became acquainted with ex-senator Cam
at the Congressional Hot l. m lLl cay, IA 10 -
the Spring Of 1870 in NeW-Orlr ms, ihat VT
told her that she should De MS future wire
Then she came bere IN 1872 Mr.. cameron gave Itg a
letter 10 the Secretary or the Treasury III was III lS1o
that Mr.. Cameron proposed marriage to her. and she
accepted him There was quite correspondence be-
tween them. she had some OF Tue letters that she re-
ceived. Dat most Of them had been returned to Mr..
Three letters were here submitted BY her One
the letter Secretary BristOw, recommending her Tor
appointment 10 !'osliloh III ns u1ii I' ~, 80 20
ond stated that she should De cnhdueed, 10 a
bitter place than where she was, where reililv
would look after and protect her, ami closed with
tue sentence: You Will be my wife The thrd read
a. follows: send you letter to Mr. Bristow IN ac-
fSsI S"n asrre with me 10 be nine hope So You had
tina: tins letter reaches the oecrearys own
witness resuming-sho had urged Mr. Cameron fre-
quenty 10 comply with his request; lie sald tnat a
In ton objected, and he could not. She went TO see
Miss DAVIS. to try 60 remGye me objection,
for her 10 come 10 the room OF tue committee
on Foreign Relations He SAID foa went to see that
woman Miss Dayisl. She + relative OF mine but
when / was Secretary OF War she uad control OF my
papers, involving considerable amount OF money ana
have TO careful of treatment or her" she hrst
saw Mr.. Cameron once IN l574-tne year she became
acquainted with him. When she lett mere she went
hack TO New-Oreans Iu 1873 she met him In
that city. lie had written her that he coming
with a party a Senatorial tour To Vera Cruz She
met him at the ST. Charles Hotel and he introduced her
10 his suuin-law, Wayne McNcagh. He then told her
that she leave persons that she was with aud
come TO this cy and b. has wife. The prospect was so
much better had experienced that she accepted
il. aud he gave her the money to come with
Thev had repeated interviews from that time. Mr..
Cameron did To the house where she lived a.
he people there did not IKE 10. she saw
him quite often IN this city He would come from Har-
~burg about once two weeks until Congress
mel. and then she would him at the
mittee ROOMS The letter ne gave her q