The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-11-21
SHE BROKE down.
Martha France Stops
Abruptly in Her Tale
of Thomas Firke's
Villainy.
THE EFFORT TOO GREAT.
She Saw the Eyes of the Curious
in the Court-room Upon Her
and Could Not Speak.


There was most sensat ioral episode In
Recorder McDonough's court in Hoboken
yesterday afternoon. A handsome young
woman, whose life had been wrecked by
designing villain, when about 70 tell
the story Of her wrongs, glanced about
the court room and seeing the hungry
curiosity depicted on the countenances of
the crowd. completely broke down, aad,
despite the pleadings of the Court and the
lawyers, refused TO utter another word
The consequence was that the Court was
compelled to dismiss the ease and the
girls betrayer was discharged.
THE JERSEY CITY NEWS recently told Of
the arrest Of Tho mas Firke, OF No. n
Second street. on the complaint Of Mar
tha France. handsome girl. twenty-five
years old who lived with her widowed
mother at No. % Garden street. II was
the same old story Of a giddy aud conf d.
ing girl and a cruel, designing man Of
the world. She met him on the street.
He told her he was single and received
permission TO call on her When he aaid
be was single he lied deliberately. as he
had a wife and children living within
five blocks Of the girl he was plotting TO
ruin
The girl fancied him and trusted him
implicitly. He induced her to drink
wine, aud while under its influence he
accomplished her ruin under the promise
Of marriage When she was in delicate
condition she begged OF him to keep his
promise and marry her. He laughed at
her and said he was already married.
Thinking that he was lying she convinced
herself that what he said was frue. She,
nor MI hoo fsrrs bon Will CHI frIA
ner widowed mother the whole story
The child, boy, was born q few months
ago and the deluded girl begged Of its
father to provide means for its support.
He said he wouid and asked for time-
As TIE DAYS ROLLED By He FORGOT.
As the days rolled BY and he refused to
keep his promise the girl consulted couu-
sellor St1hr and instituted proceeding to
secure the support OF the child. A war
rant was issued for FIrke's arrest and he
gave bail for trial The trial was set
down for yesterday afternoon and. as
the calendar, the usual number Of curi-
osity seekers thronged the court.
When Miss France entered the courf
every eye was turned on her She looked
beautiful She has q handsome figure,
Jet black hair and dark brown eyes She
she earned the sympathy Of everyone.
She was at once ushered into the private
sanctum Of the Recorder Another
commotion was caused BY the
appearance of plain looking woman Of
about on thirty years ,' q age. leading % BY the
wife and children Of Fiske. They took
seat in the rear of the court room ana
seemed desirous Of avoiding the sfares OF
the crowd. Fiske next appeared with mis-
counsel. Lawyer DAILY. He looked az his
" ife and children in the rear Of the court
and -1aAa aa ker rufa Al. h<.
anywhere else but where he was.
After the jury had been sworn, Miss
France was called from the private ONCE
and put upon the stand. The young
woman grew red and pale By turns. She
kept her eyes fixed on the floor.
"Now, Martha" " said Counsellor 6tuhr,
tell the Court all you know
HER SAD STORY.
The girl hesitated, and she was again
asked. In low voice filled with emotion,
she begau:-'1 met Mr.. Ftske on Washing-
ton street in July year ago He
was convinced that he was a gentle
man He asked me IL he could call
at nay house. and l told him he could
A few nights later he called and
l introduced him to my mother. After
that he called frequently. and we went
walking together He told me that ne
would marry me in the spring. One Sat
urday night In September that year, he
called for me about eight o'clock in the
evening. We went out together and
went up the steps TO Jersey City Heights.
We went along Palisade avenue aud he
said he wanted 10 see friend in private
house there. went in with him. he in
duced me TO drink glass OF vine We
had two glasses Of wine there, and then
we left and went into the back room OF q
saloon where we had more wine, and
then--n
Here the girl stopped abruptly. All
the time she had been telling her story
her eyes had been fixed on the floor. SDe
looked up for an instant and saw the
crowd in the court room drinking in
every word shes uttered. Her eyes filed
with tears and she could not speak. Her
counsel begged Of her to go on with her
story So did the Court; but she refused,
and Notwithstanding the pleadings Of
her counsel Tor over nalf an hour she alb
solutely refused TO utter another word
As the evidence which she had given
was not sufficient to hold Firke the Court
was compelled to dismiss the case al
though If the girl had continued her story
it Is Thought that there would not have
been juror who would not have favored
her, as her appearance and actions were
such as are seldom seen in a court ROOM
Eirke left the Court room with his wife
aud children. Miss France waited until
the crowd had left and then went to her
wrecked horne.