The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-18
CAMERON AND THE WIDOW.
THE SUIT ron BREICH or PROMISE
AGAINST THE EX-SENA Ton.


Mrs. oliver Testiryinq thnt Simon Made hcp
Proner or Marriage. and Repeatedly
Declared that she was Co be his WIFE.
WASHINGTON, March 1.-THE trial OF the
breach OF promise suit OF Mary s. Oliver against
ex-senator Simon Cameron. In which she lays
her damages at $50 600. was begun this after
noon. After much time had been consumed
a jury Of twelve was selected composed Of ten
white and two colored men. Mr.. Darneille
opened tn case During the recital OF the facts In
the case Mr. Cameron paid marked attention.
and when Mr.. Darneille reached the point where
Mr.. Cameron gave Mrs Oliver Il letter recom-
mending her to Secretary Brstow for appoint
ment. he turned around and looked Mr.
Darneille in the face. and frequently nodded
his head which appeared to indicate his ap-
proval Of the statement. Mr. Darnele dwelt
particularly on the letter Of Mr.. Cameron OF tho
date OF Sept %. 1875. in which he said. You
will be my wife"
Mrs. Oliver was the FIRST witness chilled. and
she stepped briskly to the witness stand.
Gen. Butler said he desired to ask her some
questions as to her position in life.
MIR. Darneille said that such question was
most singular The proposition was very ir-
regular.
Mr.. Peter said he took 1t for granted that the
case would be tried like other cases.
The Court-It she had husband you could
not expect to recover. This is not tho place to
try that question.
Gen. Butler said his object was to save time
by asking the question.
Mrs. Oliver was then examined. She testified
that she has lived here since 1874. In that year
she formed the acquaintance Of Mr. Cameron
at the Congressional Hotel. Mr. Cameron told
her in New Orleans. in 1875. that she was to be
his wife at some future day. When she came
here Mr.. Cameron gave her n letter 10 Secretary
Brstow. Letter shown and idcntiaed.l The
proffer OF marriage YVES accented. She had ro
caivsd o,bor ia,,,rs a., a., .,,t;o. h. -
,' .s"e' on .io su"l'v', ou' .hey
were returned to Mr.. Cameron at his request.
Sept. 25 1875. MIR. Cameron requested this let
ter To- bo returned TO him. but witness could not
lnd it. They had many Conversations on the
subject Of the letter. in which he snys "You
will be nv wife" Witness was next sRowp The
following letter which she also identifled, ''0
tow IN aesornee % ,N I u y"u ievcr tI NJ sTls
TO hear that YOU agree with me to be mine ihops 10
So you had better letter reaches the secre
tar>'s own hands.
Mr.. Cameron" continued Mrs Oliver "snid
the obstacle to the maTrinee ,yas n Mis- 'Davis
called on the lady and had "A ialk with her /
told Mr.. Cameron In his comuitiee room that
had seen Miss Davis. aud he said h. regretted
that had made the visit" When witness left
the city in March. 1874 she returned 10 New
Orleans where she next met Mr. Cameron He
wrote witness that he was coming To New Or.
Cruz. Mexico. She met MIR. Cnmeron on his
arrival, and at that visit he prOmisau her mar
ringe On his return tp this civ md 10 Unrris
burg in 1875, and until the summer Of 1875 he
made several promises To marry nor She nfter-
ward met Mr. Cameron in thg Senate foreign
committee room, when ha gave her a dose which
she thought was intended to destroy her He
atnted as the reason of lis fuilurp 10 co,pa 10
| see her nj her house in New Orieans tbat ,he
rebels did not like him. md he did not want to
| be seen on tho street He sent her on nis rss
| turn 10 Washington n note 10 come on 10 tbia
city and the money TO nav her ynv Mir
! Cameron was in New Orleans "A few inys only
Witness saw defendant frequently i'm this civ
| He came here from Harrisburg every
| two weeks. After Congress convened she
saw him oftener. He told her that he
was desirous OF giving all his snare
| timo to her. Witness olItnined emniovtnsnt
on the letter from Cameron 10 Secretnry Bris-
| tow and she remained in the Treasury some
| time. She next obtained employment in the
| Interior Department. While she was EN- ploycd
| in the Treasury she frequently saw MIR Cam
eron. In regard 10 all CORES pondenee nfter
! she received the appointment she said he would
write to her and request an answer on the snme
! paper. Since her dismissal from the Interior
| Department she has mnde many efforts without
| success. 10 secure employment. Ia consequence
| of the notoriety obtained In this matter with
| Mr.. Cameron she suffered the loss OF friends
| At the beginning OF the time that Cameron was