Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-03-17

THE BREACH OF PROMISE CASE COMMENCE


THE BREACH OF PROMISE CASE COMMENCED.
To-day, at IL O'Clock, Chief Justice Cartier, in
| the Circuit Court called the case Of Oliver agt
| Cameron-the action brought by Mrs. NJ. S. Oil
| yer agt Hon. Simon Cameron for breach OF
promise of marriage, alleged to have been made
| on the It'll of December. 1875, for which $4,000
damages are claimed. Mr.. Peter-who ap pears
Of her counsel-said they were ready
Mr.. Cook, who is associated with Gen. Butler
and Mr.. Riddle for Mr.. Cameron, said hat they
were ready, and suggested that they would
prefer long panel.
MI Peter read from 9Th Gill and johnson as to
the mode of challenging juror.
Mr.. Cook suggested that there was authority
TO challenge The whole array.
The court asked what causes they proposed to
Mr.. Peter suggested that the terms OF the
statute may be complied with, and thee wa;
another question as to whether or not they had
expressed an opinion on the case.
After some discussion, the court, az l2'9
o'clock, took a recess, prior to swearing the
jurors on their voir dire. -
Miss Charlton, came In, and when the session
was resumed, there was crowded court room.
Mr.: Peter, who had placed his motion In
writing, read 1t.
The court directed a juror to be called, and
W. H. Diggs was called and the usual questions
were answered. Mr. Peter asked il the Juror
IT out j. B. Wells, David L. Shoemaker and S.
D. Castleman were called. Mr. Peter said that
CtfuDSel lOT excepted 10 Jn6 ruling or
the court as to each Juror 1t was then proposed
that If the challenge to the array be Withdrawn
each juror could be questioned to ascertain II
there was cause for challenge.
SELECTING JURY.
Jurors were then called as follows and took
seats in the box: W. II. Diggs (coiorctD, J. 3.
Wells, David l.. shoemaker. David Fisher, ST.
sett. Henry X. Wood Chas H. Payne. James
". Colley. Isaac B. Lunsford, Joseph Ashford,
Cornelius Clark {colored), James II. Clark, j.
W. Gray cOlOred.
At this point Mr.. Cameron came in and about
the same time Judges Wylte and Cox came in
and took seats on the bench.
j. r. Norton was passed as competent as also
g. w. stroud, W. A. GaSkins. Jared Dorsey
{colored), VIM Rothwell and James E. Roger
son.
Mr.. s. D. Castleman was not certain whether
he had formed an opinion and was excused.
j. w. Pratt had formed an opinion on the
case.
". II. Edinburgh, formed an opinion.
oscar Henson (colored) was set aside as he
was 20 or SO years of age.
The counsel proceeded to strike and the
result was the selection OF a jury, as follows:
Isaac B. LunsfOrd, Cornelius Clark, Joseph
Ashford, Jnmes A, Clark, J. r. Norton, w A
Gaskins Jared Dorsey, VIM. Rothwell, and
James f. ROgerson. At 1.55 the above were
sw orn to try the issue and
MR.. DARNEILLE OPENED THE CASE
briefly recittng that the case was for breach of
promise OF marriage on the part of the defen-
dant. The facts out of which this cause arose
run through several years, the acquaintance
ship commenced in 1872. He understood that In
that year Mrs. Oliver came here to seek en-
Payment. bearing letters to Mr.. Cameron. Who
seems TO nave known her father and also some
thing OF her husband. Mr.. Cameron secured
her employ ment In the T reasury department
and subsequently in the Interior department.
The first year OF their acquaintance (is7s> the
proposition Of marriage was made, and they
expected to prove that the formal proposition
<Iafnve
to come to time, she became nervous, and
called on him several times, and while he never
positively refused he never performed it.
Finding herself thus Knocked she commences
this action. They could not fully compensate
the I'M uries to wounded heart. but they could
give damages, and after they had presented
the case they expected the jury to fix the
Gen Butler.-we have no opening to make.
The Court.-Can your witnesses
MRS. MARY E. OLIVER WAS CALLED.
out pelore she was examined by the plaintiffs
counsel,
Gen. Butler said that he would like to ask this
lady few questions as to her own position in
life, with view to shorten the case. He pro-
posed to ask her In reference to man to whom
she was married. and also as to hel mind
Messrs Darneille and Peter said that this H.
qu1ry was premature.
Inc court said that femme covert with living
nusnand could not prosecute for another: but
TINS was not the time to raise the question
MRS. Oliver testified that in New Orleans Mr.
cameron said she should be his wife; this was
In 1873. She was ready to perform her part and
some correspondence followed. She had seye-
raj OF his letters, but returned some OF them.
She Identified several letters handed to her, one
recommending her to the Treasury department
lwhlch the deferce did not object tO) Sac nad
urged MIR: Cameron to make good his promise.
ARD he said that relative OF HIS Mrs. Davis,
had some objection and she went to see her
MT cameron said that he was sorry til 1t she
went thefe, because that lady was not his rela-
i've IL was In the early part of Marcl, 1864.
sne became acquainted with Mr.. Cameron Saw
nm out once In that year, but saw him in New
orleans In 1915, when he was In that city She
saw MN Ia New Orleans, and after asking her
Washington and be his wife. They were to
marry In December, 1875, but he delayed il from
tine to time.