The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-10-29
Suit FOT Breach Of Promise In Which Two
Deaf hu!es Figure.
THEY COURIEU ONLY FOR AFEW MONTHS
Ncw York SUM-


If a deaf mute ever sued another deaf
mute Tor breach of promise of marriage
before Annie Berlinrr sued to recover
$4,000 damages from Jacob Scharlin,
the local courts have no remembrance of
IL. Inc case came to trial before JUS
tice Mclean, OF the Supreme Court. yes
terday. There had to be little adjust
mcnts of court and counsel to keep the
case along the ordinary grooves. and
whlle some of these had advantages
Owe! taking evidence In the oral way,
there was some disadvantages. The
Rev. Dr. Thomas Gaiiuict acted as in
NerDfCter. lie is rector emeritus of ST.
Arn's Protestant Episcopal Church.
and ldtsSror of II deaf mute congregation
which meets In st. John. the f:vang glislt's
Church in West Eleventh street.
MISS Berlincr is 4 tall woman Of per-
iapS ~, wlro WAS in green. In the early
laft of her testimony 1t was noticed tlat
while Dir. Ga!iaudet used both hands
WITH no movement OF MIS- lips in speak
Ing TO her. She used her lips constantly
ana only her rs&lit hand. The girl did
rrat seem In catch some questions going
to bring out tWlt the defendant after the
engagement had Informed Mrs. Silver
man that ne would look out for the plain
tin and attend t. further educating her.
and finally DR.. Gallaudvt said that she
had been educated in the Ger
man method. or lip language,
while he had been talking to
her with his fingers. in which she
did not seem 10 be proficient. With the
Courts permission, he said lie would
try the lip method with her. He then
spoke to her Ivy moving his lips, at tho
same time articulating the words so
that the most of them were audible
throughout the room, and she readily
answered by her lips ard signs of her
right hand She did not catch or did
not want to catch some or the Gucs-
tions about the lovcmaking of the de-
PENDENT. and at Il late stage Justice
McLcan wrote down some of these ques-
lions, ana she wrGtc the answers
She did not set very far in her evil
dence, owing To these necessary delays
OF Interpreting. when the court adjourn
cd She said that the detcndent asked
her I" marry him when they first met
In January, 1856. They were publicly
engaged the next month He had taken
her to his fathers home on many ocCa-
sions, and had gone with her to differ
ent places of amusement. He finally
told her that he did not love her ami
that she must forget him. His father
Is n wealthy snuff ana tobacco dealer.
The defendant lives ut las Henry street
ana the plaintiff at 10 ESSEX street. 1t
Is said that the engagement was
brought through schatchcn secured ny
Scharlin's parents. who desired to get Il
wife for their son. The defendant be-
came cool toward the plaintiff after n
ball they attended on February a. 1896
She says lie was jealous because she
had danced at The ball VIA other men
than himself.
she flushed Mt iimaG when silently
answering about his lovcmalsing. arched
her hrhws in 4 sr"HriS.d way at some
questions and puui.i at others, signs
which We're rea ny the Jury as salts
factory as by ;hn :n:-rHrtIrr. When
She was asked how Scharin expressed
himself when on different occasions hc
told her that il" lovnd hnr, she put her
hand on her hca9I and looked heaven
ward. Every IUryran knrw wha: lha;
meant.
In answering a question about other
evidence Of atfrCtiDn on .he rart Of
Scharlin she maie some rapid motions
with her lips and right hand, ran ner
hand about hsr waist. hiushcd as she
quickly wlthdre"% II and with fingers
and lips said hat H. hal embraced
her.
In the trial there was no chance of
counsel stopping the witness in the mid
die OF question to vnjnrt Nor was
there any chance Of objection when In
stead Of Interpreting some Of her mo-
lions DR.. Gallautlet would make some
more gestures, evidently trying to re,
fuller answer. So obJccting to the ev-
idence was practically eliminated.
Inc court stenOgraphcr had lots OF
Tine to take the evidence, when II fin
aliy came from the interpreter. and the
counsel had lots OF time to think of
Questions, although there was plenty OF
time I" forget about III IN Before Ec
had chance TO put them Gne nf tho
main disadvantages of this sort Of trial
was apparent when Schar,'n tried f..
coach his counsel through an irtcrnrct-
err Scharlin noticed others rcsticu,at-
Ing while he was talking II his counsel
Indirectly through the Interpreter, and
he stopped talking about the case. say
ing:
i cannot have Any private convcrsn-
ton with YOU hero, as the other side
are watching ana reading my signs"
so Inc case progressed without the
counsel getting any pointers from their
client about the evidence.