Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1894-11-22
MOCK TRIAL.
A Breach of Promise Case with
Amusing Features.

The November term OF the supreme
judicial court of the Ellsworth high
school opened last Friday The court
convened at LIS p. M, with the following
officers: c. Edgar BelIatty, presiding JUS
tice; Herbert F. Fiske, clerk; Frederick
w. Rollins, sheriff; Joseph Woodward,
crier; f. w. Lord, stenographer; Charles
Tower, messenger.
Attorneys-Mis Rubie McGown, Harry
Crabtree, Harry c. Mason, Harry J. Sill
Wy, Carlton r. Thomas
The jury chosen from members of the
school was as follows: Bradford Nc
Kenzie, foreman; Mae B. Friend, Annie
Norris, Rena B. Roberts, Katherine Hale,
Ethel NJ. Knowlton, Susie Mason, Burton
Walker, James Frazier, Martin Thorsen,
Edward Small, Henry H. Higgins.
During the dinner hour the room had
been prepared for the trial. A number
of the seats in the front of the room had
been removed and the space thus cleared
was arranged with the usual court set
tings, the judges bench, witness stand
and jury box, etc.
The sheriff announced the court and
that severe-looking person calmly took
his seat upon the bench.
The first case before the court was that
OF George E. Frazier Us. George ]. Grant,
for breach OF promise The fair plaintiff
in the action placed the amount of dam
age done to her heart and tender affec
tions at = 500.
The attorneys in the case were Messrs.
Mason and Silvy for plaintiff; Miss Nc
Gown and Mr.. Crabtree for defendant
Attorney Mason presented the plain
tif's case to the court, and read the writ,
which authorized the sheriff to seize up
on the property of the defendant, George
|. Grant, to the amount of $500, if he
absented himself from the court.
The first witness placed on the stand
was the fair plaintiff, who took the oath
to tell he truth, the whole truth and
not hing like the truth, " whatever, SO help
me Moses and then proceeded With her
sad story OF womans love and man 5
pertdy
She testified mat she first met Grant at
a dance at TangIefoot hall, being in
trodueed to hin by Miss Carrie B. Means
He asked il he might see her home, and
She consented. This WAS in January
le9l. Grant afterward called on her
often, and on Jan. 3, asked her to be his,
She accepted him, and May 10, 1897 was
fixed as the wedding day.
After his engagement to Hiss Frazier
Grant became attentive TO NJ ISIS Grace NJ =.
GrindeIl, a young lady residing on Shore
road, finally proposed to her and was
accepted. This was only few days
before the day set for his wedding to
Miss Frazier. Two nights before their
wedding day Grant called upon Miss
Frazier " no had heard OF his attentions
to Miss Grindell. As he entered the
plaintiff asked him if the reports were
true. He replied: YES, am engaged
to Miss Grindell, and mean to marry her, y
and rushed from the house, leaving Miss
Frazier in tears.
All preparations We're made for the
marriage OF plaintiff with Grant-the
guests invited, and that night the costly
wedding costume of Miss Frazier had
Just arrived from Ellsworth Falls, W here
the most skilful dressmakers had been at
work upon it night and day in order that
II might be completed in time.
Miss Grace |. Lord was the next witness
called She testified that she was an
intimate friend of plaintiff She had seen
letter written by defendant to Miss
Frazier, in which was mentioned a pre-
vious engagement and marriage. This
letter was read in court and later, Others
written by Grant to Miss Frazier and
Miss Grindell. Witness gave contradic-
tory evidence under cross examination OF
/ defendants counsel.
The next witness was Miss Grindell,
+ who said that she first met Grant at a
dance on Infant street, at the Falls, and
ne saw her home and called often after
ward. He proposed and was accepted.
Miss Cirindell stated, before Grant won
her affect ions she had received attentions
from George y. McCHrty, whom she cast
aside for Grant.
Mr. Mctarty test flied that he had been
attentive to Miss GrindelI, but that she
had cast him aside for Grant He had
been out OF town for number of days
and on his return heard of Grant ; atten-
lions TO Miss Grindell. He went
Immediately to her house to demand an
explanation. He entered the house with
out ringing the bell. As he entered the
parlor he heard voices in the next room,
which he recognized us those Of Miss
Grinaeu and Grant. He listened and
heard Grant propose to Mis-. Grindell,
ANA heard her acceptance He left the
house quietly and determined to have no
more to do with his former love.
Bernard ). Jellison, wealthy and hon
orable jeweler, of Beechland, testtied
nat he had sold to Grant a watch and a
ring; that he had engraved the inscrlp-
ton g. /. G. to q. +. +. on the ring and
nat some time after his clerk, Frank
! 4.chenagucia, had sold ring to Grant,
and had engraved on it, SC. |. q. to G.
] 4