New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-01-14
TESTIMONY ~ A ISLANDER CASE.
HEAVY DAMAGES SOUGHT BY A WOMAN

MANY WITNESSES TELL WHAT THEY HEAKD-Iuh
OFFENCE.
An interesting suit TO recover damages Tor deiana-
tion of character as tried before Judge Bartlett IN the
Supreme Court in Brooklyn yesterday. The plaintiii
was Miss Gertrude b. Titus. who sought to recover
s2H. 900 "a damages from Mrs Fannie T. Bruce ana
her husband Charles H. Bruce. OF NO. l5f Hewesst''
Brooklyn alleging that Mrs. Bruce called her thiei
and . wanton The plaintiff Is the daughter OF Mrs.
Nettie Titus the widow OF Townsend Titus. ana h'es
at No IO5 Clark-st Brooklyn. Mrs. Titus has begun
suit for similar amount alleging that her character
had hen DETAINED BY Mrs. Bruce The latter sets up
in her answer that she endoayoring to save her
husbands affections from being alicnatcd by Mrs.
Tins and her daughter but that she did not assall
theiI characters.
In the trial yesterday the first witness was David
TAYLOR of No. 1856 Willoughbyst., who testified that
in August 1884 while la the Tenth National Bank III
this CITY lac heard Mrs Bruce say that Miss Gertrude
Ttu. was a girl OF bad character and n thioi The
mother Of the plaintiff had rented rooms In the wit
nesss house and Mrs Bruoe said that Mrs lltns was
not proper person to have in the house. she also
said that her character bad and that her daughter
mad been expelled from Sirathmorc College fenn rs
q thief.
Mrs. Anna Brown. Of No 100 lIcks-st., SAID in her
evidence that Mrs Bruce told her in November 1854,
that Gc,trude Ttu. WINS dissol1te woman and thief
and that Mrs Titus had nearly separated her and her
husband 4" She also said added the witness. thht
Mr. Bruce pad Tor Ceftrudes education, and that Mr..
Brown had been intimate with Gertrude. ms ! Ahe"
was a lie. At first was angry, but AFTER hhu known
Mrs Titus and her daughter Tor year we became iaS
friends Mr. Brown told that he had belriended
an unprotected girl and approved all DC did =
Did You KNOW your husband was in the habit oil
visiting at the house Of Mrs. Titus y was asked
81 never interfere with my husbands movements III
any way" was Mrs Browns answer.
Mr. Brown in his evidence stated that he had known
Mrs Titus tor ten years and went to PhiiadeIphla 10
get her daughttr the request OF the mother VINO ha
fhot she was moi sale with Mrs Bruce. He was not
introduced to the latter by Misc nus as MI LOWS
lie never raye the lie " to Mrs Bruce.
| Fred Stems "A well-known singer. OF NO :{S' state
st.. testified that he had known Mrs and Miss Titus
for many wears When he vent to the house be often
tanned on the window instead Of ringing the bell lie
! was at Mrs Browns house in December. 1854. when
| Mira Bruce said that Miss Titus was thiel ana a
| wanton. Mr.. Brown ordered Mrs. Bruce out oi the
| house, saying that she was known III Troy ana her
| character for vcracity was bad =.
| Evidence was given by Miss Emeline Duval. OF No.
1913 Willoug hby-st and Miss Anna NJ Lyons. oi no.
! 343 East Fourth-st., New-iork, aud Miss Is, lie
Bopart of No. l73 LSing-tOnst. to the elect that
thew had been told by Mrs. Bruce that Miss Titus had
| be, n expelled from school for stealing.
In the defence only Mrs. Bruce was called TO the
stand and she testified that she had never sId that
Miss Titus was a wantOn, but had said that sue had
been expelled from Strathmore College for pllierng;
This the maron Of the school told her She had iour
letter I'm her husbands pocket which lee her to 90 10
philadelphia and Miss Titus at her house there. Al
| the depot Miss Titus introduced her 10 MIR. Brown
| under the name of Lewis She aiterward recognized
him in his house. to which she vent at the request OF
his wife, und he called her liar and when she wanted
| IN leave the room locked the door. NJ hrst Mrs.
| Brnwn had agreed 20 help her " drag down Mrs.
Titus and her daughter and had told her that Mrs.
! Titus had written "a letter to hr. Brown beginning
! - My Dear. Darling Pet"
After tie conclusion OF the case the court OTucreu
| sealed verdict TO be brought. III To-Day