The Republican journal., 1903-03-12
A BREACH OF PROMISE CASE.
The Plaintiff Claimed 81 ,OOO, 900 damages
A Verdict for the Defendant.

The Plaintiff Claimed 81 100000 damages.
Verdict for the Defendant.
The Methodists had fair, supper, aud
entertainment in Memorial Hall last Thurs
day evening, which melted more than $50.
The hall was open in the afternoon for the
sale of fancy and useful articles, confec-
tionery, etc., and there was fishing pool
from which patrons caught all sorts Of arti-
cles- At6o'clock a ''boiled dinner" beans,
brown bread, pumpkin, custard and apple
pie, ct cetera, were served. But if anybody
partook too freely of the "biled dish," an
opportunity was given later to laugh off the
gastric effects in listening to mock trial.
The case was Melville c. Hill VS.. Nettie NJ.
FOllett, for breach of promise Of marriage.
1t was shown that Hill, who was then a
young man living at Hayford's on the Bel
mont road, went to circus June II, 1850.
On the grounds he met Miss FOllett, aged
Z, who had walked from Saturday Cove,
about miles, in % minutes, before sunrise,
to see the circus. Their joint funds would
not take them into the circus, but they
MIXED COW in nearby pasture and sold
the milk for money to buy gum and cookies.
The parties told directly opposite stories as
to how it happened, but they became engag-
ed to be married July 4th. On that day
they failed to meet, and soon after the date
was fixed at her next birthday, February
29th. Hill failed to see any trouble with
the arrangement until the 2Sth of February
had passed and he found it was then the 1st
of March. After waiting several years, and
being put off on one excuse or another, he
brought suit for one million dollars damag-
es, and the case has been pending in the
Courts since 1870.
Judge George E. johnson presided; ;
Harry NJ. Prentiss acted as clerk; Miss
Helen U. Batchelder as stenOgrapher S. G.
Norton as sheriff John S. Fernald as crier.
The clerk and crer twisted the court proc
lamations and affirmations to the witnesses
in way that would hardly be allowed in
the S. J. C. Following are the gentlemen
Of the jury: John W. Jones, foreman, H.
c. Pitcher, Edwin Frost, Geo. E. White,
d. B. Flint, F. E. Wiley, G. A. Dunning, N.
G. Pettingill, Saml Morse, E. H. Conant,
W. Macomber, Frank Condor.
John K. Dunton, Esq, opened for the
plaintiff, showing how his client had been
injured in health, mind and finances. He
examined the plaintiff and Policeman John
Dolloff, and brought out many amusing in
cidents. Frank P. Wilson was to have
opened for the defense, but as he was sick
Mr.. Dunton consented to take his place, and
it was the general opinion that he made
better opening for the defense than for his
own side The witnesses for the defense
were the defendant Henry Webber, Charles
E. Stevens and Mrs. Chas F. Shaw The
testimony abounded in surprises and funny
features. r. w. Rogers Esq. closed for the
plaintiff and W. p Thompson Esq for the
defense. Judge Johnson's charge to the
jury was chiefly devoted to the qualifications
of jurors, especially of those before him.
He said little about the case, stating that he
did not propose to give aW;sJ all his legal
knowledge on so important case for the
paltry sum of So cents. His charge was
quite long and was full of fun from start to
finish
The jury returned verdict for the de-
fendant, and added the finding that If the
parties were not married in thirty days
they were to receive Jail sentence. The
Judge set aside the extra finding of the jury
and ordered simple verdict for the defend
ant.