The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-21
DUPE OF AN ADVENTURES.

DUPE OF AN ADVENTURES.
How q Grocer Was Lured Into Matrimony at
Long Branch.
New York Herald.
A somewhat romantic story was told yester-
day in the Supreme Court, special term, before
Judge Beach, in the trial of suit for divorce.
The romance began at Long Branch in the sum-
mer of 1883, while the season was at its height
1t originated by the dropping of a handkerchief
by an attractive lady who was tripping gently
down the beach. A young man who had been
viewing the bathers picked up the handkerchief
and, with graceful bow, returned it to its
owner. She smilingly received it, and continued
on her way to the bath house. After she had
bathed she met her young admirer. They be-
came acquainted, and subsequently married.
Their marital bliss, however, was of short dura-.
ton, and only recently they applied to the court
for separation he asking to have the marriage
annulled upon the ground of fraud.
The young man who stopped to pick up the
perfumed cambria handkerchief was George b.
Cooper, and the woman was Ida V. Goldinger
Chapman, now Mrs. Cooper. She is said to be
fully thirty five years of age while Cooper is but
twenty-t three. Mrs. Cooper brought proceedings
in the Supreme Court for a separation, upon the
grounds of cruel and inhuman treatment. charg-
ing that while they were living at No, s37
Seventh avenue he beat her, knocked her down
and pointed pistol at her in a threatening man
ner. Young Cooper denied the charges of
cruelty. The case was brought to trial yester-
day before Judge Beach, but Mrs Cooper did
happy married life. Shewas represented by her
lawyer, William P. Burr. The defendants in
terests were protected by Mr.. A. j. Delaney.
Young Cooper testified in his own behalf. In
the summer of 1883 he was in the grocery bust
ness in this city and was gradually accommodating
small fortune. Although not wealthy, he had
several thousand dollars in his own name. In
the month of July he visited Long Branch, ex-
pecting to spend several weeks there in recrea-
tion He stopped at the Mansion House. One
day in July, while he standing upon the
beach, woman passed him and dropped her
handkerchief directly in front of him. He in
stanty picked it up and handed it to her. After
she had bathed and finished her toilet he met her
and they walked up to the hotel together They
sat upon the veranda and conversed together for
some time, and then young Cooper ordered re-
freshments. Her mother appeared upon the
scene and was introduced to young Cooper, and
treated him very kindly He was asked
to pay another visit, which he did, and he
for several weeks. He finally made a
proposition of marriage, which was re-
ceived favorably. She then told him that she
was widow, and that her former husband
had left her an annuity, which was to terminate
upon her marriage. Mr.. Cooper was charmed
told her not to fear about the annuity, as he was
able to provide for her. Her mother put in a
good word for her departed son in law, and hoped
that Mr. Cooper would treat her daughter kindly,
and take good care of her.
In few days young Cooper took his expect
ant bride to this city. He visited his mothers
house, where they took dinner, and passed a very
pleasant evening. His mother believed that her
future daughters n.law was rather too old for
her son, but said nothing on his account. The
night before they were married Mrs. Chapman
did not call upon young Cooper, and subse.
quently explained her absence by saying that she
had been detained at her lawyers who were ar
ranging the annuity matter They were married
Soon afterwards they took apartments in Sew
enth avenue. One evening she took out some
garments which belonged to her former hus-
band, as she said, and asked Cooper to try them
on. One was a smoking jacket.
Ibid you fill itl" inquired the lawyer.
mot quiet 1t was too large for me-" replied
the young man.
She showed him pair of slippers, but they
were also too large
Subsequently Cooper said he learned that his
wife was not faithful, and that she had made
false representations to him rs to her widow
hood. He then separated from her and she in
stituted this suit upon the ground Of abandon
ment.
Mr. Knapp, the clergyman, testified that Mrs.
Cooper, at the time Of her marriage, represented
herself to him as widow, and said that her
former husband was dead. She gave her age as
twenty fve
CnarleS blanuy, ex- ASSISTANT corporation cOun-
sci, testified to the fact that Mrs Chapman had
brought suit in the Superior Court against the
city, claiming 100000 damages, for injuries
which she had received by being thrown out
of her village cart while out riding on St Nicho-
las avenue She had been thrown into an exca-
walton and severely injured. That suit was
tried before Judge Ingraham about year ago.
She then testified that she was widow. Before
the case was concluded, Mr. Chapman, to whom
she claimed to have been married, and who. she
az int
Chapman, upon seeing him, became hysterical
and tainted. He contradicted her statements
and when she recovered her senses she again
took the witness stand, and admitted that she
had never been married to Chapman, but assert
ed that she had made the statement with view
to deceiving Mr.. Cooper.
After listening to the testimony in the case,
Judge Beach said he would grant decree in
favor of Mr.. Cooper, annullng the marriage, as
soon as the papers could be prepared