The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-07-13
BREACH OF PROMISE.
Miss Belanger's Suit Against
Robert III. Crasswell.
SHE ASKS 100000 DAMAGES.
The Case on Trial in Federal Court
Green Pleads Not Guilty
The Blotter.

A highly interesting breach OF promise suit
for 5000 damages, brought by Mary E. Belan-
gar against Robert H. Crasswell, occupied the
tune OF Judge Hanford and jury yesterday in
the United States court The plaintiff is a
young woman of Port Townsend, ana the de-
iendant an aged man of great wealth, who
lives at Bloomfield, Prince Edwards Island,
Canada
The story involved in the case, as brought
out by the pleadiags and the testimony, il a re-
markable one. Miss Belanger alleges that in
1854, while he was visiting on the Coast. Grass
wen asked her to marry him, promising TO set
Tie $p,ooJ on her after the ceremony, and she
agreed to become his wife. By mutual consent
the marriage was put off until 1888 and then
Crosswell decliend to have the marriage take
place unless his intended would agree to give
up her parents and relations. This she refused
TO 90 ana the engagement was broken OIL
Miss Belanger, according to her story, after
ward became engaged to marry another man.
But in the spring of 1890 the eyed lover returned
and renewed his suit, Offering the same induce
ments as he had before. Then after much per-
suasion, and upon the advice OF her friends, the
girl broke OF her engagement with the other
man and was re-eugaged to CrassweI He
pleaded that business cares would prevent the
marriage until May, 1891, when he was to return
to tbs Coast, and it was to take place at Vau-
couver, B. c. When the time came the pros
pcctlve husband sent word that his business
would not allow him to come West, and asked
ms intended wife to come on to Montreal and
DC married there at the Wiusor house. she
went East, and the marriage was arranged for
June 81, 1891. at q. m On the evening OF the
Z9lh, so Miss Beianger charges, Crassweli came
INTO her room and made most improper propo-
sails, declaring that the ceremony should not
come OH unless she did as he wished. she re-
fused to consent, and shortly afterward was
ordered out OF the house by the proprietor by
reason of Crasswell being found in her room,
NntIu ii
humiliation
The defendant, in his answer fled in the case,
denies that he promised to settle any money on
Miss Beianger, and most of the other allegations
In her complaint, including the one concerning
the conditions he is charged with imposing be-
lore the marriage could take place when he
went to her room in the hotel In the spring of
1856 he had agreed to marry her if she would
join the Presbyterian church. He was to meet
her In New York city, marry her there and take
her to his home on Prince Edwards island. He
sent her $3.50 for expenses, but she failed to
coma Again, in 1891, she agreed to join the
Presbyterian church and marry him. He sen.
her 500 with which to come to Montreal He
engaged Protestant clergyman to perform the
ceremony and was ready for the marriage until
the plaintiffs refusal. He claims that 1t was
about noon when he went to her room in the
hotel, aud that he did not make the proposals
charged, but that there was disagreement over
religion, she being Catholic and he Protest
ant.
In a reply to the answer the plaintiff denies
that she promised to join the Presbyterian
church. Her failure to go to New York in 1856
was due to sickness in her family. The money
advanced to her by him was all secured by
mortgage on her property.
Miss Beangers examination occupied the
greater part OF the day. She is quite a good
looking young woman, of perhaps % years of
age, with black hair and rosy complexion. and
pair of dark eyes partially hidden behind
glasses. She gave her testimony in clear, dis
tinct tone, in rather eager but not bold man
ner. Her story tailed with the allegations in
the pleadings except that she went more into
detail. After she was ordered out of the Winsor
house at Montreal Crasswell had taken her to
the Balmoral hotel Being alone without money
and friends she was compelled to do as he told
her. He had hidden her tell the minister en-
gagged TO marry them that they had disagreed on
religion, and refused to give her money
on which to return home unless she did
SO. He loaned her $50 out of which
she had to pay s77.7o for ticket to Vancouver
B. c., where she had friends. This left but
& 30 with which to pay her expenses on the trip
across the continent. The money advanced was
loan which was to be repaid on her arrival
home.
The only other witnesses for Miss Belanger
were her mother and sister, who corroborated
her in minor details. After that the plaintiffs
case was rested and the defense will be taken up
this morning. The firm OF Tyler, Hays & Tyler
looking after Miss Belanger's interests,
Greene & Turner appearing for the defendant