The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1907-04-11
MOCK TRIAL
Large Audience Creets Pfesehta.
ton Of Breach Of Promise Suit
at Opera House.
FOR BENEFIT OF EPwORTR LEAGUE

The Mock Trial" a breach Of promise
suit, hich was presented at the Opera
House Tuesday night, under the dlrec-
ton of Col. X. V. Newton. for the benefit
of the Epworth League of the Methodist
church here, bad been IA topic of interest
for several weeks. Ii was greeted with
packed house aud while many local
hits were enjoyed, IL was on the whole
somewhat of Il disappointment. This
may have been because 1t had been so
much Landed that the audience expected
too much, or perhaps sufficient time was
not allowed for preparation, rehearsals,
etc
Grouped on the stage were the Judge,
Hon. j. L. Goodrich; court clerk, y. T..
Eastburn; counsel Tor the defendant,
Hon. g. H. Swift; for complainant, Col.
Il. Y. Newton; defendant, f. A. Solan;
complainant. Miss Susie C.. Whitehouse;
court crier, j. G Chichester; court officer,
J. H. Robinson; witnesses, Miss Eleanor
McCracken, Miss Lillian Hyde, {. W.
Jones, DR. j. +. Stiff and W. W. Butt
ner.
The Jury represented the most distin-
guished men of the country and was
decidedly unique.
John c. Melville, who is the chairman
of the Republican party Of this city, was
Judge Alton b. Parker, who WAS the
last Democratic candidate for the Presi-
dency.
Major NJ. NJ. Jfffreys, a Republican,
Supt Of the National Cemetery. was
Grover Cleveland and could not tell
whether he wanted To 20 fishing or duck
shooting
H. +. Crismond as Pierpont Morgan,
answered no To every question pre-
pounded, except that of Edo you think 1t
proper 10 take drink. when he answer
ed no, but quickly corrected himself to
yes. This created much amusement.
j. Fred Brown IA David Il. Hill with
! his bald head conspicuous, was a Dem
ocrat' and it WAS suggested that Heaven
was "A place for him, because there would
be no parting there
Hugh d. Scott as Admiral George
| Dewey, showed some confusion when he
was asked il his wife knew he was out.
Maurice Hirsh a. Theo. Roosevelt WAS
referred to rs authority for spelling
". Thomas Jones was John l.. Sulli-
van, his frail figure being unlike the stall
wart priz' fighter.
Everett Compton az Chauncey NJ.
Depew. j. W. Masters ~ W. A. Jones
w. A. Bell as John d. Rockefeller. X. +.
Bozel AZ Thomas $. Martin, W. Il. Hur-
kamp AZ Claude A. Swanson, completed
the panel.
Miss Susie C. Whitehouse, a widow OF
uncertain age. who had laid 10 rest sew
eral husbands, was looking for another
and claimed damage from +. A. Solan
for breach of promise, while Solan loved
her niece, charming young woman,
who was personated by Miss McCracken.
The Jury awarded 81 4G damage in the
case, of which 81 was for the jury
aud forty-six cents for plaintiff and
counsel
A local hit that caught the audience
WIS made by W. W. ButEner. who re-
ported the removal OF the all To the
late proposed site OF the public building
near the park a. a solac- To the wound
ed feelings of Col. h. D. Cole. who was an
ardent advocate OF that site. Another
good one was the reference To stopping
sale OF cigars aud soda water on Sunday
W. II. Hurkamp was foreman OF the
jury. They retired for consideration
sent of for a corkscrew, which was fur
nished with great slaority by counsel ior
plaintiff, who was followed in the jury
room By defendants counsel and al re-
turned later wiping their mouths with q
satisfied smile. indicating "a drink. u
The addition to the treasury OF the
League is highly gratifying