Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-04-03
A BREACH OF PROMISE CASE.
BY MAX ADrLER.

BY MAX ADELER.
When the case of Butts versus
Hubner was brought into court the
counsel for the prosecution arose
and explained the facts to the jury
in the following terms:
"This, gentlemen is suit brought
by Miss Hannah Butts against Dan.
iel p. Hubner fo- breach of promise
of marriage. We will show you
that Hubner is q retired sea captain,
having spent much of his life upon
whaling voyages, and that some
months ago he began to pay his at
tentions to Miss Hannah Butts, q
maiden lady somewhat beyond the
prime fife. Subsequently she &C.
cepteG him and they were engaged.
"HubEer used 10 come around ev-
cry evening ard it became o habit
with him to go fast asleep on the
sofa before the night was half over.
But will refer to this directly.
From the first some of his methods
of conversation were offensive. If
she purchased q new bonnet he
would refer to it as q sky-scraper
Upon one occasion when she yawn-
ed he told her she'd be scuttled some
day ifshe didn't keep her hatchway
shut. He expressed his disapprovaI
of q sacque she wore by saying that
he didn't like the cut of her mizxen
rigging; and one day when she
dropped her slipper he picked it up,
and running his eye along the sole
remarked that q keel like that ought
to keep any craft steady.
"These things panied the plain.
tiff. She thought him lacking in
true affection when at one time she
was lunchiDg at his expense in res
taurant, he told her that she slowed
her cargo so fast that 1t might cant
and wreck her on her voyage home.
Her fears at his growing cold were
heightened further by his remarking
one evening when she was singing
q pathetic ballad for him, that when.
ever he went to sea again he knew
where to get fog horn free of ex-
penss.
"That she is slender she is we'll
aware. but that cannot excuse the
cruel observation made by the de-
PENDANT that it would pay to cut her
up for blubber, and / leave you to
imagine her feelings, when having
come into the house unexpectedly,
when she had her teeth out of her
mouth, he suggested that IF her hull
was as loosely put together as that
she had better put into Dry docks
for repairs. / will not refer to his
conduct on another occasion when
she mislaid her teeth and could not
find them when he advised her to
send up rocket as signal Of dis.
tress.
81 pass over these and other SINH
larly scandalous things. As I said
his custom was to spend much of
each evening snoring upon the sofa,
while she sat patiently ny, strong in
her love and sewed while waiting
for him to wake up. He seemed 20
dream regularly of his past adven.
lures, for when he was not swearing
at his sailors and using nautical
phraseology of an apparently pro.
fame nature, be would imagine him
self at sea in boat pursuing whales.
"M:ss Butts bore with nls conduct
good-naturedly. She did not com
plain when he tried to row the sofa
with poker; she remained calm
when he grabbed chair and
dragged it upon the sofa under
the evident impression that it was
a man overheard; she endured him
when he unrolled two spools of cot
ton with the belief that be was pay
ing out line; and she controlled her.
self when he pointed out wildly to
Mrs. McGlory visitor who had just
dropped in, while he was asleep, and
declared he could take half ton of
whale.bone out of her.
"But gentlemen, he carried his
conduct to far. One night while Miss
Butts was sitting quietly by the ia.
UIO 6uo uhu UCCociOu w DtOW Q6T
nose; perhaps she had used little
more vigor than usual: perhaps not.
At any rate, the defendant, Hubuer,
rose dreaming and shrieked, "1here,
there-re.re she blo,cs I" and grasping
closed umbrella he hurled it, har-
poon fashion towards her. 1t struck
her, fractured the shell. comb, caused
her to drop her teeth again and
knocked her upon the floor.
"He awoke, and hen she express.
ed her indignation he laughed. This
made her more angry, and then be
said that she evidently didn't love
him, he would break the engagement
and he did. She now sues him for
500 damages as partial atone.
ment for the wrong done her wound.
ed sensiblities.
Then the case went on and when
the jury got it they gave Miss Butts
three cents damages. She is still
single; but her bold mariner is mar.
ried to forbearing widow.