The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-03-27
BREACH OF PROMISE.

BREACH OF PROMISE.
TRIAL OF THE CASE OF sHULTz VS.. GiS-
INER. FOR BREACH OF PROMISE
DAMAGES CLAIMEp-TWO THOUS-
AND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS.
No case that has been tried in the courts
of Augusta for long time has cccasioned
| such general interest as that of Shultz VS..
! Gisiner, for breach Of promise to marry,
which was commenced before Judge Nc
Laughlin Yesterday. 1t was set for hearing
on Tuesday and all day locg the Court House
was crowded with country people, principal
ly from the upper end of the county, the
section where both plaintiff and defendent
reside. The case not having been reached
on Tuesday, many from the country re-
manned in town over night, and yesterday at
10 O'Clock, the Court room was literally
packed. All ages were represented, from
the grey haired pilgrim of 70 to the smallest
soldier of Hoover's school, and in the gal
lery were a number Of ladies. Every nook
and corner of the room was iammed and
many were unable to obtain admittance at
all. AS the jury was being empanneled,
THE PLAINTIFF,
accompanied by her mother, came into
the Courtroom and took a chair behind her
counsel. She is not plain woman, tho
the face is more expressive of shrewdness
than affection, and all Of her actions denote
| nj of
er above the average height, of slender fig
ure, with brown eyes, jet black hair, features
prominent and regular, and thin, positive
face that looks as If it might have seen five
and thirty summers, she impresses the OBJ
server more as woman of determinat ion
and strong sense, than as one whose heart
would lead her head estray. Her costume
was neat and becoming, consisting of black
dress and cloak, hat trimmed in rec, land coral
iewelry. On the right hand from which
the kid glove was withdrawn, were two
large plain gold rings, and as she gave in
her testimony she held in that hand fan
which was used almost continually. She was
perfectly self-posseEsed, and her answers to
|
unembarrassed, without being at all bold.
Whilst the gushing letters were being read,
she smiled once or twice, but beyond that
showed no particular Interest, and was
seemingly Indifferent to the whole proceed
ings. In the testimony it was proven that
in spite of her appearance she was suscepti-
BILE and romantic for she fell in love with
the defendant at first sight, and carried on
her correspondence over the nom de PLANE
of edna"
Her mother, who sat by her side. was q
neatly attired, pleasant faced lady, and
seemed at times painfully affected. The
family is quite respectable one, in humble
but comfortable circumstances, and reside
near Greenvlle. in this county.
THE DEFENDANT
is tall. fine looking young man, about
twenty-five years old, and possessinga hand
some, frank face. He looks like rather 6
reckless, dashing kind of a fellow-just one
whose ''beauty,' as Miss Shu!tz described it
would be most likely to attract the fancy o.
a girl. AS the trial proceeded, and particu
larry during the reading of the letters, he
exhibited the greatest embarrassment, blush
ing like girl, hiding his face behind the
chair Of his counsel, and manifesting the
most extreme confusion. In special con-
trast was his bearing with that OF the plain
tiff, for whilst the one-she of the weaker {?
; sex was perfectly a. ease, the representative
of the Lords of Creation, seemed anything
but composed. By the deatn of his father
Mr.. Gisner has recently come into consid
cradle little property.
THE TRIAL.
In February last, the suit of Julia A. G..
Shultz vs.. T. S. w. Gisiner was instituted
in the Circuit Court, by the Plaintiffs coun
sci. Messrs. Shelley Sc Bumgardner, and
damages laid at 800. Mr.. Gisiner EN-
ployed Geo. M, Cochran, Jr., and Meade F.
whitef Esqs. to defend him.
!, In his opening. Judge Sheffey stated that
this was no Oliver-Cameron case-that the
plaintiff was as pure to-day as upon the day
she first met defendant. She had been bad
ly treated ; the solemn contract Of marriage
which had existed for years had been ruth
lessly broken, the warm affections of hel
heart had been chilled and her hopes of hap
piness in this life utterly blasted. In impress
sive language he told the story of the long
: engagement and its result, and closed by
we'll directed appeal in behalf of his client
Mr.. Cochran followed Judge Shelley in q
: short and spirited presentation of the defen-
] dant's side of the case, In which he maintain
ed that his client had been the pursued anG
not the pursuer. That the plaintiff had frs
made advances. and then followed them ny
with the dexterity of an adept at the bust
! ness. Flattered by the affection shown, thu
young man (he was not then 2D had giver
himself away but as time rolled on he dis.
5 covered his mistake and tried to get out O.
it without wounding the feelings OF the lady
For this reason he had time and again post
poned the marriage upon frivolous pretences
The plaintiff was put upon the stand, apt
gave her testimony clearly and distinctly
From that testimony aud the letters thai
were read, it appeared that she had fallen il
love with the defendant at first sight, the
''beauty' OF his countenance possessing he
soul as it beamed from a wood pile willis
she was riding along the road. Shortly at
ter this she sent.him, at different times. sew
eral boquets, and in August, 1874, became
acquainted with him at the house Of neigh
Dor. At that time Gisiner was employed
guarding convicts on the Railroad at a poin
near her fathers house. The acquaintance
thus begun, soon ripened into love, and the.
, became engaged. On account of tbs irregu
lar habits Of the young man he was distaste
full to the parents of Miss Shultz and the,
refused to give their consent to the marriage
During this time profuse and loving cor
respondence was kept up between the be.
trothed ones, but the displeasure with which
her parents looked upon the match prevented
the lady from consummatng her happin ess
aad she became so much distressed that hel
t mother grew alarmed. In 1876 she wrote t
her lover to make a formal request of her par
, -nts. He replied telling her to write tn
| request and send it to him, and that h,