Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-23

states supreme court, designated CIR
cult Judge 1'rltchard to sit for Judge
Edmund Waddil, Jr.
HE:COMMr:NDs SETTLEMENT
WITHOUT LITIGATION
II cannot allow the prenuptial con-
tract TO stand" announced Judge
pr;charh. after both sides had rested.
'Thcae cases. in m: opinion should
preferably hr settled out of court be-
tween the parties a; Interest and I
would recommend that this I've done in
this ease. instead Of allowing the
estate 10 he frittered away in litira-
ton. The contract. however. cannot
be upheld. ! shall look further into
the authorities. and. unless am con-
strained 10 change my present opinion.
an order VIII be entered accordingly
on Monday morntnr'
Tho young widow. who had hcen
Faithfully attended Ivy her mother
throughout the trying week. arose
from her seat near counsel and re-
Tired 70 window In the rear of the
courtroom, where she bowed her head
and wept. The trial had caused her
TO bare personal experiences, which had
been trying in the extreme. Victory
was on her side. but she was overcome
by her feelings. In few minutes she
recovered sufficiently to receive the
CONGRATULATIONS OF friends.
Judge Pritchard spoke in a low tone
which was barely audible in the rear
Of the courtroom. The ''mysterious
woman" who had followed with n high
degree OF interest every turn of the
proceedings for the entire week came
forward 10 the clerks desk and VERT
fed the verdict. Then she slipped out
of the courtroom and disappeared.
Beyond the fact that to this woman
Gooch gave many valuable presents
during the few months that preceded
his marriage. nothing was known about
her. She had nothing to gain By n de-
cision either way nothing further
than the qualification OF a deep per
sonal interest, the origin OF which she
alone knew.
| For Mrs. Gooch the case was handled
by Attorney F. r. Ruford. OF Lawrence
VILE; c. T. Baskerville. OF Boydton, and
s e. williams, OF Lexington. y. c. .At-
torney 5. $. +. Patteson, OF Richmond,
| was counsel for the Suhors and the
Old Dominion Trust Company.
Counsel for Mrs. Gooch said that IT
was probable that Judge Pritchard's
advice about settling the case ont OF
court would he acted upon. In the
event that no such adjustment Is made
the case may he taken to the United
! States Circuit Court of Appeals
INTERESTING STORY
is TOLD TO COTRT
| The story that was unfolded 70 the
court by distinguished counsel was a
remarkable one. w. Fl. Gooch. Of
Clarksville, wealthy. past fifty and
| in love with Miss Margaret Radcliffe.
of Lexington. \. c., young and pretty
a teacher Of music at the Boiling
Springs High School. After a court
ship. in which there figured rumors
of the mans entanglements with other
women. leading to n breaking off the
engagement and the return of valuable
/ presents. Miss Radcliffe and Gooch
were married in Lexington, y. c., OIL
| October IL, 1915. Tho two lert for the
West. where honeymoon OF several
| weeks was spent. On the way back.
while the train was speeding through
Texas. Gooch left his bride for n few
minutes to go into another car. and
! there shot himself through the head.
| He was dead when the conductor
reached him. That was on November
14--the brides twenty-fourth birthday.
No motive for the suicide was over
| established.
| When the shock had spent Itself and
| the young widow had donned mourning.
there followed In the course Of time
the business OF settling up the estate.
1t was then, according TO counsel for
Mrs. Gooch. that she discovered that
her late husband had misled her into
signing prennptial agreement. which
deprived her of herr widows dover
| Continued on Second Page,)