The New York herald., 1879-03-20
Severe Reflections on the Char.
acter OF the PlaintifY.
PATIENCE UNDER MUCH TRIBULATION.
Coldness Of the. Aged Senator and a
fFs' Refusal to Settle
ADDITIONAL CORRESPONDENCE.
[pY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD

WASHINGTON, March 10, 1879.
The scenes presented in the Oliver Cameron case
to-day in the Circuit Court haze not been equalled
for excitement since the trial of General Daniel E.
Hickles for the shooting of Philip Barton Key. Long
before the opened the street in front of
the City Hall was crowded with men and
women; at the door OF the court there
solid mass Of human beings anxiously await
ing an opportunity to get in. At halfpast nine
o'clock. when the doors were opened, the stream
poured in and filled every space in the room. going
far crowd up to the Judges bench and the jury
box On the arrival Of Judge Cartier he ordered the
Marshal to clear the in front of the bench and
the jury box, which resulted in "a large num-
Der OF the spectators being crowded out into the
street This made ludicrous scene. Order being
restored the jury called, but fresh Interrupt
lion occasioned by the crowding in again Of the
throng at the door. and some minutes delay was
spent in forcing the excess oufcr the second time
The audience comprised number of women. Cen
eral Butler, at.ired in broad brimmed hat and
carrying in his hand leather satchel and wearing
In the lapel Of his coat large nosegay, was the
first Of the plaintiffs counsel to arrive. He removed
his coat. and looking round the room took q seat
near the witness box. He was soon followed by the
other counsel and by Mrs. Oliver After short con-
sultation with her counsel Mrs. Oliver took the wit
stand, and General Butler moved his chair
closer to her to begin his questions. This movo-
ment caused buzz in the court room which
quickly silenced By this time the outside crowd
had made another inroad into the court room and
was again showed back and out.
AMUSEMENT ATFoRnED.
As was expected General Butler made his questions
amusing aud interesting. and rendered the court
attractive variety theatre. In fact there
was more called amusement" afforded to-day in
the court than is often atainabe in variety theatre
Mrs. Oliver the victim Of General Buffers sharp in
terrogation, bore up under the infiiction with
traordnary frmness and frequently smiled, A
few minutes before recess was taken the
crowd began to be again annoying, and
the Court remarked that as the atmosphere in the
room had become offensive and the crowd was
packed in like ham in q sandwich. it would be .
good idea to leave the room for thirty minutes and
AL would be benefited thereby. On the reassembling
OF the Court it appeared as though the crowd had
increased twofold and packed in like sardines
in box. Judge Cartier, noticing in the crowd q
man with soldier cap Strengthening himself out
look over the multitude, exclaimed
'Take of that military cap. This court is no
place for soldiers"
Considerable merriment ensued as the boy in blue
doed his chapeau and attorneys witness and others
Joined in with the crowd in laughing. short time
after this Marshal Douglass afforded additional
amusement to the crowd by utilizing his high
crown hat for writing desk. on which he signed
paper brought to him by of his deputies
the Marshal being unable to reach q desk
owing to the crowd In front of him.. These frequent
Interruptions OF the proceedings annoyed the Judge
very much, so he directed the bailifs to exclude
from the room all persons detected in laughing or
otherwise making disturbance. During the interim
occasioned by the Interruptions Mrs. Oliver sat
thinking. At times during the examination she
restless and moved uncasily in her chair when
pressed for an answer by General Butler. At times
she would rise to her feet and say
"Now. Mr.. Butler, let me tell you the entire story
In order that it may be more connected
"oH. IT Is A SHAME"
On OCCASION after the General had spoken
sharply to her. tears trckling down her cheeks
and her eyes Redeemed, which was noticed by
the crowd. and smothered exclamation came
forth Of. "Oh! 1t is shame to speak
30 Cross to her." When Mrs. Oliver produced the
Bible containing the record of the Oliver family,
she promised General Butler yesterday. she handed
1t to him with much satisfaction. standing by his
side while he glanced over tho timecolored leaves.
He failed to find the record Of Mrs. Alice Oliver,
mother of Thomas NJ. whom Mrs. Oliver had
lived with, which fact hc readily communicated to
Mrs. Oliver.
LET me look Mr.. Butor,' she said. with q smile,
and General Butler handed her the book and told her
to sit down. She searched the pages and her dis
appointment was soon pcrccptible, and with
much reluco once she admitted she could find
no such record. She became very dramatic and
going toward General Butler and holding the book
In one hand and her other raised to her head, she
said in loud tone:-
"wel sir, l thought it here but am disap-
pointed" and taking position in front OF the Gen
eral. awaited further questions.
NO WITNESSES Trn DErgxcE
General Butler, toward the close OF his examine
ton this afternoon ntimatcd that the defence would
not call any witnesses. and that they could make up
their from the Witness on the stand. Mr..
Cameron not at the court to-day but he keeps his
counsel posted OH all points of interest to him. The
absence of the aged ex-senator creates considerable
disappointment, as many persons went to the court
room for the express purpose of noticing his de-
nseanor during Mrs. divers testimony.
prominent lawyer said this afternoon that this
examination was tho means of drawing out points
OF law that have for years rested the shelves of
law libraries The plaintiffs counsel purpose. after
the crosscxamina.ion of Mrs. Oliver is closed, to
place ON the stand some gentlemen whom they think
the case.
OF the trial. and their pictures will shortly appear in
the New York illustrated papers.
- GENkRAL BuTLERs cposs-ExAMISArIoS.
The testimony was resumed ut the point where II
left OH when the court adjourned IL being the
examination OF Mrs. Oliver by General Butler. She
had not brought the Bible Which she had promised
to produce. and which contained the record OF her
family he had not insisted upon 1t.
General Butcr--l do insist; do YOU understand it9
Can you get IL ut recess?
Witncss--Yts.
General Dutcr--wcll, that will do.
series OF letters. numbering up to No. As, wcie
shown. and she admitted writing thcin. No. 40 was
then shown it was written by some one else and
signed by Mrs. Oliver.
General Butler-who wrote that letter for you,
Madame?
witness--I do not remember. but think Il was Mr.
Darneillc (ono of her counscl).
AIR. Darncille-l never wrote anything in the form
OF letter for you in my lite.
General Butler--Who next Mr.. Darncillc denies
witncss-Mr. Peters another of her counsel). did
you write 1t
General Butler-Never mind him; tell for yourself
Witness consulted with Peters. Darncilie and also
spoke To Judge Miller.
General Butler--somc one wrote 1t for you some