New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-16
THE HIGBIE-VAUGHAN CASE.
TESTIMONY AND ARGUMENTS FINISHED.
THE JUSTICE TO TAKE THREE WEEKS TO DECIDE
WHETHER THERE WAS A MARRIAGE OR NOT.

,Vb,stIed around the corners OF the solitary Town
hall yesterday afternoon the courtroom WIS
crowded by an impressble and appreci-
atye audience OF suburban people at the
closing scenes of the notorious Hgbe-vaughan trial,
which grew out of the mock marriage at Fatbush In July
lt Justoe Ferguesson at his desk and looked ex-
pectantly from the fervent champion OF wrOnged woman
hood Counsellor Leggett TO the fierce defender OF the
amorous Walter, Colonel Pelton. Tho elder Vaughan
stood by the big sheetron at the right OF the
Justice and chuckled merrily at the proceedings
His ocnatng son Walter the defendant sat near by IN
the halo Of his tawny banged hair, and took only Ian
Guild interest in the orepeaed tales of his kissing popu
laty among the maiGcns OF Fatbush The fair claimant
for support "a young Walters lawful wife sat with her
father mother and pretty sister Fannie directly In o'
of the Justice and near her counsel
On the previous days of the trial Annie Hgoie' or
young Mrs Vaughn and several other witnesses had tes
tilted that there had been marriage ceremony performed
Mt church social on July 49, that young Vaughn hah as
sred his bride that the marriage was legal; and tha
he the girl as hts wife on different occasions
while many witnesses for the defence deposed that the
marriage several performed IN sport ct the sse
again that evening to different persons, ana that "ae
had never introduced Annie as his WIFE
TWO WITNESSES FOR THE DEFENCE.
The case was finished for defence yesterday by the
calling OF two witnesses. Frank Neefus, was caleu
and beardless youth with blonde hair and bashfu De
havior dropped timorously into the witnesschalr
In to the direct
counsel for the defence youthful Neefus told what he
knew about the matrimonial Methodist social at Mr.
Cases In Jnly He ddnb Annie and WaiteT marrieui
he was TOO late for that he confessed with hesitation
fbot he had been married afterward TO Belle HOuman
Did he take her the wedding tour mp ana down Ihe
road in wagon with the other bridesl NO. not he was
there snnabe anon the brides decide which husband
belonged TO which wfe Yes there was and ne saw Annie
Higbie and Gertie Bennett lighting for the charming Ma
fer Vaughn Had Mr. Neefus kissed Annie Higbie
lie Thought that he had several times since the case
social and her marriage with Vaughn On, yes Neelus
swore that he did not Walter Introduce Annie 10 any
one as his wife, and Walter had told the witness 70
keep his hands of from Annie because sne was Walers
wife on cross examination by Mr. Leggett young Neeils
painfully uncertain at first but nay MAS VIA iO R
ing to kiss her. The people laughed he Justice poSn1ee
court 81 arted rom his profound and murmured:
"S-shl" Mr. Ieggett asked the witness mpresslvely;
Are you not meper o. ng cnced nv The awe
inspiring s-sh" Neefus was now fully aroused and he
Tetored with ervOr ave did not constitute ourselves
into kissing society sir bbut we kissed ali the same "
and the people roared again o., -. m .,.,
The next witness Thomas j. selover OF Flatbusn.
His sldewhskers meagrc, and his complexion was
extremely saOw. He said that he was bookkeeper IN
tstimSny of Miss Munday sister uf Annie Hgbe's
hroher-ii-lay I'm regard TO Waetr introducing ANNE
rs ms ooina"n MI Iegeett asked him to state
what else Impressed itself his memory besides Armies
Of the girls The salOw Seover glared at Mi Legget
with mysterious ferceness and said: Z" do remember
what else struck me fOrcbly but do not know that
onbt 10 saw il In public" The courtroom rIsed in ex-
pecaton Mr. Legget pressed the witness TO speak out
and Seoyer said between his set teeth: "When Annie
Hge came into the aud recited piece as she dd
thoug-wcl thought she wa so,S t9 %do Inc crown
"WbO said that called the Justice SSH, whispered
the court officer and the excited seloveI explained ae o1
asked to speak piece she ran down STAIRS INFO lho pdU
saying Well must tnep eIb %s "n me " dnIenc an
nOunced that II rested Its case
MISS mGBIE RECALLED.
The prosecution called Annie, the complainant, to the
stand she Was dressed neatly blue velvet with lace trim
.4-~. ftiTanR ri ant
mony contradlong Mrs Kate Bennett and Mrs. Hambn,
and after the lawyers had long wrangle ovor it, she
gave place 10 her younger sister. Fannie Fannie said,
with many bnshcs and embarrassed eiles that Walter
had stayed their house hour on the day before
asked her TO mind his horse, which sho dbl
that she went into the house soon and found
Walter amusing himself IN many ways ana thht Mhen
Walter dropped cigar ashes on his hand ana The
brushed them of he sad That's right Fannie make
yourself useful" Walter bad sworn That ne ulh mol go
into the mouse that farewell rail:
Cirrtic Bennett next called. j. walter Vaughan had
sworn that Gertie had sat ia lamnocks WIN nm ana
that he had often Rugged and kissed her MT l@ggett
Lad received letter from h. Mowlem saying
that Gcrtie was willing to go upon tho witness
stand AMI swear that this false; That apart from
s. Walter Vaughan any other hoy and that ANY eyi-
Gcnrn connecting her with hammocks'' was utterly
flew" The opposing counsel had lively Sparring
over the question whether Walter had spoken Of lying
was allowed to falter out that Walter had
kissed her but he never sat III any hammock with her
and tho whole case closed with private examination
Of Mrs. Hlgbie, Annos mother IN which she testled
the scene between Walter and Ammo In the hammock AT
the Aundays, she had found unmstakae proof to her
mind that Annies account OF what occurred WAS true
SUMMING UP FOR THE PROSECUTION.
Colonel Peton announced that the defence dd not wish
10 sum up and Mr. Leggett expressed the opinion that he
had done 50 quite sufficiently in the progress Of the trial.
Mr. Ieggett then made short speech reviewing the case
for fbe prosecution He claimed that the plaintiff had
yhout md had qnntr
dieted herself only in slight particulars in the face of
Colonel Pelton's fierce aspect and voice like
the shutdown gun at Governors Island"
Laughter and suppressed applausel I'm his dreadful
Peto forgot for the moment that be gentleman and
asked Annie Higbie the most bIutual insulting ques.
tnu. SeusatOn I'm court, aud an awe-nspiring ssh
from the oicer Colonel Pelton here asked 10 be excused
as hurry to get to NGW-foTk m, fact OF the
We're at the Case ocl,connued Mr. Leggett and il made
marriage legal II Walter Vaughan not in earnest
about the marriage with Annie Hlg0e why had he told
her that he would give her the proof OF the legality the
dy in black aud white and why had he sent her that
letter lie next day calling her his wife Why had lie not
Written TO Certic Bennett whom Is claimed he married
he upon Annie Why did he not ask Gere to Introduce
he wanted. and he wished her to belieye
that his wife He led her 10 believe In one OF
writing 10 girls. Why had he done that He had
sworn the stand that he was not In that habit and
letters did you write to Miss Welteri he said in his flip
pant manner: Oh, bout a DaTreliuu Laughter All
the witnesses against Annie the counsel asserted had
been preiudiced against her, because tho general
beau of Flatbush" had left his old flames
for this new one Walter after going with al these girls
ana finding them proof against his Establishments had
seen Annie come among them young. handsome and at
tracye But he had found her alsOprO against his wcs
The the idea OF the mock marriage came To him to help
him accomplish his purpose.
The speaker made eloquent plea for the
Justice TO strike timely blow at the folly aud
danger of mock marriages. This he said occurred
al sOciablc OF tho Flatbush Methodist Church. such
r0ciaes the speaker characterized III terms He
closed with an appeal the justice 20 consider the effect
which "A adverse decision would have upon young
UOmans life. Mrs HIgbe ana Annie sObbed violently
and handkeTches could be IN the court
But tile elder Vaughan bclnod from behind the
and seemed to think IL mn.
Decision m the case was reserved by the Justice for
three weeks.
SHOOTING 4 RAILROAD COND UCTOR.