The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-09-23
A CASE OF INTEREST
EHE PARTIES TO THE SUIT ARE
BROTHERS-IN-LAW.
WONDERFUL CAREER OF DR.. LAWRENCE
leaving Wilson, North Carolina, in 1875 a
Poor Man, He is Now One Of the
Millionaires of St. Louis.

pe seen a quiet gentleman, calmly smok-
ing pipe, and from his serene manner
one would never suppose that he was
engaged in law suit which involves
fortune. This man is Mr.. M. ]. Edwards
whose wife, Mrs. M. E. Edwards, con-
ducts a boarding house at number 1T,
Fayetteville street, over the Dime Saw
Ings Bank.
His suit was against DR.. j. J. Law
rence, Of St Louis, and the amount for
which he brought suit would aggregate
$4,000.
The case, which was until yesterday
before the United States Circuit court,
and was continued from the last term
Mr.. Edwards and DR.. Lawrence are
5oth originally from Wilson county, but
the former man lives in Raleigh, while
the latter dwels in ST. Louis, and is
reported to be the editor of a medical
journal there. He is rated in Brad
streets as AL. which means that he
Is worth million or more. 1t is also
Audt MI l<uNdlQS 10 LII.
E.awrence's brother-in-law. The plain
tiff, Mr.. Edwards, was rep
resented by Messrs. Argo and Snow,
Of Raleigh; and Hon. Fred. A. Wood
3 ard, OF Wilson, while Judge III. g. Con-
nor, Of Wilson and Messrs Aycock and
Daniels, of Goldsboro, appeared for the
defendant, DR.. Lawrence.
Yesterday this suit, which promised
to be a celebrated cause, was compro-
missed. Hon. FL. G. Conner, represent
ing DR.. Lawrence, and Hon. Fred A.
IWoodard, representing Mr.. Edwards.
reached Raleigh on Tuesday morn
ing, and after consulting with Argo and
Snow and Mr.. Edwards, it was agreed
to compromise the suit upon the pay
nent by DR.. Lawrence of $7,500-the
amount of the original money claimed
60 have been advanced by Mr.. Edwards |
being $4,000. Yesterday Mr.. Edwards |
was the recipient of many congratula-
tons upon having effected a settlement
that gives him a good round sum. He
Believes he could have won the suit, but
deemed it best to make the compromise
as stated above,
DR.. J. J. Lawrence, the defendant in
She suit, has had a most remarkable
career. Just after the war he manu-
featured the successful remedy "Rosa- s
dalis,' which he disposed for very good
sum to Clements and Company, of Bal
sG1ore. Afterwards he made a success ]
with ''Koskoo," which he manufactured {
IN Norfolk, Va, and Wilson, n. G. His
luck then deserted him and for several
years he kept small drug store in
Wilson, where his income was very {
small About 1874 or 1875, having the
previous year commenced the publication
of the Medical Brief in Wilson, DR..
Lawrence moved that journal to st. ]
Louis where he has since published it
with remarkable success. He is reck-
oned as worth a million dollars, and If
not worth that amount is a very rich
man.
THE PLEADINGS IN THE CASE.
Mr.. NJ. J. Edwards, complainant
against DR.. J. j. Lawrence, alleges in
substance, that in January, 1868, |
DIR. Lawrence entered into an agreement
and bound himself in a written contract, |
while both the plaintiff and defendant
were residents Of Wilson county, where
by Mr.. Lawrence, for the consideration !
OF $4,000, paid by Mr.. Edwards, agreed
and bound himself, his heirs and assigns
to pay to Mr.. Edwards, his heirs or ex-
ecutors, the sum of $1.50 for each and
every dozen of DIR. J. J. Lawrences
Compound Extrat of Rosadalis," and
Mr. Lawrence for this consideration is
given the right to manufacture and
sell this medicine, and the defendant
further agreed that if he sold the copy
right of the proceeds should be convey
ed to Mr.. Edwards, the plaintiff, or his
heirs, executors ar assigns. This agree
ment was witnessed by X. =. Edwards
and the agreement was executed in the
office of the clerk of the Superior court
of Wilson county, May 18th, 1868.
The plaintiff claims that he paid the
$4,000 according to contract to J. j.
Lawrence. The plaintiff says that dur
ing the year 1868 DIR. Lawrence manu-
featured and sold in large quantities this
medicine, and in the latter part of the
year the defendant sold the patent right
to compound Extract of Rosadalis" to
p. J. Clements, OF Baltimore, Maryland,
and received $4,000 for the patent right,
title and franchises of this medicine.
Mr.. Edwards contends that half of this
sum, namely, ST. 800, was his according
to contract and that it was received by
DR.. Lawrence as agent for him, but that
n 7 frantulnnf1v anl mill
" embezzled this money and the defend
ant received no part Of it, although fire.
quent demands were made for it.
The plaintiff next alleges that in Sep
TENDER, 1868, DR.. Lawrence executed