The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-02-28

NINE DIVORCE CASES.
How One Betrousered Biped Obtained
His Divorce. New System by the
Southern.
Especial to News and Observer

greensboro, n. c., Feb 27.-Tha Two
weeks term of Superior Court for Gull
ford county, closed today, has been dc
voted entirely to civil cases. While but
your contested cases were regularly tried.
there were a great many disposed of by
compromise, so that the docket has been
considerably diminished The settlement
OF nlne damage suits against the Southern
Railway, accentuateS a new departure re-
Gently adopted by that corporation.
which has Tor so many years held stub
bornly out against the advice of its ow,.
local counsel. For years, the policy was
TO light every case. Counsel would write
to authorities at Washington, advising
an equitable settlement, and state the
circumstances, to be informed by a curt
reply by the next mail, that they were
employed to defend suits, not to settle
them. The result was, that juries got
bull-headed too, and as the railroad never
would admit that anybody was ever dam
aged, no matter what the extent of in
Jury or the degree of responsibility sur
rounding the case, it sometimes hap
pened, that heavy damages were given.
WREN there really was no legal liability.
Railroad lawyers themselves got SO
they did not complain when they lost
a case, because they had so often ad-
vlsed settlement on it's merits, and been
tleated with actual disrespect for their
advice, they became callous, although
never letting up in their strenuous de-
tense TOR their client Speaking of this
last night, prominent lawyer told of a
case, or two cases, which were tried
IN another county several years ago He
SAID, the plaintiff offered to compromise
for $4,000, and the railroad counsel ad-
yise6 this course. The Washington au-
thorities would not listen to anything
or the kind. There was a big trial; the
pla1ntiff got verdict FOR 500, 900 and
the company had to pay every dollar
ct it; what was worse he said. out
OF the case was developed a state of
facts which caused another person to
bring suit, and he recovered a verdict
or $4,000 against the railroad, and upon
ITS being scaled down by the Judge to
$500, this much was paid
But new, and better system has
been adopted by the Southern Railway.
Cases are being settled on advice of
those most conversant with their merits.
AMI such thing as indiscriminate heavy
Verclcts in those contested, as con-
sequence, will soon be a thing of the
past About six months ago, ten cases
which Col. j. A. Barringer had brought.
were compromised to the mutual satis-
faction OF all parties. This week, Messrs
hing and Kimball, Division Counsel of
:he Southern Railway, have had nine
cases marked off the docket everyone
OF which was compromised, with a rea-
sonable amount of indemnity, without a
long, tedious trial.
Another significant record of this term
OF Guilford court, is the fact, shat nor
cnly have nine divorce cases been tried
bat in every instance, the plaintiff vas
woman. All were white. except one
IN the case of the negro wife which
was well conducted by the only negro
ldwyer in Greensboro, there is some
doubt about the defendant being alive.
from the facts proven. The wife testi-
fed, that ten years ago she was living
with her husband in Washington city,
that he had some government position;
that he was accused OF writing an in
sElting proposition to a white lady; that
she had never seen or heard of him since
the news of the insult was published.
EXCEPT that a friend told her that lot
OF white men whipped him so bad he
begged them to kill him.
She came back to her mother in Green's
toro, and has been living here ever since.
but never received any communication
from her husband. She was granted
divorce for abandonment. 1t. looks like
there might have been a lynching even
in Washington city, as far back as ten
years ago.
There was one divorce case ready to
be tried last week, where the plaintiff
was man, or rather a male. He was
Davidson county male, and Col G.
,. Bradshaw was, all ready on Thurs
daJ OF last week to give him deliverance
according to the act of the legislature
When the propitious hour arrived
ne. was too drunk to risk an appear
anee before such a square judge as
Cooke. His lawyer placed him in the
hands OF his star witness, who was a
notable Justice of the Peace of David
son, to cool him off, for trial and de-
llverance purposes the next day. Friday
came, and the plaintiff was hilarious as
ever, and his sensible attorney ordered
MIN home to recuperate, with the under
standing that he was to return on Thurs
day OF this week, and get his divorce.
Instead of coming the aforesaid make
person, mailed the following letter to
his lawyer, which shows, that instead
of being entitled to a divorce. which he
would have gotten, he needed hang
rap's rope.
"Corlish, ~ c., Feb. %, 1904.
Mr. G. S. Bradshaw, Greensboro, n. c.
Dear sir: l drop these few lines to let
you know that l am very poorly and
threatened with Newmonia. / taken deep
colo While in Greensboro last week. l
drop you these lines to tell YOU that
l won't be there Thursday. That woman
was buried Yesterday. She died from
Newmonia. Tell the Jedge God has done
the work and / went trouble the court
any further. This is better than court
divorce and don't cost as much.
She won't pull my leg any more or
Tool me. Bein as she's gone in this
way, you can send me back what money
ycu think you have not earned"
Yours happilie,
IN all these divorce cases, the law
yers bring them in between times as