The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1882-02-22
the SUIT YOUNG WOMAN
AGAINST THE FAMILY
PHYSICIAN.
Her Grave Charge Against Him
Sustained by the jury.

OTTAWA, ILL.,, Feb. S.-Three years
ago there was no young women in this
part of the State more highly respected
Than Fannie L. Cavalry. She was
then 20 years of age, beautiful and &C.
complisbed. She sprang from one OF
the eldest families Of Illinois, her
grandfather. the late Judge Cavalry.
being one of the most eminent lawyers
of his day. Miss Cavalry has grown
up in this city, and vas previous to 1880,
q frequent and welcome guest of many
families of Chicago and Bloomington.
Her life scented to be uncommoDly hap
py, and no one dreamed that her u
ture could be otherwise.
La 1879 Miss Cavalry, having suffer-
ed for some time, placed herself under
the care of DIR. James II. Campheid,
the ph y%sicisn of her family and onc OF
| the eldest and best-known practioners
in this palt of the State. Under bis
treatment and that of one or two ce'e-
brated physicians of Chicago, whom
| she consulted on several occasions, she
seemed to improve and gain strength.
In October of that year, however, the
old trouble coming on again, she re-
sumed her visits 10 DIR. Campbell, and
| submitted to an operation, taking, on
the Doctors earnest advice, and anaes
thetic of considerable power. In the
course of time, her habits of life having
been disarranged, she again consulted
DR.. Campfeld, who prescribed, rem
edies. As month after month passed
without relief to the girl, she went, in
the spring of 1880. on the advice Of
friends, and in desperation, almost, to
another physician and stated her Case
to him. He told her the truth. The
revelation came upon her with terrible
force, and it was with great difficulty
that she could he Gained. The ply
siclan, in describing the scene, says il
was the most painful ever witnessed
by him in his years of practice.
On may 10, 1880. Miss Cavalry be
came a mother. There was no attempt
at concealment. The body Of the child,
| which died a few hours after birth. was
buried publicly. The mother, with her
returning strength, made preparations
to established her innocence.
During the following summer a sui
was instituted against DIR. James II.
Canpfeld. charging that during heI
visits to his Office she had, at bis solici
t lion, taken a glass of wine in which
he had placed a drag which rendered
her unconscious. and that during this
time be took advantage of her helpless
ness. The trial absorbed the attention
Of the people for miles around. Among
the witnesses were many OF the most
respectable men and woman of the
county. besides every physician OF
standing. The defence set up q gener-
al denial of the complaint, and the
name of u young man named Metcaif
was mentioned, a resident Of St. Louis
This was the only theory advanced by
the defence.
Mr.. Metcalf. who is a lawyer, and is
now married, was at one time engaged
to Miss Cavalry, but tie betrothal was
broken at the request of the latter in
1878, since which time they had not
met, until one day during the trial
young Metcalf, to the astonishment of
everybody y, walked into the court room,
and introducing himself to the coun
sci for the prosecution, announced his
readiness to testify. As his testimony
Is thought TO have settled the case in
her favo", and as it shows the nature
of the charge made against her, it is
herewith given in a condensed form:
| met Miss Cavalry first in Ottawa in
1877. | returned in the fall, about
thee months later, and called on her.
The next time | came to Ottawa was in
the spring Of 1878, and some time dur
ing that season We were engaged. |
correspondent with her. The last two
or three times | was here | stayed at
the house of Miss Cavalry at her ex-
press request. The last time | was here
was Aug. 3. 1878. left on the Sth OF
that month, and [ have not seer Miss
Cavalry since. Our engagement was
broken off 10y Miss Cavurly at my last
visit here. It was not broken off on
Q of any improperly in either
of US. | always treated her in every
way as a gentleman should, and |
never knew her to do or say anything
in the least improper. We rode often,
but never late. My sister came here
in the spring of 1873 to visi. Miss Ca
varly. | was here two day during that
time, and we three rode one afternoon
On the south side of the river, and all
got out to gather ferns. Tha. is the
only time we ever Sot out of the car
rage. Neither in August nor any other
time did [ sit ON the bank Of the river
with my arm around Miss Cavarly. |
was not there during the year 1879.
The first | heard of this suit was two
years ago, but | did not know until
last Sunday afternoon that my name
was in any way mixed up with the af-
fair. | came here OF my own free will.
| felt that the charge against Miss Ca
varly was an outrage and utterly false.
| came here from another State to deny
it, but if it had been necessary | would
have crossed the continent to do it.
A remarkable fact in connection with
the case was the refusal of DIR. Camp
field to go upon the stand. He had
denied the accusation lodged against
him in many public places, but he was
not willing to do it under oath in the
court room, in the presence of Miss
Cavalry and her lawyers. The evidence
introduced by the defence was mainly
medical, and consisted principally of
opinions by physicians and others as to
the power and effects of certain an@s-
thetics. Arguments of counsels were
long, vehement, and eloquent, and the
court could not accommodate one
third of the people who daily presen-
ted themselves for admittance. The
Judges charge to the jury was ended
at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, and FIVE
minutes after the door closed on the