Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-05-25
ETTA'S TROUBLES.
She Tells Them Not to a Police
man, But to a Jury.

She Tells Them Not to a Police.
man, But to Jury.
ASKS BALM FOB A BROKEN HEART.
The Noted Breach of Promise Suit In
| Which Malcolm McPhan is tho Defend
ant, Begun in the Circuit Court-Tne
| Plaintiffs Testimony Adjourned On
Her Account.
The case of Mrs. Eta Trovillo
against Malcolm McPhail for dam
ages for breach Of promise Of mar
riage and seduction, was called in
the circuit court yesterday afternoon.
This is the case about which so much
has been written and said, and
which has attracted SO much noto-
riety by reason of the prominence of
the parties. and the seriousness of
the charge. The plaintiff, the
youngest daughter of Jesse Car
yer. a pioneer Of Mercer county,
is at present dressmaker of
Reynolds, and the defendant a part
ner in the general merchandising
firm of Mcintyre & McPhail. a young
man of considerable business ability
and importance IN the community.
Much less trouble was experienced
in securing a jury than was antici-
pated, and at about $3.50 the Jury
was sworn, and the opening state
ments were made by Maj. Beardsley
for the lady, and Mr.. Jackson for the
defendant.
William McEniry, together with
Mai. j. NJ. Beardsley, represent the
plaintiff, and Messrs. jackson &
Hurst appear for Mr.. McPhail. The
Jury to try the case is: John
Spargo. Joseph Bollinger, F. H. Har-
ris, Nj. w. Poston, James Sackville,
Barney j. McCabe. Daniel Foster.
George Griffin. ST., Joseph Sher-
rer, H. j. Frick, John Scarf and
Frank Golden.
| Plaintiff on tho Stand.
The plaintiff was the first witness
called. She was dressed in a neat
fitting suit of black cashmere with
jauntv fan, which was kept in mo-
ton during the giving of her evil
depce. She talked in low tone at
first. but under the fire of rigid
cross-examination she got consider
ably riled up and fired her diatribes
at the defendant and the counsel.
Briefly stated, she said she was
born in Mercer county and was mar
ried in 1879 to Harry T. Trovillo,
from whom she was divorced for his
fault; that after the divorce che
learned the dressmaking trade at
Aledo; worked for herself first at
Millersburg and finally, five years
ago. went to Reynolds. and has re-
manned there ever since, working at
her trade of dressmaking. She knew
McPhail in a business way on moving
to Reynolds, always trading at the
store of Mcintyre & McPhail; that
after moving several places in the
town she finally moved over Nc
Phail's store; that the social relations
between the plaintiff and defendant
began in December, 1898, and con-
tinued with increasing warmth until
the latter part of February, 1894,
when he made proposition of mar
riage, which was accepted; that in
furtherance of said promise she made
Slight preparations for the coming
marriage, which was to be consum-
mated in March of this year; that
sometime after said engagement OF
marriage defendant took the priv
leges of a husband, which relation
continued from time to time, unit
sometime in September. 1894, when
defendant declined to further call on
the plaintiff and declined to marry
the plaintiff. The relations between
the parties were secret, and mad,
more so by private entry from tn,
inside OF the store to the rooms O
plaintiff. The plaintiff said that the
defendant attempted to take libertie,
with her before the engagement. bu
did not succeed.
Upon cross-examination this morn
ing the witness became considerabl,
excited and answered Mr.. jackson
sharply in several instances. calling
out demonstrations of the audience
The examination was rigid ant
severe, and developed the line of de
tense. which is that the plaintiff il
claimed to be schemer and '.roped
the defendant in By her blandish
ments. She was asked a number o
questions as to contradictory an,
abusive remarks she had made con
corning the defendant. showing the
at the time she made them she coulC
not have been engaged to the defen
dant.
Adjournment Until Monday.
On account of the illness of the
plaintiff. and upon the promise o
plaintiffs counsel that they only de
sire to prove the financial standing
which will occupy but few minutes
the court adjourned the trial of tn.
case until Monday afternoon at :
O'Clock
Court Cuttings.
Judge Bigelow held court by ga