The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1883-04-10
From the Brooklyn Eagle.l
A FLORIDA DUCHESS IN
COURT.


1t does not often fall to the lot of an
American lawyer to cross examine a real
duchess on the stand and even an Ameri-
can judge is not often permitted to put
side questions to so distinguished per-
sonage. In business circles, as she her
self informed the court, the duchess Del
Castillucia is known as Jane A. Tamajo,
and under that name she sued Thomas
Clapham to recover 1850. The COM
plant alleges that the plaintiff made an
agreement with the defendant, ship
builder, of Roslyn, L. l., that he should
build for her steam yacht according to
the specifications agreed upon and have
it ready by certain time. Plaintiff is
the owner of Dummitt Orange Grove,
Brevard county, Florida, the present crop
of which is 40O, 900 oranges of a very su-
perior kind. The boat was TO be con-
structed SO as to sail on the shallow wa
ters of the Indian river, which in places
is lovely sheet of water from seven to
ten miles broad, and seldom more than
four or five feet deep cxcept in the chnns
nel The boat was also to be seaworthy
for general use in Florida waters. 1t was
to have stern wheel and to draw only
two feet Of water. It was to have an ele-
gantly appointed cabin built into the hull
and furnished with carpets, plate glass
windows sliding downward, life preserv-
ers, cushions, cables, anchors and FIRE
buckets, each bearing the ducal name,
Castillucia. 1t was to be built of oak or
chesnut, fifty feet long and twelve feet
wide, and to accomplish speed of ten or
twelve miles an hour. The forward part
of the yacht was to be prepared for the
reception of q cargo of oranges, the car
riage of these from the grove on the In
dian river to the place Of transportation
to the North, being in fact, the main OBJ
ject of the plaintiff in providing herself
with yacht. She alleges that the de-
fendant failed to build the yacht accor-
ding to contract. although on accepting
the agreement she paid him 81 900 down,
and 81 500 more when the machinery was
on board, the plaintiff having to pay the
remaining $1,000 when the yacht was
completed and accepted. Plaintiff alleges
that the defendant net only did not con-
struct the yacht according to agreement
but failed to complete it In time so that
she lost large crop of oranges and suf-
fered damages in the sum of "a $50.
The defendant says that the delay was
not his fault and that the plaintiff waived
compliance with certain things specified
in the agreement. He says further that
she wanted additions not mentioned in
the agreement, and that the yacht was
made in all respects according to the
contract. He says that it was finished
and ready to be delivered. but the plain
tif prevented him from delivering it. He
demands as eounterclaim 81 900, the
balance due on the contract.
The Duchess del Castillncia was ele-
gantly dressed. The yacht, she said. had
to be seaworthy, for sometimes there
were storms on the Indian river which
were very violent and destructive. When
asked whether her letters were ever sign
ed by her husband, she replied, Never,
sir; never" The yacht was tub, instead
of being built a. she wished. The Duke.
when they were at the Fifth Avenue Ho-
tel, sometimes went down to Roslyp to
look at the yacht aud came back and told
her how it was getting on. 81
The Duke sat at the end of the Jury
box. He might Be taken for twin broth
er of the Hon. John Oakley, if the latter
were less handsome. The Duke wore .
large ulster and an air Of placid dignity.
When the Duchess descended from the
witness stand the Duke met her and es-
corted her 70 humble chair. Then he
procured her bag and handed It 70 her
with dncal grace, reminding one ofV Venice
and gOndolas, blue waters Of the Mediter-
ranean and Pinafore.
A young gentleman who has been .
short time in Fiorida was put on the stand
to testify as to the value Of oranges. II
turned ont, however, that the oranges he
knew about had baen sold in Boston.
Therenpon counsel for The defense ex-
| clAiMed s
81 otiecf so the prics IL oranges ID
Boston : me1o pfoyi yinei6I .. 3
il thrill pf hoKrrs throukh Tie
occupAnte o. ~ . G md 3ndge