The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1907-05-08
The Breach Of Promise Suit-Ve-dict Against
the Defendant.

The Breach of Promise Suit-Verdict AgainS'
the Defendant.
The much heralded breach of prom
ise suit came on to be heard IN the IN,
stitute hall last Thursday evening, and
there was assembled q large audience,
from the town, and the surrounding
sections AS an entertaining ana
financial scheme it was q success. The
stars OF this drama were two OF our
most prominent young people, Miss
Gertrude Bradham and j. Harry
Lesesne, ESQ. The witnesses for the
plaintiff were Mayor D. NJ. Bradham
her father, MIR. H. II. Bradham her
brother, Mrs. F. O. Richardson, Capt.
I. I. Bagnal, and DR.. ". N.
The witnesses for the
defendant were Mrs. G. E. Wilkins,
Miss Nina Riser, Miss Jessie Mclean,
Mr.. W. E. Selby and Mr.. Louis Ap-
pelt. The jury was composed OF SIN
married and six single ladies, Mes
danes A. Levi, F. c. Thomas, W. c.
Davis, J. W. Rigby H H. Bradham,
A. |. Barron. Misses Celeste Hughson,
Louise Scarborough, Julia Sprott,
Bertha Briggs, Margle Applet, Hattie
Baonal.
The officers of the court were: Maj.
Abe Levi presiding judge, 4: |: Bar
ron clerk, J. L. Wells sheriff, &. II
Bradham court crier, Wylie Hodge,
George W. Williams, 7. G.
Howle and Jake Iseman bailiffs. Mr..
Lewis Wood the circuit court stenog'
rapher reported the case. The after
neys for the plaintiff were W. G: DAVIS
and S. Oliver O'Bryan, for the defence
Charlton DuRant and J. Mes, WOODS.
The suit was for $4,000 and the sew
eral witnesses gave testimony which
brought forth salvos OF applause,
Sheriff Wells was entirely unable,
even with the often repeated remon-
strances bv His Hcnor,to keep the audi
ence from disturbing the proceedings.
The jury also gave the court great
deal of trouble. He was constantly
threatening them with a rule Tor con-
tempt, some of them would be looking
over fashion magazine, others would
be inspecting their lovely faces in their
hand mirrors which they had in their
possession, others would be whisper
ing, especially if the witness testlfylng
was woman: no doubt these whispers
were adverse criticisms OF the witness
hat or dress, some would be eating
candy, and horrors, there were some
who were chewing gum. Miss Ger
trude Bradham, the plaintiff was the
first to take the stand, and she made
out by her testimony, powerfully
strong, case of the chicken flying the
coop's and it's consequent dlsappolnt-
ment. Miss Bradham's manner was a
splendid piece of acting, and her re,
plies to the questions in the direct and
cross examination were so realistic
that if the case had been the real
thing" the effect upon jury OF men
would have been. conclusive. All the
wav through her testimony she, told a
story of her happiness when the
plaintiff honored her with his proposal,
how happy she was through his court
ship, and then recounved ln dramatic
manner how the blow Of dlsappolut-
ment fell upon her when his attentions
became chilled and finally froze. A
bio laundry basket full OF letters was
put in evidence as but some OF the love
nissives the defendant sent her, she
exhibited a soiitaire-her engagement
ring that she had not yet returned
hoping he would yet return to redeem
his promise. She recounted her trou.
bles, her sleepless nights, loss OF appe..
tite, told of her aching heart, all OF
this amid sobs, and at times hysterlcal
laughs, and then in response to ques-
ton from the defendants lawyer, she
replied IN d most thrilling and emo
tional manner which electrified the
audience. Il would see him in Sum.
merton first At another period
when counsel for defendant undertook
TO entrap her by reading letter TEEN.
ing with love, that he had gathered
from among the mass OF letters In the
laundry basket, which did not bear the
Signature of defendant but that Of
another, she quietly foiled counsel by
telling him she was not responsible toE
What was contained in the letter
he was reading, in a manner which
would have created the impression
upon the jury that counsel had sur
reptitiously slipped that letter into the
basket to discredit her, but it didn'1
go.
The plaintiffs testimony was sns
tanned bv her father and brother, bott
proving his attentions, and their dis
appointment at the outcome because Q.
the defendants prominence, and hi:
future prospects of being a Judge.
MIR. J. II. Lesesne. the defendant
after the plaintiffs side rested, tool
the stand. His appearance on the
rostrum brought forth applause. h
had that now famous van dyke,
boutoniere in the lapel of his coat,
flashing red four-in-hand tie. and II
one hand natty walking cane, in the
other, cigar. He had the appearance
of well groomed man OF the world
whose cares were sitting upon hin
lightly. His testimony was a case o
not being able to resist the plaintiff
winning wavs. He told of how he fel
= victim to the spell the fair plaintiff
but upon him, described the situation
how the moon was beaming and th'
stars we're winking their insistanc'
that he should pop the question, hoy
the katy-dids in the trees chlrped the!
derision at him when he would hesl
tate. the flowers in the yard beneath
him would sigh in impatience, and tn
eyes OF the plaintiff would turn upol
him in what he construed an appeal t
not prolong the physiological moment
HE whole being was thrilled will
the surroundings, it was simply beyon
his power of resistance to pop, and po
he did, but when he discovered HI
true position he found himself a mino
string in the plaintiffs harp; tner
were others, mum erous others that sh
was playing to vile away her time
He received letter from her Will
she was off on visit, and after klssln
the envelope as was his custom, he wa
almost stricken to the ground when7h
opened the letter and found most er
dearing epistle intended for anothe
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