Year: 1874

Last week young German girl named
Amelia Donnerschlag, having truthful
confidence in the laws of her country, es
pecially as expoueded by Banyon, went
before that justice and began suit for
$500 against August Behrens for breach
of promise. She would have sued for
more. but $500 is the limit of jurisdiction
of justice and that is the reason why
she stopped at that figure, not but what
she esteemed her lover worth much
higher sum. A warrant was issued, and
the cause came up yesterday. All the
parties were in attendance.


The complainant stated that she had
known the defendant 10 Germany, and
had become engaged to him there. He
had emigratcd to this country in order to
earn home, aud she had followed him
in the course Of year. Soon after her
arrival, finding him in good Circumstances,
she pressed him to fulfill his promise but
he refused to do so Hence the suit.


The justice asked the young man if he
had anything to say in his behalf, and he
stated he had


Mr.. Behrens-As the young lady says,
your Honor | was engaged to her in Ger
many, where she was living with her
father came to Chicago and boarded
at the house of her sister and mother who
were living on Division street, and | liv-
ed with them for nine months. During
that nine months had many opportuni
ties to watch the ways of this young lady's
mother, aud | was not pleased with them
at all.


At this point the brow of the justice
uubent. His manner which had been
particularly gloomy, began to change, and
be looked with somethin6 of friendliness
upon Mr. Behrens.


Excuse me- said the judge, 81 should
like to ask you few questions Did
this woman say that she intended to live
with you after you were married p? Did
she iuform you that she was ready to take
all the care Of the household off your
hands? Did she ask you to let her save
up your money? Did she say that she
could take care Of it great deal better
than you could 2"


"Yes," said Mr. Behrens.


"Go on" said the Judge.


Mr.. Behrens-W hen this young lady
came over here from Germany she did
ask me to marry her, and | was ready to
and | told her | was But she said that
her mother must live with US and keep
house for US | told her had watched
the ways Of her mother, and that | was
not pleased with them that | loved her
very deeply and was ready to marry her,
but did not wish to marry her mother
also, who was woman Of Iordly and un
pleasant habits, and insisted upon feed
ing me too much on cabbage, a vegetable
[ have always had dislike for. | am
ready, your Honor, to marry her now,
providing that she will leave her mother
out in the cold but | will not marry the
old woman. have made up my mind to
that, no matter what comes.


The Justice-Now, let met ask you,
my young friend, which would you rather
do pay down $500 or marry the young
lady and have her mother live with you


Mr.. Behrens (frmly)-l will pay the
5000.


The Justice-AlIow me to shake hands
with you. [ envy your frmness. There
was a period in the life Of this Court,
when it was placed in circumstances some
what similar TO your own. If it had had
the moral courage you possess, it would
have saved about twenty years Of misery
and unhappiness. The alternative was
presented to this Court whether it would
marry young lady and her mother, or
whether it would pay Sl25 in gold. The
Court was poor at the time. 1t was earn
ing an unsatisfactory living at the restaur-
ant businss 1t yielded 1t took the
young woman and the mother in law and
kept the $l25. For quarter Of cen
tury this court regretted its hasty action.
1t is glad to meet man who cherisheS
happiness more than he does money. The
order of the Court is that the defendant
stands discharged, and the complainant,
who has been trying to bring man into
slavery to a mother.in law he fined $40
and COSTS Chicago Tribune.