St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1880-08-21
An Interesting Law Suit.
SEDUCTION AND BREACH OF PROMISE OF
MARRIAGE.
HEAVY DAMAGES ALLOWED.
IHahuVille Herald,

Hahnville Herald.
At the recent term of Court Of Jetfer-
son parish an interesting caae was tried
and decided, WHICH may prove an ex-
ample to young men who tritie with the
affections of young ladies. Plaintiff
was represented by r. King Cutler and
W. j. McCune, and defendant by w.
L. Thompson. The decision Of Judge
Hahn is as follows,
The promise of marriage, the seduc-
ton Of plaintiff and the birth of a child,
the offspring OF such illicit intercourse,
have been clearly established by the
evidence.
The plaintiff was examined in open
court and the testimony of number of
witnesses cOrrOborateu her statements,
The child was also in court.
Defendant took the witness stand and
testified in his own behalf but produced
no other evidence,
The facts of the case are of very as-
grayated character, Defendant, after
causing the plaintiff to become strongly
in love with him, which feeling for IA
long while was reciprocal, after prom
Using to marry her, and after being the
father OF q child by her, declined to be-
come her husband and to execute his
promise. His reason for not marrying
as stated to her friends and neiglbors
was that his financial condition did not
justify it; but on the trial of the case,
in his testimony, lie sought to excuse
himself on the ground that on first
having larpal knowledge of her, he
discovered that she was not O virgin.
He declares that Lad It not been for
this he would have married her, ac-
knOWledging that he loved and esteemed
her in all other particulars.
The evidence is clear that he c0ntin-
ued hls, lllielt intercourse for several
years that he visited her and took her
on excursions and in society. frequently
called her his sweetheart, and said he
intended marrying her and ac-
knowledged himself the father of her
little boy, This attempt On the trial to
A!acken her reputation was failure.
She gave up the society of all her gen.
tlemen acquaintance after the marriage
engagement. She was exclusively and
affectionately devoted to him, and the
testimony of her neighbors and ac-
quaintances taken together with her
own statement and conduct and appear
ance in court leads me to the conclusion
that shs is an EXCEL lent young woman
OF chasie Notwithstanding her con-
QncI Win ueienQant-anQ WQulG nave
made him . good wife. The conduct
Of defendant must have caused her
untold trouble and misery, much
OF which can never be paid in
money, and the constant recollection of
which will cause her whole future to be
unhappy.
The legal principles or which this
rests are clearly set forth by The Sit
preme Court III two cases reported in
the 9Th 'Anntal, at pages BIG and $50
II Is therefore ordered, adjudgea and
decreel that plaintitfrefayet from de-
PENDANT THE aau OF $4,000 as dana ccaas
VIII legal interest from. =. lie day of ju-
diolA' s.snand, the 10th day Of july
1879 and that defendant be condemned
to pay plaintiff the sum of ten dollars
per month as alimony, fol-, support ct
the child of which he is father, from the
2sth day of May, 1870, the day OF the birth
Of said child, until it arrives at the age
of 81 years, said alimony to be paid
monthly with legal interest on any sum
not punctually paid until paid; and that
defendant pay all costs of suit.