Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-11-04
From the Basic City Advance, Oct. 29.l
A MAGISTRATE IN TROUBLE.
Squire Crowder Sued for Breach Of
. Promise.
SEDUCTION ALSO CHAnGsD.

squire OrOWuct Oueu luz DTrdCu vi
Promise.
SEDUCTION ALSO CHARGER.
SIC, 900 DAMAGES AsKED-ABLE COUNSEL
EMPLOYED ON BOTH srDEs-THE FACTS
IN THE CAsE-sYMPATHY FOR THE UN-
FORTUNATE YOUNG GIRL, sc.
Ga last Thursday notice was served up
on Mr.. r. W. Crowder that suit had been
entered against him for "breach of promise,
seduction and trespass on the eaee." The
plaintiff in the case is Miss Elsie New comb,
bright and attractive young girl, who
lives with her widowed mother on Com
mercs street. For several months Miss
Elsie held position in Kohen Brothers'
store in Waynesboro. and in that way con-
tributed to the support of her mother who
took few boarders as additional means of
livelihood. 1t was as boarder that young
Crowder first went to the home of Mrs.
Newoomb. Coming here in the spring of
1890 from Buena Vistn, no one had fairer
prospects for success or enjoyed better rep.
utation than Mr.. Crowder. He had been
drummer for Lynchbarg house, mer.
chant at CrOwder's Station, in Rockbridge
county, and later had been real-estate
agent in Buena Vista. He is the son of a
Methodist minister and himself a member
of the church and steward in the organiza-
ton early formed at this place. Mrs. New.
comb must have felt safe in taking within
her family circle one whose character had
thus far been, 80 far as she could learn,
above reproach.
A warm friendship soon sprang up BE-.
tween Mr.. Crowder and pretty Miss New.
comb, and rumors of an approaching mar
riage bstween them arose and fell as time
passed on without the fulfillment of the
local prophecies. In the mean time Mics
NewcOmb was the recipient of handsome
gold watch and chain, toilet set and other
presents from Mr.. Crowder, the times for
giving such presents being her birthday,
Christmas and the usual occasions fer pre-
senting gifts. These gifts may have been
given as tokens of love and affection or in
part appreciation of the tender nursing and
motherly care given by Mrs. Newcomb to
Mr.. Crowder during long spell of sick
ness. At any rate, the admiration on the
part of Miss Newcomb for the prosperous
young real. estate agent increased, and he,
in turn, with what motivee the public are
left 10 Judge, gave to her the attentions of
a lover or friend. Mrs. Newcomb looked
upon him as her confidential adviser. To
him she went in trouble and to him looked
for the settlement of her business affa irs.
Tho confidence was as mother in her son.
Mr.. Crowder, 1t seems, had no thought
of marriage with Miss Newcomb. He denies
that he YVES engaged to her and claims that
encouragement to undue intimacy came
from her and in a moment of temptation
he yielded. On the other hand, Miss New
comb, in her statement to Mayor Bowman,
was earnest in her declaration that Mr..
Crowder was under promise of marriage to
her and that she had been cruelty deceived.
She went so faf as to say that she had been
dragged and that when the knowledge of
her unfortunate condition became known
to Mr.. Crowder that his suggestions of
remedy were criminal in the extreme.
During the time of Mr.. Crowder's init
macy with Miss Newcomb, he became
acquainted with lovely little Kentucky
girl, who was visiting relat ives in Basic
City, and from that time his attentions to
Miss Newcomb began to wane. Whether
she chided him for his Inconsistency, or still
relied upon her charms to overcome all
rivals, is not known; but on the morning
of September 30th she witnessed his mar.
riage to another and laughed and seemed
gay though her heart may have been break
ing She had been leased and tainted with
jealousy. Macy had said that she would
not stand by and ZEE her former lover mar
ried without emotion, and with the determi-
nation to be brave, she appeared among the
guests and heard the words pronounced
that boun nd him to another and offered no
remonstrance. Her first and best opportu-
nifty for vindication passed with the per-
of that ceremony. Waiting until
young Crowder and his bride returned and
settled within an adjoining home to her
own, ale now enters suit for $40, 900 dam.
ages for breach of promise and seduction,
when the shame and disgrace of such suit
fall not alone upon the guilty, but upon the
innocent and trusting as we'll. A sadder or
more deplorabls occurrence can scarcely be
imagined. Confding mother-loving daugh-
sisters-treacherous lover
happy home-trusting wife-all come in for
q part of the shame and suffering of an un-
holy affection.