The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-19
sLIPPERLoNG W.. CLEANGONE
An InterestinR Brench or Promise Trial In
Mount Oiivet Baptist Church.

When Mrs. Susan Slipperlong took the
witness stand in tho Mount Oivct Baptist
Church. on Thursday evening before Chief JUS
tco Trusty and his associate Halfway. to press
her claim for $4,000 against Mr. Jo-
sephus Cleangone for breach OF promise
OF marriage. it was evident ut once that her
chance OF succcss was a small one. Tho jury
regarded her counsel with disfavor. and tho
Sheriff showed them no mercy. The large col
ored assembly sympathized with her. however;
for although it wns not genuine trial, but an
entertainment in aid Of the church. they wished
her to win her case.
Miss Spperlong was a coducitish coored
maiden Of. perhaps thrce and twenty. Her
features were comey and her drcss-as was
bentting young woman deserted by her lover
was black but 1t had humorous white bows on
tho front.
The clerk OF the court summoned the jury
thus Gentlemen. step up to the book" and
tney walked forward by fours. and were sworn
Enssh HRIn DcSnary This s0~f was the S singular
oath administered to them: " De evidence you
shall give upon dis trial shall be dc truf. dowholo
the oath taken by the witnesses In only few
minor particulars. the latter being De cVi-
dcnce YOU shnll give upon dis trial between de-
commonwealth and de defendant ut de bar snail
be de truf. de whole truf. and muffin but de truf.
SO help ye'
The story told by the plaintiffs counsel was
that Miss slpperlong, while boarding II tho
United States Hotel Saratoga met the ialthiess
She declined at fret. but aiterwqrd accept
! ed. Her parents died soon. and suddenly.
| and she went to board with Mrs. Huckle-
| berry Of 10 Fihh avenue. New York. There
| Cleangone visited her often, and their marriage
| was fixed for December l3. The guests were
assembled and oil wns ready for the cere-
mony; but the bridegroom did not come In
received letter from him telling her that he
| had changed his mind. Hence she dcmanded
$4,000 and expected 10 get IT. Thus said MIR.
| baltimore. her senior counsel
He had hardly begun to examine his client
when Mr.. Draper, for the deiendqnt, objected
to The Court what he understood a leading
| question to be. but the learned Chief Justice
should not be allowed In fact. no rather liked
the witness From that point the trial abounded
with strange legal points. ii was agreed on
both sides that the correct way OF taking tosli-
mony was TO allow Miss slpperlong TO state her
case 70 the Jury in her own way and then sub
NIT to a cross examination at the hands oil her
The witness said she was is years Of ngc. and
that she learned to love the defendant in Sara
toga. Her affection, blighted; ilnally, cul-
was not place OF amusement in the city that
he had neglected to take her to- He kissed her
she showed how he did il. using the clerk of the
court as subject to practise upon.
nds5 wp 'nS
important point. She was asked TO lay her
hand upon the shoulder OF the DEFENDANT VINO
was sitting by his counsel, and she not only
did not recognize him. but pointed out the re-
porter as tho villain. There he sits" she said
The reporter exculpated himself and then
having received some whispered instructions
from her counsel. the witness seized the right
man By the shoulder and shook him yigorously.
A few minutes afterward the detendants
junior counsel discovered plaintiffs counsel
giving some private instructions to Juror. The
erring lawyer said he was doing so rather
and sSS the css asse d saw
harm in IL. For this defendants counsel
severely censured the Court.
in cross examining the, witness, and IN tho
course OF q heated debate which followed.
plaintiff cared no more for tho Courts decisions
than dog cared Tor cider. ,,..,
| Mrs Huckleherry was examined; but lttle
was elected from her beyond the fact that she
always had contempt for Cleangone; She
Miss Slipperlong and, despite his assertions
that he was q wealthy real estate broker. she be-
lieyed him 70 be nothing more than hungry
There were more Witnesses for tho plaintiff
but the defence objected to strengthening their
case any further and the Chief Justice took the
The defence then called Mr.. Jackson. who
seemed to be- about eighteen years OF age.
though he swore he was iorty-three. lie
testified that Mr.. .Ceangone was In Lon
don at the time Miss slpperis9ng swore 81, on
produced letters which he said he received
from his friend at that time. but they were 80
evidently forgeres that they were all ruled out.
In the summing up. every one OF the
counsel addressed the Jury. one OF them,
for the defendant, quoting LARGELY from
Questions and Replies for students. "
He got angry and said that be regretted
set as plaintiffs counsel. The sheriff abused
ali the lawyers roundly. and blundered badly
but the greatest bunder he made was calling
out that refreshments would be furnished Tree
In the basement which WAS incorrect.
The jury retired after receiving hewilderine
charge and only eleven of them returned, one
having escaped and gone home. The Chiei jus,
tice usrd L. receive the verdict but announcrd
that Miss Slippcrlong was entitled 70 her SD 900
Then counsel for defendant called counsel fof
plaintiff an ass. and the court adjourned IN
confusion.