The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-18
MRS. CARSON GETS A VERDICT.
THE JURY SAID TO HAVE GIVEN
HER $3.50.

There Were Several Reports Current
About the Finding of the Jury.
There Was Decided Variance of
Opinion, 1t Is Said, Among the
Jurymen, and They Agreed ON
$3.50 as n Compromise-Fhe
Case Was a Difficult One to ConsId-
err as There Was Disputed Testi-
mOny on the Main Issue.
The jury in the suit OF Mrs. Charlotte
b. Carson of Auburn, Ala, against Mr..
William Roberts. ST., of Valdosta, in the
United States court handed its sealed
verdict to the clerk of the court shortly
after midnight yesterday morning.
There was much curiosity from the time
the verdict was returned among many TO
know what It was and all of yesterday
there were various reports with regard
to it. Shortly after the verdict was re-
turned it was reported that 1t was for
$1,000, and another time that it was 81, 900,
but neither of these reports appears to
have been correct.
From the best information that could
be obtained the verdict is believed to be
in favor of the plaintiff for $3.50. This, 1t
is rumored, was a compromise verdict.
Some of the jurors are said to have been
in favor of giving her something like
$780, while others did not want to give
anything AS stated in the Morning
News, 1t looked for long time as if the
case were going to end in mistrial, but
the Jurors seem to have finally come to-
gether and agreed on a small verdict in
the plaintiffs favor.
This, it may be said, gives the plaintiff
the vindication that her counsel asked for.
but the amount, If it is as stated $3.50.
win hardly be more than sufficient to
pay tie expenses of the litigation. The
verdict, however, shows that the jurors
were considerably divided on the ques-
lions before them The issue was prac-
ticaly one of fact of which there was
positive evidence on both sides, Mr.. Rob-
erts claiming that he agreed to marry the
plaintiff on condition that he could obtain
the acquiescence of his children, and Mrs.
Carson claiming there was no condition
whatever precedent to the marriage.
There was equally positive evidence on
both sides with regard to this issue, and
outside of the oral testimony the jury
had only the letters between the plaintiff
and the defendant upon which to judge
the case. 1t seems there was a decided
variance of opinion with regard to just
which claim had the best foundation, and
in the end a small verdict in the plaintiff 5
favor was decided upon as a compromise.
Among those who heard the testimony
in the case there was an equal difference
of opinion as to what the result would be.
Many considered 1t would be in Mrs. Car
sons favor. while as many others, did not
hesitate to say she would not get anything.
There was much sympathy expressed both
for the plaintiff and for the defendant.
There was as much for him as there was
for her, it seems, though it is natural al
ways that sympathles should turn toward
the woman. But the thorough honesty of
MIR. Roberts intentions, as well as other
circumstances, which were so well shown
in the evidence created much feeling in his
favor, and no doubt the minds of several
of the jurymen were impressed in the
same way.
1t is not known yet whether there will
be any motion for new trial. 1t may be
said that neither side is satisfied with the
verdict. 1t is not as much as the plain
tiff expected, and the defendant, of course,
verdict will be opened when court
convenes this morning and the attorneys
will probably be heard from then as to
whether anything further will be done in
the case.