The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-09-20
A BREACH OF
PROMISE SUIT.
Miss Coleman, Of Caroline, Against
Treasurer Sanders, of Lancaster
ASKS TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS.
Mrs. Wood, of Richmond, a Material
Witness, But Trial Went On With
ont Her-Mr. SandersClaims TO
III ave Acted in Good Faith.

LANCASTER, VA, Sept ESPECIAL.
Circuit Court here. Hon. T. r. b. Wright
presiding. has been in session since We'd
nesday. There has been an unusually
LARGE attendance, attracted by the breach
Of promise case of Miss Gertrude Cole
man, OF Caroline county VS.. Il. NJ. San
ders, county treasurer of this county.
This case was called Wednesday and
upon statement Of counsel for defense
that a lady had written a letter that
lady In Richmond was material witness
and that they had not had time to SUBJ
poena her. the court sent its officer after
the witness Mrs. Wood, Of Clay street
The officer returned to-day bringing the
certificate Of DR.. George b. Johnson that
the witness was too old and inirm 20
take the trip TO Lancaster. The officer
also stated that Mrs. who'd said she knew
nothing about the case. This brought on
a long and heated argument
10 also offered In this argument that
there was a supposed material witness In
Norfolk. and an affidavit was made to
this effect.
REFINED YOUNG WOMAN.
Miss Coleman IS q young lady Of edu-
cation and refinement and good social
standing. Mr. Sanders IS a man OF con-
siderable political prominence. az a large
family connection and possesses consider
able means He is about hfty-hve years
old and has been twice married Miss
Coleman is about twenty-one. attractive,
intelligent and pretty.
she brought nor suit IN June last. claim
ing that Mr.. Sanders was engaged 20 her,
the day Of the marriage set and all Of the
attendants invited She had been teach
Ing IN Princess Ann county. and gave up
her school expecting shortly 20 be mar
ried.
Suddenly and Unexpectedly the defend
ant asked for a postponment % the
marriage and then, or IS claimed by the
plaintiff. broke the engagement Miss
Coleman then asked for $4,000 damages
HEATED ARGUMENT
After a pTotractef and heated argument
the court after considering the motion
for a continuance nearly the entire day
decided TO send to Norfolk for a witness
and take the deposition Of Mrs. Wood
Only one common law case has been
tried 40 far. but many chanCery cases
have been disposed OF and many DEGREES
entered.
Among the visiting attorneys are A. 3
Chandler. OF Caroline. Garter & Ware and
r. H. Baeby, Of Essex. and A. 3. Evans,
Of Middlesex.
THE TRIAL or.
WARSAW. VA. Sept 9-Speclal-The
Coleman-Ssnders breach Of promise suit
was again called to-day at Lancaster
Courthouse: the plainun announced that
they were ready for trial, whilst the de-
fence again asked for a continuance Of
the case, upon the ground Of the absence
OF an important witness. I'm the person Of
Mrs Wood. of Richmond city. The court
ruled that the case must be tried at 4:3O
o'clock.
The fair plaintiff was escorted TO the
courtroom 10 give her evidence IN the
case.
AFFECTIONATE LETTERS.
A dozen or two affectionate love letters
from the defendant to the plaintiff were
read. in which he spoke Of Miss Coleman
in most anectionate terms much 20 the
amusement of the vast crowd in attend
ancc.
In the defendants plea It is avowed
that he has never refused 10 marry the
plaintiff that he had acted IN good faith.
That he only asked that the marriage
be postponed, and the answer he received
was in the form of a breach Of promise
suit for $4,000.