The New York herald., 1879-03-18
Opening Of the Case Before
Judge Cartier.
TESTIMONY OF THE PLAINTIFF
Extraordinary Developments. with the
Natural Effect.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALp.l

Judge Cartier called the calendar. and those cases
which preceded Mrs. divers set aside by per.
mission Of the attorneys. Tho Judge then said lie
would call the about hals-past twelve O'Clock.
1t happened at this time that an Irish procession
moving in front OF the Court House. the band Of
which was playing "she is Gay Widow" After the
interruption created by the procession had ceased
Judge Cartier called "Case No. 24s. Oliver VS.. Cam
eron." Mr.. George Peter. Of Mrs. divers counsel.
answered 1--WE ready. SIR, and the Judge ordered
tho jury to be called.
st THE PARTIES IN COURT.
Mrs. Oliver. accompanied by her friend Mrs.
Charlton. now came into court and occupied seat
near her counsel The widow looked unusually
we'll. She attired in black velvet hat, and her
heavy hair was arranged to show her round plump
face to advantage On her shoulders she wore
black cashmere cloak trimmed with black velvet the
skirt of her dress being of the material Fol
lowing Mrs. Oliver came General Butler and Mr..
Cameron. who occupied seats adjoining Mrs. Oliver
ard her counsel Mr.. Cameron. after looking around
the court and giving Mrs. oliver o good scrutnz.
ing. which calmly met by tho widow. who
placed her bright blue eyes firmly upon him. the
Senator removed his ovcrcoat and sat down. On
the arrival Of the plaintiff and defendant the court
soon became crowded.
SELECTION OF A JURY.
Mr.. George Peter. of Mrs. divers counsel. moved
that tho jury be examined separately their voir
dire before h,ving put to them peremptory chal-
lensee This led to considerable argument. but the
Court granted the motion and the panel was called
pnd the following nterrogatores put to each juror
Are you acquainted with the parties to this
Mrs. Mary S. Oliver. plaintiff and Hon. Simon Cam
eron, defendant?
Havc you conversod with any person relative to
this suit?
Have you expressed any opinion in reference to
this suit?
Have you made up your mind in reference to this
suit. have you any prejudice TO either OF the
parties?
On tho completion Of the challenge jury. consist
ing Of ten white and two negroes was selected.
The Judge remarked that this the first time in
fifteen years similar proceeding as to the vor dire
had taken place.
THE OPENING OF PLAINTIFFS TESTIMONY.
The case was opened by Mr.. Darnelle. junior
counsel Of Mrs. Oliver. who gave history OF It from
HHnALD March H. Mr. Dsrncilio had an attentive
listener in Mr. Cameron. who leaned toward tho
speaker and eagerly took In every word that was
Mrs. Oliver was called to tho witness stand After
being aworn. the rosy color usually in her facc
nervous and frequently from her seat and ap-
preached tho Jury. She began her testimony by re-
She ws iptcrruntod bv cienerai Butcr Who desired
to ask hor some questions ~ to her position In life
The counsel on the other side objected, and tho
question for II the plaintiff had . husband that
enled tho case she had right to bring suit for
Mr.. Darnelle Expressed his surprise that such
question should bc thought Of The proposition
in his opinion. was very angular. Mr.: Peter re.
marked he under the impression that this
should be tried like similar cases.
To this tho Court reflicd:-'Tf she had husband
you could not expect TO recover. This Is not tho
place to try that question:
General Butler explained his object tn desiring to
ask the question BY saying he desired to save time
mony, saying:-'I have resided here since 1874; in
that year formed tho acquaintance of MIR. Cameron
told me in Now Orleans in 1875 that WAS to be his
wife at somc future day; when came hero Mr.. Cam
eron gave me . letter to Secretary Bristow." Tho
letter was shown and she recognized il as the orig
inal copy. aud the witness continued
This letter asked the Secretary to give me en-
ployment. The proffcr Of marriage by Mr. Cameron
/ accepted. The letters Mr. Cameron wrote on
the subject returned to him at his request. I re-
1875. in which he said You will be my wife," This
she also identified
Mr.. Cameron requested me to return that lcttcr.
but at the time could not lind It. Mr.. Cameron and
myself had many conversations on the subject Of
the letter. Mr.. Cameron wrote me another.
A LRrTEn RROM Mr. CAMERON
NJ. Peter here showed witness the following,
which she pronounced genunc:-
MY DEAR MRs OLlvER-I send you lettcr to Mr.. Bris
Sss that si.k ss mine hope
you had that che etor reaches the secretays
To this thcre was no name signed. Mrs. Oliver.
continuing, said
"Nr Cameron said the obstacle in the way Of the
marriage was . Miss Davis. niece of tho Senator
called that lady and told her not to interfere
with the marriage, % she would learn to love me.
told Mr. Cameron about the conversation with Miss
Davis. related it to him in his committee room.
Mr.. Cameron said he regretted that had made tho
visit.
THE MEETING IN NEW ORLEANS.
when left this city in March. 1874 returned to
New Orleans. Inext met Mr. Cameron in that city.
Ha ofT 2~,ff inn kpfin IN
Mexico. MIR. Cameron wroto me that no was
coming to New Orleans his way TO Vera Cruz with
other Senators. met Mr.. Cameron on his arrival,
and at that visit no promised to marry On his
return to Washington and Harrisburg in 1878 he
~, ,nsi, the smmc, ., iS,S a;crmsrd met NJ
Cameron in the Senate Foreign Committee room.
when ne Gavc mo dose that thought was intended
to destroy me. Mr.. Cameron stated a. his reason
for not coming to SEQ me ut my house In New Or
leans that the rebels did not ike him. and for that
reason nc wanted mo to uieet him at the hotel. On
hts return TO Washington he sent for me to on.
and the money to pay my expenses was furnished by
him. Mr.. Cameron was in New Orleans but few
days.
"Mr. Cameron during the recess and after the od-
weeks from Harrisburg. While Congress was in
session saw him ottcncr. He told me that no was
dcsirous OF giving me all his spare time obtained
Secretary Bristow. and remained In the Treasury
some time. After left tn. Treasury secured o
situation in the Interior Department. While was
employed in tho Treasury frequently saw Mr.
Cameron. In regard TO all our correspondence after
received the appointment he would write to inc and
would request an answer on the same paper; by this
means he obtained control of the letter. Since my
dismissal from tho Interior DEPARTMENT have made
many efforts TO obtain employment but the notorioty
I obtained from the matter has caused nus to suffer
the loss OF friends. During the time Mr. Cameron
engaged 10 me he at the bog inning very kind,
but afterwards became very unkiild."
IMPROPER LIBERTIES.
Mr.. Peter at this juncturc OF her testimony in
Quired X MIR. Cameron during his engagement with
her took improper liberties with hor.
Mrs. OIIvER--Ycs. sir. he did.
This announcement created the greatest commo-
ton in the court room. and the crcr was compelled
to call out several tunes, "Sicnco. gentlemen, s
lcncei"
Hero a spirited argument sprung up. participated
in by General Butler. Mr.. Peter, Colonel Cook and
Mr. Toncy relative TO the adinissibity Of the tcsi
mony. and authorities were quoted to show that It
was admissible. The Court held that there
nothing in the plaintiffs declaration relating
duction but only simple violation OF q marriage
tract, he did not think the testimony admissible
Mr.. Toney read from 18th Illinois, 1ubbs
Van Klcck. m exhaustive opinion by Trumbuil that