Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1895-06-13

milliner for the past ten years. Han.
chett is prominent business man al
White River Junction, a bank director
treasurer OF the White River Junction
Savings bank. He was formerly bridge
builder and is reputed to have amassed 9
fortune at his business. He is go year;
old and is a widower, having been twice
married, and has three children. The
history OF the case as developed by the
testimony is briefly as follows: The par
ties first met Oct. 4, 1898, at South Royal
by mutual friends. Both were on their
way to the "World's Fair" at Tunbridge,
and 1t seemed to have been case of love
at first sight He rode beside her that
day to Tunbridoe, attended her very
closely all day paid all expenses and spent
the happiest day OF all his life, as he after
wards expressed it in letter to her. In
lust one week, Hanchett called on Mrs.
Foster at South Royalton and asked per-
mission to pay attention to her. He testi-
fed that be happened to be in town to
get an idea about bridge construction. He
invited her to go to the Worlds Column
bian exposition with him and assured her
that it would be all right; for she would
be his wife some day II she didn't say no.
The next meeting was in two weeks
when formal proposition OF immediate
marriage was made. Mrs. Foster asked
four weeks to accept. After that letters
were daily occurrence between them,
and on Nov. 18th the proposal was accept.
ed and it was arranged that the wedding
should occur not later than Jan. Is, 1894.
The intended bride engaged another
milliner to assist her and went to Boston,
where she purchased three hundred
dollar wedding trosseau. Hanchett met
her on the way back and accompanied
her home. Frequent visits and affection
ate correspondence followed until Dec.
18th, when the relatives of the defendant,
having obtained information OF the prog
ress OF events, persuaded him to write
to her, breaking the engagement on the
ground that he had heard awful stories
about her.
The bride-elect was overwhelmed and
telegraphed to her lover to meet her at
the White River junction hotel on arrival
of first train. She at once went to the
place appointed, accompanied by her son,
George, and gave a full explanation to
Hanchett to his entire satisfaction and he
promised to wait upon her to ball at the
junction the evening OF the 18th inst,
and assured her that he would marry her
il the Devil stood at the door.
Within twenty -four hours, Hanchett
WAS again uHutr Inc cOHtTOl Oh MS Ield-
tives and appeared at Mrs. Fosters home
in South Royalton and notified her that
he could not take her to the ball and that
the contract was "bust.'' The intended
bride had told her friends about the ball
she was going to attend with MIR. Han
chett and to avoid the modification OF un-
pleasant remarks she took the train the
evening OF the ball for Lebanon, N. II /,
and returned home the next day.
The testimony introduced in behalf OF
the defendant tended to prove that the
marriage contract was a conditional one,
and that either might recede IL on inquiry
either we're not.satisfied. This Mrs. Fos-
ter denied.
The defendant also introduced testi.
mony in mitigation OF damages tending TO
show improper conduct on the part OF the
plaintiff. The jury took the case at SAB
Saturday morning and in 81 minutes
brought in verdict for the plaintiff to
recover si,375. The counsel for the plain
tiff were Z. p. Tarbell, Esq, ExGov. w.
P. Dillingham; and Hon. J. j. Wilson; Tor
the defendant, Hon. w. E. johnson, Hon.
w. B. G. Stickney and j. q. Harvey, Esq.