Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1879-10-31
$4,000 FOR A BROKEN VOW.
TIE SUM MAN HAD TO PAY FOR NOT
81 MARRYING HIS AUNT.

United States Circuit Court at Albany,
N. Y. Nancy V. Campbell sued Orson L.
Champion for $40, 900 damages for breach
Of promise Of marriage, and the interest,"
ing feature of the trial was that the plain
tiff was the half-sisttr Of the defendants
mother, and consequently his aunt by half
blood. Miss Campbell, however. is not
old enough to be Champions mother. She
is yet young, is very prepOssessing in ap'
pearance, and dresses richly and in good
taste. She is six years the junior OF her
lover n phew. Miss Campbell testified
that the affections between herself and
CHAMPION had been mutual, and that
while they were in Mobile in 1873 they
pledged themselves during AL afternoon
drive to be true to each other for life. Two
years later Champion visited her at Bata-
via in New York State, and accompanied
her to brothers. house at Fairfield, Mich
Here he remained a week, and upon his
leaving for Mobile the engagement of
marriage was renewed. SIEVE al letters
from CHAMPION to Miss Campbell we're
read by counsel. On November 6, 1875, he
described the pleasant situation of his
apartments and said that his enjoyment
of them would be perfect if only his pre-
cious darling was with him. He reitera-
ted professions of devoted affection and
subscribed himself Your affectionate
husband On November I3 1875, he
wrote that he had received sad letter
from his love and almost shed tears over
it. He asserted in it that he was bound
to her by every tie of honor. principle and
love. and she could never fully estimate
the streng h of his faith, truth and abiding
love. The letter closed: Il clasp you ten
derby to my heart and kiss you repeatedly.
Good night On November 49,, 1875, he
wrote that he had set agoing all the wires
for their marriage the next year. He
thought of her every hour, and wondered
tinued: You see, darling, I appreciate
what have in you, and never will fail
to love you. just come in this evening
and will hold you in my lap and tell you
of the love bear you. Ii you could see
in my heart you would see that it is all
your own. You are my wife in all things.
and I will keep my health and live for
your sake.'' w f
In letter dated January is, 1876,
Champion attirms his belief in her truth
and love, and in imagination takes her in
his his arms and kisses her. In conclusion
he says: swat patiently and will come
to you, my darling, precious wife, In a
letter Of February. %, 1877, he apologies
for his diIatoriness in writing, and says he
feels he is doing her great injury in fore
ing her to lead single life so long. He
would like to have her drop in and sit on
his lap, and he would fold her in his arms
and kiss her tenderly' He hoped God
would keep her true and pure always On
January IL, 1878, he addressed Miss Camp
bell as my dear Nancy and intimated
hot off ,1orh hn mid
life's journey he was grateful that he had
the love and confidence of so good and true
a Christian woman. Again, on the 25th
of the same month, he wrote, protesting
affection. Miss Campbell was in Michi-
gan when this letter was received, and she
heard nothing further from Champion I'M
til May, 1878. She wrote to him three
times and received no answer. Her anxl-
ETY. made her sick, and after recovering
she went to Mobile to learn the cause of
her lovers silence. On reaching Mobile,
Miss Campbell went to hotel and sent to
Champion card with the name OF Mrs.
Patterson, requesting him to call. He
came, and, on Recognizing her, said, why,
| Nancy, what does this mean?". She re-
| piled that she had come to find out. She
| told him her anxiety and fear that he was
| i'll, as she had not heard from him in six
months, and feared he was about to marry
another. He said Nancy, do you think
| / have no honor left? Could marry any
other woman than your" She remained
| in Mobile three days and then returned to
| Chicago. Champion accompanied her to
the cars and said he was doing well, and
that his practice was worth 81 900 year.
His last words on parting with her were /:
''Cheer up; don't be sad. Remember, l
shall be with you in little while, and then
| we will be married. On her return to
Michigan, after remaining seven weeks In
Chicago, she found letter from Cramp-
ton awaiting her, dated from Wheeling
Springs, Va, August -, 1878. In this
letter he said that he had gone to the
Springs for his health, and was improving.
He then said that he had come to the
conclusion that their course in life must
and ought to be a separate one, and that
he had determined to marry a lady whom
he had met at the Springs, with whom
his life could be pleasantly passed without
interference .Of relatives. He was SO
changed that he was not the ideal man she
had loved. He asked God to bless her,
and said he would always feel a sincere
friendship for her, even though she might
turn against him with bitter hatred. This
was the last letter received, and on return
ing to Lockport soon afterwards, Miss
Campbell began this suit. Counsel for the
| defense cross examined Miss Campbell at
some length, mainly with a view OF show
| ing that She had been resident of Michi-
gan and not of New Y ork during the past
| few years, and that under the laws OF
Michigan as well as Alabama, her mar
riage with the defendant was forbidden by
the degree of kinship existing between
| them. She was also questioned as to her
parentage. and said her father died when
she was six or seven years old, and she had
not seen her mother since that time, and
| did not know whather she was living or
dead. She had lived with relatives nearly
all her life, number of years being passed
with defendants mother. The defense
admitted the promise of marriage made in
Mobile, but denied that in New York. In
summing up for the plaintiff on Satur-
day evening, counsel read passages from
/ Champions letters to Miss Campbell. In
concluding his address, counsel quoted as
follows: "And when life's fitful journey is
over, darling, hand in hand we will enterthe
portals Of the golden gate" Golden gate, -
said the counsel, scornfully, as he look
ed at Champion. ''Golden gate,'' said he,
very gently, as he glanced at the plaintiff.
1.-THE portals Of the golden gate,' reitera-
portals of the golden gate" said he in a
solemn tone to the jury. The Court
charged that if the jury found for plain
tiff they must not exceed the amount
claimed, and they retired. After five
mlnutes' absence they returned with a
verdict for the full amount claimed. 1t is
thought that if Miss Campbell had claim
ed $50. 600 damages she would have been
awarded it. . -s..f...f ....l