Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1879-04-01
mR. OLlvER's NEIGHBORs.
ExcitemenE at 1IilIersburg Over the
Widows Case-Her Letters TO E1r.
OIiyer-OIiVer a Very Exem-
pIary Man for some
Years Past.

Paris (Kentucky) special in Cincinnati
Commercial: "The interest created by the
celebrated suit of the widow Oliver against
Hon. Simon Cameron has extended all over
the country, but nowhere has it been greeted
with the astonishlent that it causes In Mil
lersburg, where Colonel Thomas M. Oliver,
the husband of the now victorious Mary, has
resided for several years. By reference to
the catalogue of the Millersburg female col
lege, page II, it will be seen that the bust
ness department of that thriving Institution
Is under the management of Colonel Thomas
NJ. Oliver, who is an uncle of Prof. George
L. Gould, the principal of the school. The
quiet town of MIllersburg Is rampant at the
notoriety that has been given their village by
the publication of divers testimony, and
much Indignation is expressed at the man
agement of the college. An entirely
new phase is put on the proceedings
of the trial by interviews with gentle
men IN Millersburg, who know whereof
they speak. Mrs. Oliver states that she
thought Mr.. Oliver dead, while only this
morning the postmaster informs me that he
wrote her stating that Mr.. Oliver was alive
and professor in the college. The post
master has received number of letters from
Mrs. Oliver reciting the wrongs received at
the hands of her husband, and protesting
that her only desire was to obtain possession
of her daughter, whom Oliver had taken
from her. General Butler, counsel for Hon.
Simon Cameron, yesterday telegraphed the
postmaster to forward him the letters, which
that accommodating officer has done. The
desire of the counsel for the defense seems to
be to establish the fact that there was a mar
riage between Mr.. and Mrs. Oliver. To
prove how far Oliver himself considered the
marriage legal, | am informed that, by re-
cent decision of the supreme court of the
United States, parties who voluntarily enter
into marriage agreement are as much one
flesh as though the VOWS we're solemnlzed by
a notary or a minister. This declaration
worried Oliver considerably, as he cut 1t from
q paper and exhibited it to his friends,
asking their opinion upon the subject.
a legal gentleman, whose opinion is en-
titled to great deal OF consideration, told
me that under the circumstances Mr.. and
Mrs. Oliver were man and wife, but to estab-
hsh an action on her part for breach of prom
ise would necessitate the production OF
legal marriage certificate. By letters written
to the postmaster l learn that Mrs. Oliver
has for years been trying to effect some sort
of a settlement with Oliver, but was unable
to do so. Since his residence in Miliersburg,
Oliver has proved a very exemplary man,
though at one time he appeared very war
like. He was engaged IN business some
years since with J. B. Crutcher, at Nicholas
vile He claims that Cruteher swlndled him
out of considerable money while the copart-
nership lasted. He wanted to denounce
Crutcher, and did so in a pamphlet which
was very extensively circulated. His sole de-
sire, and so he expresses himself, was to IN
volve Crutcher in duel, where he could
aveDge the loss of his money. Oliver; to all
outside appearances, has been a man who,
though he may have been guilty of some past
wrong, desired to condone his offense by a
life of quiet usefulness y