Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1907-02-14

The Phillips Crawford breach 0
promise suit came to close at nool
Saturday when the jury returned
verdict In favor of the plaintiff an,
assessed the amount Of her recover
at five thousand dollars.
The jury was out just eight minutes
and took but two ballots; one to de
termine whether the verdict sboul
be 10 favor OF the plaintiff or the de
fendant, the other to assess th
amount OF recovery, which they place
at the maximum.
The evidence was all Ia by 9:3
O'Clock Friday night and court thel
adiurned until Saturday morning T.
hear the arguments. Attorney e. G
Anderson of Centralia, for the plain
tiff, opened, and was followed by W
w. Fry for the defence; each speake
being allowed twenty-five minutes
In turn, Mr.. Fry was followed by R
D Rodgers for the defence, and P. II
Cullen, for the plaintiff made th'
closing speech; each Of the latter tax
ing fifty minutes.
1t is understood that the case will
not be appealed.
The facts of the case, in brief, are al
follows: Miss Sadie Z. Phillips, daugh
ter of Mr. and Mrs Phillips Of Sailing
township, the plaintiff, decidedly
handsome young brunette Of twenty
summers, alleges that the defendant
paid her marked attentions from the
Friday following Christmas. 1905, when
be met her at a neighborhood party,u
til August 20, 1905, calling upon her
at her home nearly every Sunday even
ing, and two or three times during the
week, On the eventful August twenty
tieth he proposed marriage and was
accepted.
Plaintiff further states that on the
twenty-eighth Of August, the defendan
having called upon and been with
her every afternoon and evening from
the date Of the proposal until that
time, young Crowford informed her
that owing to parental objection to
the union he would have to break the
engagement. Miss Phillips took
the stand Friday afternoon and dur.
ing the examination broke down and
wept. The spirit Of levity which not
lnfrequently prevails among the
spectators, In a breach Of promise
suit was, after the young lady had
taken the stand, remarkably con-
spicuous by its absence.
The defendant, T. L. Crawford, in
troduced evidence to prove that dur
ing the time he kept company with
Miss Phillips he went with other
young ladies Of the neighborhood, and
In short offered general denial to the
claims Of plaintiff. Young Crawford
alleged that the reason be and Miss
Phillips disagreed and quit keeping
company was because Of a misunder-
standing of an engagement he had
made to take her to the Centralia fair
on August twenty-ninth. Crawford
claimed that on account of business
matters, which came up In the mean
time he was unable to keep the en-
gagement, and upon explaining the
situation to Miss Phillips she became
angry and told him II he could not
keep his date she would not have any
thing to do with him, whereupon, de.
fendant said''We had justa as we'll play
quits" Defendant futher claimed
that at this time, the plaintiff, offered
him his ring, which had been given
her as a present and not as q token Of
engagement, which he refused.
The hearing was attended by a large
crowd, Many from western Audrain
the home Of both principals, being In
attendance. Mr. Crawford, who was re-
Gently married, was attended at the
hearing by bis young wife, formerly
Miss Bessie Littrell.
The plaintiff was represented by
attorneys, P. II. Cullen of this city
and &. @. Anderson, of Centralia, and
the attorneys for the defense were FRI
and Rodgers, Of this city, and Thos
Carter Of Sturgeon.
The case was tried before the fol
lowing jury. G. o. Watson, Chas
Scott, G, T. Fisher, Jno. Aauger, ]
R. Shook, S. M. Gilbert, Harrl
Householder, Jas. Metcalf, Gus
billiard, J. NJ. Sipple, James Squlre'
and ]. l. Adcock.