Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-12-22
a Pennsylvania SENSATION.
The Suit of n Divorced Hotel
Keeper Against n Prominent
Retired Iron Master for $4,000
Damages for Alleged Aliena.
ton of n Wife's Affections.


Damages Tor Alleged Anena-
ton Of n Wife's Affections.
Pittsburg Dispatch.l
The long-talked of cause, S%ilyernail
VS.. Westerman, will be put on trial in
the common pleas court Of Mercer
county at Mercer, on Monnay next.
The case has already obtained wide
The defendant, a wealthy
aud respected retired iron master, is
now president OF the Sharon national
bank. The plaintiff is the husband of
the landlady of the Carver house, now
a resident of Youngstown, o., and the
details Of the coming event, as nearly
as they can be learned in advance Of
the testimony, are these:
Several years ago Mr.. Westerman
became the purchaser at foreclosure
sale of the hotel and operahouse
known ss the Carver house. The
former owner and each succeeding
lessee had, one after another failed in
the effort to run the hotel. Upon his
acquisition of the property Mr.. West
erman leased it to r. Silvernail. who
resided in the place and maintained
by keeping, alternately,
gambling rooms, billiard saloons
and restaurants. The new owner
Of the property, probably to make
1t a p%ecuniary success, advanced
money to purchase furniture and
properly condition the house to enter
tain guests. Every effort seemed to
prove fruitless, however, and bank
ruptey began to shadow the new pro-
prietOr as it had obscured his prede-
cessors. One day, about three years
ago, be quietly picked up his grip
sack and left town without leaving
with his friends an inkling by which
communication could be maintained
with him. For a few days gossip ran
riot concerning the house and its alb
sent landlord, The creditors obtained
judgment and a sale followed, and for
a time the fate of the hotel was an I'M
certain one.
However, the owner of the building
determined to try again. He pur-
chased the furniture at sale, added
largely to the stock and material, and
opened the house under a new land.
lord with the wife of the absconder as
manager. Under this management
the establishment speedily assumed
an air OF prosperity. Guests gathered
about the dining room mahogany at
the regular periods set for meals, and
the air Of ~desolation and dependency
was onspicuouslyabsent The tongues
Of the gOssips wagged, it is true, and
the finger OF scandal pointed in the d.
rection of the house with unmistaka-
pie precision, but the establishment
moved along with unconcerned regu-
larlty and uninterrupted prosperity.
About a year ago, however, the
truant husband dropped down upon
The town Unexpectedly. The gossip
was renewed, and the husband assum
ing the air of injured innocence CAV
il increased significance by not only
listening eagerly, but joining in the
unctious tales, and whispering threats
of dire calamitieS impending. After
thus for several weeks feeding the fire
Of scandal, he moved to Youngstown.
where he opened a saloon, which was
handsomely furnished and well
stocked with liquors. A second floor
afforded a convenient place for the
boys to wrestle with 'the tiger" and
the revenues from the rake down
and the bar seemed to wean the yearn-
ing heart from thoughts of domestic
affection by which it was torn. Soon
business Jagged, and when the bird,
were chirplng and the trees putting on
their beautiful summer suits. Silver
nails heart was melted by the voice Of
az evangelist, and he reformed.
About this time the court was pre-
pairing to decree the divorce of the
couple upon the wife's petition: and
the changed aspect Of the husbands
lie ana habits, 1t was surmised b.
many might influence the determine.
ton of the court. In this they were
mistaken, however. and the decree
separating them forever wa enterel ,
Then followed the suit, which will
be called at 10 o'clock next Monday
The plaintiff alleges that the defend
ant did willfully and maliciousl,
ALLEVIATE the affections of his wife, and
avs his damages for that bereavement
at $4,000. The dispositions of several
witnesses resident out of the state
have already been taken The ex
animation before the court will doubt.
less be prolonged, and sensational.
aud whatever may be the verdict. it i,
predicted by some that the morals OF
ne community will not be benefited
by the testimony.