The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-12
Gotta HUSBAND FOR $4,000.
HoWPRoMoTER o0NRLTNG 1T
hBOUT MS COUSINS MARRIAGE.

Arranged = Meeting with AGED Farmer Place
Mt 1Iis own HOUSEWIVES. ConkiinE Describes
How the Proposal OF Marriage Was MADE
-ConLtinE Gets $4,000 for His Trenh,e.
NEwBURG, Dec. 1.-The case in which 1t
has been shown that James H.. Conkling was
the promoter of tho marriage of old Isaac De
Witt Place to Mrs. Anna Hall Of Vermont, was
continued this afternoon before Judge Hirsch-
berg In Supreme Court, Chambers. Tho plain
tilt and his wife, defendant Conkling and wife,
and an adopted daughter Of Mrs. Place, were in
court.
The first witness called was the wife OF the
defendant, Mrs. James II. Conkling. She testt-
fed that Mr.. Place frequently called at her
house to talk about getting n wife, and when
ho asked her II she thought her husband was
telling tho truth when he wrote to his cousin,
Mrs. Hall tnow Mrs. Place. that 1t was a fine
chance for Mrs. Hall to get n home. she re-
piled: Yes, II l had bcen a single woman and
had such n chance | should like to accept the
offer" She also testified that at the first visit
Of Mr.. Place and Mrs. Hall to her house they
were introduced, but had no conversation. On
the second visit the proposal of marriage was
made. Mrs. Conkling and Miss Rector. tho
adopted daughter of Mrs. Hall, were seated in
a doorway and heard all that was said. Mrs.
Conkling said that Mr.. Place made the offer of
iiili iukc anu was uCNtDltu, anu VIC shis
King of Little Britain was called in to perform
the emo When the knot had been tied.
Mr.. Place handed to tho minister the $500
check which was in turn given to the bride.
with the remark that this is but one of tho
many good things you will receive from Mr..
Place. When Mr.. Place returned to his home
in Washingtonville, late in the afternoon, leav.
ing his bride at the Conkling residence where
the ceremony took place, she transferred tho
$1,000 she was to give him for promoting her
marriage to Mr.. Place.
When the two were talking about their ap-
heard Mr.. Place say to Mrs. Hall: II will give
you S?0o'on our wedding day and II decd for the
divide the property ] own between you and my
grandson Lou. What is money to me! want
ling then corroboratcd what her husband said
about Mrs. Hall being willing to pay S0Son<o
M m9rS Gorsl ling, for f5o fFb5 s ssia Zoo d M ! eno Si the
Assistant District Attorney Secger, on cross
examination, confused Mrs. Gonkling by asking
daughter of Mrs. Place, at her home against the
wishes of the girl, and had brought to her home
while the girl was there the grandson of MIR.
Place. She denied ali of these intimalions that
the Conklings were carrying on still further
matrimonial negotiations, and when she was
piled with further questions that insinuated
that n great surprise was likely to come in the
shape Of damaging letters, Judge Fullerton
not understand why the questions we're put.
Judge Hirschberg remarked: 1T looks to me
as IL he was trying to clinch something and
directed Mrs. Conkiing to answer.
A continuation of her testimony showed that
her efforts were directed to exoncratc her hus;
band from the charge of being a matrimonial
promoter with any pecuniary object in view,
and that whatever Mrs. Place gave Lin was u
free will Offering.
Mrs. Place. who is now Loyalty standing by
her aged husband. testified that when Conkline
was negotiating the terms of marriage he repre-.
scented that Mr.. Place was worth from $4,000
to 10000 Fifty thousand, he said, was the
very lowest amount of his wealth.
1t was agreed to sum up and then submit
briefs. but only the prosecution made an oral
argument. In this District Attorney ScegeI
said that 1t was n miserable fraud and con,
spiracy to get the poor old mans money, and
was clearly shown to be so when Conkling had
the check put into negotiable paper and tried
to dispose of the bond and mortgage in a rca
estate deal. He closed his argument by say
ing that the thief who would at night rob his
house OF its silver and his wifcs iewclry. oil
the footpad who would waylay him on the
road and steal his money and valuables, wa:
an angel compared with the man who was suct
a mean and despicable character as to try t
steal an old mans property IN this way, afte
protesting the warmcst friendship. being clos
neighbors and having many favors bestowed
upon him by tho man whom he was trying u
ruin financially. Mr.. Scegcr also said tina
Mrs. Conkling knew about the negotiation
and was equally blamab,e with her husband.