The New York herald., 1879-03-21
General Butler Finds a Trou'
blesone Witness.
MONEY MATTERS and LETTERS EXPLAINED
The Audience in Sympathy with
the Fair Plaintiff.
SENATOR CANERONy LETTERS IN EVIDENCE.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD


WASHINGTON, March 20, 1879.
Public interest in the suit Of Mrs. Oliver agsinst
ex-senator Cameron increases the progresses.
and to-day the fourth Of the trial. the excitement
about the Court House was at fever pitch. Mrs.
Oliver has endcavored all through the trial to avoid
making herself conspicuous. At the suggestion
Of friends she laid aside tho fancy hat shc had
been wearing a. first and has substituted for it
plain straw bonnet. To-day she attired quite
becomingly. Her hair. which she possesses fine
stock Of. dressed plainly. being simply parted in
tho middle and combed down over her forehead
Her appearance the subject OF general re-
mark and approval. 1t was admitted that she
looked really pretty. The red blush her face that
has heretofore given her rather bold look has do
parted and in its stead there is simply two pinkish
spots her checks. SO she was
called to the witness stand General Butler
began TO propound some perplcxng questions. but
the.widow answered promptly. Tho crossexamina-
ton took wide range and efforts were made to trip
her. but in this the audience seemed think she
equal her interrogator Shc evidently had the SYM
pathy Of tho vast Of spectators the
room. Judge Cartier frequently reminded the Gen.
eral that too much time was being consumed in the
cross-examnation and that the witness had been
amincd on the same subject twice over.
When the controversy sprang up between counsel
relative to tho receipt given by plaintiff for money
received from defendant General Butler remarked: =:
''wo had never heard Of this breach of promise to
marry until this woman fell into the hands Of Peter
4 Darncillc."
Z ABUSE OF THE PLAINTIFFS COUNSEL.
This assertion created quito sensation. and It wis
expected that lively wordy alteration at least
would follow between those gentlemen and General
Butler but to tho surprise Of all present tho charge
aa11 to M hv 2ut1 roptip IL
examination with renewed vigor. but he was
often put to great trouble at times to
get answers to suit. and he openly pro-
nounccd the widow . troublesome witness. Mrs.
Oliver endeavored to Yankee fashion. but she
was promptly met by the General. who would say.
81 am asking you. I am not witness. and. there
fore. cannot be asked questions" She sometimes
insisted being allowed to answer questions &C.
cording to her liking but she stopped by the
sharp voice Of tho Court demanding of her Eyes or
no." General Butler at certain stage Of the ex-
animation put the direct question to her:-
''was there single allusion that no promised 70
marry ron In any Of his ete until after this suit
was broughtT
This she evidently endesvored to decline answer
ing and for while the spectators held their breath
in anxious suspense. She backed and filed and
finally relieved the counsel snd tho in the room
by saying, II do not recollect IT,"
CROSS FIRE BETWEEN COUNSEL.
Another cross Are took place between plaintiffs
counsel and General Butler when the latter charged
that the widow promised her counsel one-third Of
the. money she should obtain from the suit Mr..
Peter of her counsel clsimed that he took the case
out Of sympathy for tho woman Mt. roncy. another
of her counsel. said Il am perfectly indifferent
whether get anything or not
The charge was made also thss tho suit was q Job
to make money, which again stirred up the counsel
The Court seeing that trouble brewing de-
manded that General Butler should 20 on with his
troversy was the means Of drawing out the state
ment from Mrs. Oliver that she obtained tho
money with witch she paid the necessary
soae jewels and clothes This had its effect on the
crowd. and expressions such as ''Spunky woman"
in. Mrs. oliver took savantage Of the sympathy
manifested for her BY the crowd and piteously
II had no friends on earth and had to rely on my
This was too much for the crowd. and bad II not
out of tho all disorderly persons, Mrs. divers
exclamation would have been greeted with loud sp
plausc.
UNDER AN AssunKp NAME.
The next point in the examination which created
sensation was when General Butler asked witness II
she hnd represented hcrself as Mrs. General
sherman. Mrs. Oliver placing her large bluc eyes
on General Butler. said in emphatic one II did IL
o y Ss 70 sxpsn
how she came to do IL on that occasion.
hut General Butler objected but it could plainly be
by her countcnancc that before her examination
closed she would tell the whole story, and she
cccded. Said she:
III might have under the circumstances said that
was Mrs. dcneral Butler" This remark took with
the crowd, and for several minutes the court room
convulsed with laughter. Mrs. Oliver Joining ia.
After tho mcrrimept had subsidcd Mrs. Oliver eaid:
III you would let me tell 1t would help you fire.
quenssy., ,..... -. .~rx.x -. . ..--x \
help"
Meantime the crowd had become quite noisy. The
Court ordered the room to be cleared and none but
members OF the Bar allowed inside the rail. Tho
record Of tho Court was produced. and only those
ing this time Ccncral Butler and tho widow held q
short conversation, which had the appearance Of
being very pleasant Tho widow smiled and the
At tho close OF the cross-exam nation Mrs. Oliver
left the witness stand and General Butler politely
said, MADAM. take chair.
mn. cAMERoNs LErrxRs.
Counsel for plaintiff recalled Mrs. Oliver, and tho
letters purporting TO have been written by Mr..
Cameron to the widow were put in evidence. The
created considerable commotion. General Butler
took the letters and said he objected IN their being
..tscncrai. handle them with care" ana the Gen.
era said he would as he had great interest in t.em
and intended to prove them simple forgcrics and
prepared with some care. Mr. Cameron he said.
was an educated gentleman. Mr.. Cameron had been
n cornpositor In printing of1cc, and he would not
nave uviucu WOruS ~ tncy Wcrc IN the lcttcr; TOT
instance, In the word know" ''kn' is on one line
and sow on the other. and the word stay is
divided in the same manner General Butler turned
facing tho crowd. and in loud tone pronounced tho
letters forgcrics.
IN regard to Mr.. Camcrou's objecting to going TO
Mrs. divers house in New Orleans owing TO the
rcl,cls the General rcInarked:--
why the war was over AZ that time. could ven-
turc about New Orleans then" paugh.cr.l
General Cameron did not appear NJ the court room
during the day.
Proofs FORGERY.
The defence has summoned several men from
Pcnnsyvan who arc familiar with Mr.. Camcrons
handwriting. well Mr.. Gcddcy. Of the clerks
OF the United States senate, and two experts from
the Treasury Department before whoni the two
letters alleged 10 have been written by Mr..
Cameron to Mrs. Oliver promising TO marry
her will be laid tor examination and opinion. The
letter in which it s alleged Mr.. Cameron says You
will be my wi O. will be the chief one in dispute.
and IL will undergo the closest scrutiny. The letter
addressed to Secretary Dristcw recommending her
for q position IL admitted to he genuine.
CROSS EXAMINATION RESUMED.
The eros examination OF Mrs. Oliver was resumed
by General Butler. bhc said that when Mr.. Cameron
L..x 49, ~N...