Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-02-01
FOR $4,000.
The Brother of a Countess Sued for
Breach of Promise and Betrayal-A Sem
sational Case


Breach of Promise and Betrayal-A SEN
sational Case.
New YORK, January 31.-John Ii.
Murphy, of Mount Vernon, gay, hand
some bachelor of 80, enjoying an excel
lent social position in the village, was
arrested on Thursday last and held in
$1,000 IT he sui. OF Elizabeth L. Stand
ford, of New Haven, who sues for
breach of promise and charges be-
trayal.
The young man is commonly known
in Mount Vernon as Jack Murphy. He
drives a team OF fast horses, and Is re-
puted to be worth 100000, part Of it,
at least, earned in his business as real
estate agent. His family is prominent
in the village. He lives with his moth
er in handsome house in fashionable
part OF the town. His sister is the new
made widow Of Count de Vale Trave, a
Spanish nobleman, who dying left her
large fartune.
Miss Standford's home Is in New Ha-
ven. She met Murphy while visiting
Mrs. Elizabeth Reilly in Mount Vernon.
Miss Stamford is an unusually beauti-
manners and modest carriage. She Is
20 years of age. She obtained an order
from Judge Patterson, Of the Supreme
Court, for the arrest of Murphy only
after he had refused to right her wrongs
by marriage. She first met Murphy in
November, 1890. In the winter, few
months later, she revisited Mount Yer
non and the acquaintance was renewed.
During this time Miss Stamford lost
her mother and sister. Broken down
by grief and short Of means, Miss
Stamford found Murphy's attentions
peculiarly consOling. In February,
1891, they became engaged to be mar
ried. .The wedding was set for June 9,
but it did not take place. The wrong
Of which the young lady complains had
been done between the date of the en-
gagemeut and the day set for the we'd
ding.
Discovering her plight, Miss Stand
ford wrote Murphy an appealing letter
from the house Of Mrs. Dwight o. We'll
ton, in New Haven. Murphy visited
her there, taking the precautiOn to as
sumo the name OF John II. Murray.
While in New Haven Murphy visited
DR.. c. w. Viehhne, and, Miss Stand
ford's affidavit declares, obtained medi-
cine for her use. She declares that
subsequently Murphy sent her to
the same physician under a differ
ent pretext. She declared that she igno-
rantly submitted to surgical operation.
Miss Standford's condition soon be-
came so serious that Mrs. WeltOn sent
for her own physician, DR.. G. Purdy
Lindsay, who told Mrs. Welton the
truth OF the matter. An appointment
was then made for meeting between
Murphy, Miss Stamford and Mrs. Wei
ton at the Grand Union Hotel in this
citx, The meeting was set for Novem-
berL4, 1891, and all three came. They
talked the matter over at dinner, and
Murhhy definitely refused there, as he
had already refused by letter, to marry
Miss Stamford.
During the interview Miss Stamford
was taken i'll, and had to be removed to
a room in the hotel. There Murphy left
her and Mrs. Welton for two days with
out medical attendance. During this
time Miss Stamford was dangerously
IN, the result, she says, Of her visit 10
DR.. Viehne, who, she alleges, acted
upon the instructions of Murphy. On
the Monday following the Saturday Of
their meeting Murphy visited the hotel
with DR.. Goodwin, of Mount Vernon,
and Miss Stamford was removed TO
Mrs. Welton's home in New Haven.
Miss Standfori's father had died only
a month before, aud her sole means
amounted to about 5000. She lay i'll
nine weeks at the house of Mrs. Welton
and had TO sell most Of her best clothing
to obtain money with which to pay the
doctors bill. The letters Of Murphy at
this time were particularly heartless
and brutal. Immediately following her
illness at the Grand Central Hotel he
wrote making charges against her char
acter.
Miss Stanford asks $4,000 damages