Terre Haute Weekly Gazette, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 22 May 1879 — Page 1

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VOL.ll—NO.27.

READEVS. MURRAY.

Torre Haute's Great Divach of Promise Case.

A Copy of (lie Complaint Filed by Jennie Badger Keade,

And Also an Interrogatory Addressed to the Defendant:

To all of Vhich the Defendant Makes Answer in Court To-day.

A Document Which Carries the War Over Into Africa,

And Goes For Jennie's Character in Frightful fashion:

A List of Twenty-Five Incisive Interrogatories,

Which, if Prcven, Would Destroy the Reputation of a Graven Image.

Her Alleged Paramour*, From the Hudson to the Mississippi, Will Lift up Their

Voices and Howl,

And There Will be Weeping and Wailing and Gnashing of Teeth Among Them.

Fr«m Tuesday's Daily.

A few weeks ago Terre Haute was startled by the information that one Jennie Badger Reade had brought a breach of promise case against Thomas P. Murray of this city. The plaintiff put in an appearance here and took up her quar ter6 at the National House. At the tim of her arrival the defendant was sick at the Arkansas Hot Springs trom which place he was able to return home only a short time ago. Several weeks ago a representative of the GAZETTE interviewed Miss Reade and obtained, from her a statement of her side of the case It is no: necessary to repeat that story which i6 fresh in the minds of our readers' further than to say that she claimed that' she met the defendant at Eaton Rapids Michigan, in August, 1S74, and became engaged to be married to him that a correspondence ensued, a day for the marriage was fixed upon, and that she prepared a wedding trousseau, when suddenly the correspondence ceased without explanation from the defendant that she was respectably and even highly connected, and that feeling incensed at defendant's conduct she brought suit.

On the contrary the defendant asserts that he met her during only two weeks at a watering place hotel that no en* gagement was made or thought of by him that the correspondence which ensued was at her request, and that it was discontinued when he heard that she was married.

But eur prologue' is too long. The play follows in the plaintiff's complaint which we publish herewith and particularly in the answer and interrogatories filed in court to-day by the defendant's attorneys. It is all interesting and the answer, ceasing to answer, begins one of the most teriffic attacks on the character of the plaintiff whichwas ever filed in court. THE PLAINTIFF'S COMPLAINT. STATE CF INDIANA, 1 In the Circuit

VIGO COUNTY. Court, April JENNIE B. READE Term, 1S79. vs. Complaint in THOS. P. MURRAY. Civil Action,

The said plaintiff complains of said defendant, and say s, that on the dav

of August, 1874, the said plaintiff and defendant were, asthey now are, each sole and unmarried that each was of full age and capable of entering into a marriage contract. That on the said day the plaintiff and defendant entered into a mutual agreement to marry, each the other the defendant agreeing and contracting to tr?arry the plaintiff within three weeks from said date, in consideration of ttfte plaintiff's agreement and promise, then made, to marry him, the said defendant, at said time. That thereupon, and in pursuance of said contract and agreement, the 6aid plaintiff, in preparation for said marriage, in the purchase and preparation of suitable and necessary apparel, expended the sum of $500. That at time agreed upon, plaintiff was ready to perform the said contract upon her part but defendant broke the said contract upon his part, failing and refusing to consummate the same, and has ever 6incc failed and refused and still fails and refuses to perform the same though the plaintiff has been ready to perform the same. That by reason of the breach of said contract on defendant's part, plaintiff has been greatly injured in her feelings, affections and happiness and in her health and greatly humilated by reason of defendant's conduct towards her. That by reason of said facts plaintiff has been and is damaged in the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars which is due and unpaid. Wherefore plaintiff demands judgement for twenty-five thousand dollars and for all other proper relief.

And for further complaint herein against said defendant, plaintiff says, That on the day of August, 1874, 'the said plaintiff and defendant, both being sole and unmarried entered into a mutual agreement to marry, each the other. That said contract was by the terms of said agreement to be consummated by such marriage, within a reasonable time. That in performance of said contract the plaintiff has ever since held himself in readiness to perform said contract that she has 6ince said time at all times declined the attentions and suits of any and all others, that she has in preparation for surh marriage expended five hundred doiiars, that a reasonable time has long since elapsed, that the defendant refuses to perform his said contract, though requested by the plaintiff to perform the same. That by reason of defendant's conduct the plaintiff has been previously injured in her affections, in her peace and happiness and in her health as well as pecuniarily. That defendant at the time of entering into said contract was and still is possessed of property of the value of $75,000.

In consideration of all said promises she alleges she is damaged in the sum of twentv-five thousand dollars tor which she prays judgement and all other prop er relief.

M. C. HUNTER, JR I.N. PIERCE C. F. McNutt,

Attorneys for Plaintiff.

STATE OF INDIANA, VIGO COUNTY. JENNIE B. READE, vs. THOS. P. MURRAY.

1 In the Circuit Court, April term,

1S79.

Interrogatory.

The plaintiff moves the court for a rule against the defendant, requiring him to answer under oath the following, to-wit:

Interrogatory—Did you not in the month of July or August, 1874, at Eaton Rapids, in the state of Michigan, promise to marry the plaintiff. Jennie B. Reade, and was there not at that time a mutual agreement and promise of marriage made and entered into between you and the plaintiff" at 6aid time and place.

M. C. HUNTER,JR. I.N.PIERCE. C. F. MCNUTT.

Answer. No.

Attorneys.

T. P. MURRAY.

STATE OF. INDIANA, VIGO COUNTY.

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 15th day of May, 1879. Witness my hand and seal, at Terre Haute, Ind.

SANDFORD C. DAVIS, Notary Public.

Alt INTERROGATORY ADDRESSED TO THE, DEFENDANT. STATE OF INDIANA, 1 In the Circuit

VIGO COUNTY. Court, April JENNIE B. READE Term, 1879. vs. I THOS. P. MURRAY. Interrogatory.

The plaintiff moves the court for a rule against the defendant, requiring him to answer under oath the following interrogatory, to-wit:

Interrogatory.—Did you not, in the month of July or August, 1874, Eaton Rapids, in the State of Michigan, promise to marry the plaintiff, Jennie B. Reade and was there not, at that time, a mutual agreement and promise of marriage made and entered into between you and the plaintiff, at said time and place?

M. C. HUNTER, I. N. PIERCE, C. F. MCNUTT.

Attorneys for Plaintiff.l Answer.—No. T. P. MURRAY. STATE OF INDIANA,) -•'^^1.-"

COUNTY OF VIGO. Subscribed and sworn to' before me this 15th dav of May, 1879. Witness my hand and seal at Terre Haute, Ind.

SANDFORD C. DAVIS, Notary Public.

THE DEFENDANT'S ANSWER. STATE OF INDIANA,^ COUNTY OF Vtoo, I Vigo Cir. Court, JENNIE B. READS, vs. I April term, 1879. THOS. P. MURRAY,

Answer 1. The defendant for answer herein savs he denies each allegation in the complaint. 3. Defendant further answering says that at the time the promises in the complaint as claimed by the plaintiff, were made, the plaintiff had a subsisting contract valid and binding to marry another man and said last named contract remained in force and unbroken for two years after the agreements averred in the

complaint were made all of which facts were unknown to and concealed from him by plaintiff. 3. Defendant says that at the time of the making the several agreements as claimed by plaintiff in her complaint he and plaintiff were comparative strangers having known each other but three weeks and plaintiff, as an inducement for him to enter into said contract, falsely and fraudulently represented to him that she was a widow and that her husband had been dead for two years, all of which lie relied on and believed to be true when in truth she had been married and had deserted her husband in the state of New York, who was then and still is living and in the year of 1873 had obtained a divorce from her for deserting his bea and board, all of which was unknown to this defendant until the spring of 1876 when he for the first time learned of said tacts, whereupon he broke off all connections with plaintiff and has refused to have anything to do with her since, and these are the breaches complained of in plaintiff's complaint wherefore he prays judgment. ).. Defendant further answering'says, that before making the said several contracts as claimed by plaintiff and averred by her in her complaint he was wholly unacquainted with the plaintiff and her imu.ediate relations, and she then, as an inducement for him to enter into the same, falsely and fraudulently represented .that her brothers, of whom she had several, were al! of the highest respectability and social standing, of which facts he being ignorant, relied on as true. That since the commencement of this suit he has learned, for the first time, that one of her brothers is a notorious criminal, and has been several times convicted and served several terms of imprisonment in different state prisons, for infamous crimes, wherefore he is not bound by any of said alleged arguments, and prays judgment accordingly. 5th. Defendant, further answering, says that plaintiff was married in 1862, to one Edward K. Reade, a resident of the state of New York, and in the year 1873, before the making of the alleged promises, as averred in her complaint, the said Edward K, Reade obtained, in one of the courts of Chicago, Cook county, and state of Illinois, a divorce from plaintiff that neither the plaintiff r.or said Edward

K. Reade ever lived or resided in said county and state, and that said court had .10 jurisdiction to, grant the same, said divorce, having been obtained by one Goodrich, and known as a "Patent Divorce," and that this plaintiff had no knowledge, information or belief that she had been divorced until the latter part of 1S76, when she first learned of the existence of said "Patent Divorce," and that this defendant belieyed her said husband to be dead and wholly ignorant of said divorce, and that the plaintiff waa a "grass widow" until two years and over after July or August, 1874, and said agree ments were to have been performed as alleged by plaintiff, wherefore &c. 6th. Defendant say6 that he had never known or seen plaintiff but about two weeks before the time that she claims said agreements to marry her were made and that she was a modest and respectable appearing person and was so treated by her associates, that he had no knowledge of what had been her past life but supposed her to be a virtuous, modest, respectable woman and was ignorant of her real character until the commencement of this suit when he learned for the first time and charges it to be true that she has been guility of fornication, adultery, lewd, lascivious and unbecoming conduct, both before and after the time she claims this defendantt promised to marry her. That at the age of seventeen she was caught in the act of fornication and from that time up to the beginning of this suit she has been guilty of repeated acts fornication and adultery.

That during her marriage with Edward K. Reade she was guilty of repeated adulteries and made him many promises of reformation but never reformed. That he is a woman of bad repute for chastity is utterly destitute of principle, character or social standing, and is a "professional blackmailer" wherefore defendant prays judgement. 7th Defenbanpafurher says that in i874 hewa8in }health and visited a watering place called Eaton Rapids in Michigan. That while there he met for the first time in his life this plaintiif, Jennie B. Reade that she appeared and seemed to be a person of good character, social standing and was so treated by her associates at said watering place and although knowing things are not always what they seem he considered and believed her to really "be what she seemed" and treated her with uniform and kindness politeness and at her urgent solicitation corresponded with her some time after their separation, never supposing for a moment that her object was to lay the foundation to blackma:l and extort money from him, but in all his intercourse with her he treated her as a gentleman should any lady friend and acquaintance and never at any time promised or thought 01 promising to marry her but if from his conduct as above stated any promise of marriage can be inferred he says he is not bound to perform any of the agreements alleged by her for the reasons hereinafter stated. Defendant answers that the plaintiff shortly after they met repi esented to him that her relatives, of whom she had several brothers, occupied high social positions, were ministers, lawyers, doctors, Ac. That she was a widow and that her once beloved hue* band had passed to "that country from whose borne no traveler returns" and that their wedded life had been full of bliss and that they were "two souls with but a single thought, Two hearts that beat as one" until death had severed them. That she occupied a high social position and moved only in the best circles of the "cream de la cream." That she was then "heart role and fanciful," having no husband alive, nor any other lover and had no engagements with "any other man," when in fact she had at that time a husband living and had procured

a few months before a divorce from her on the ground that she had deserted his bed and board without any fault of his. That although the cause alleged in his complaint was "abandonment" the true cause of this separation which had taken place two vears before was that her said husband, Edward K. Reade, caught, her violating the Seventh Commandment. That he had captured a paramour of the said Jennie M. Badger Read getting over the back fence one night, who had been having sexual intercourse with her during his absence at Lodge and made a hasty retreat out the back way on the sudden and unexpected return of her husband. The husband failing to get in at the front door which she had carefully locked and hearing the said plaintiff's lover getting out the back way ran round the house and caught him just as he was getting over the fence as above stated. She then and there owned up and promised the like should not occur again and that she would be a true and virtuous wife, but this, with other adulteries she committed about that time, produced a coldness between her and Edward which resulted in the said divorce. That «he notwithstanding her repeated promises not to do it again committed many acts of adultery off and on during their married life.

Defendant avers that instead of her brothers being lawyers, doctors and men of God one of them who is now fiftysix years old has spent twenty-eight years of that time in different state prisors for various crimes and felonies. That in place of Plaintiff belonging to and moving in the first circles of good society he learned that she was immoral, lewd, lascivious and destitute of character, social standing, reputation and virtue. That she was guilty of the crime of fornication when only seventeen vears of age and has been guilty of said crime and of adultery at divers times and places from that time to the time of bringing of this suit. That she committed the said crime with a man in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on New Years eve last. He also learned and it is true that she had at the time of the making of the said contract mentioned in her complaint a valid and binding marriage contract with a much younger and more vigorous man than defendant and that said contract last mentioned remained in force until the middle of 1876 That she had at the same time a similar contract binding and valid with still another man who would have been much more satisfactory tc» her than defendant,and that said last contract remained in force until a short time before she started to Terre Haute in 1879 after this defendant. That she made the last mentioned "lover" '•settle up" before commencing this suit. That the plaintiff purposely and fraudulently, concealed and suppressed all of said facta from defendant who knew nothing of them but "bebelieved what plaintiff had told him in relation thereto. That upon learning said facts he immediately broke off all connection with her, and refused to perform said contracts as alleged by her because of said facts, and has never had anything to do with plaintiff 6ince, and don't care to agaiu, soon, and asks to be excused from marrying the said Jennie Maria Badger Reade and prays judgement accordingly. 8. Defendant further says that in the year 1876, the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of this government, the plaintiff, Jennie Maria Badger Reade, broke off the said marriage engagement between her and defendant and of .her own free will and accord rescinded said contracts alleged in her complaint, and demanded an exchange of letters or return of hers, and at the same time sent a portion of defendant's letters to him, retaining a part, since which time defendant has made no contracts or agreements to marry nor any other kind with plaintiff, and never will, wherefore he asks judgment. 9. Defendant further says that more than two years have elapsed since "the breaches of the contracts mentioned in plaintiff's complaints, and before the bringing of this action.

Mack, Beauchamp, Seldomridge, Davis & Davis. «.

lv 4

STATE OF INDI ANA, 1 FS COUNTY OF VIGO, I Vigo Cir. Court, JKNNIE B. READS, vs. I April term, 1879 THOS. P. MURRAY.

J, \*rj:

TERRE HAUTE, IND:..—THURSDAY, MAY 22, 1879. 91.50 PER YEAR.

a St "l'

SOME INTERROGATIVES ADDRESSED TO THE PLAINTIFF.

The plaintiff will at the time of replying hereto, answer the following inter* rogatories under oath: 1. State when you separated from your husband, Edward K. Reade, and state the cause of your separation. 2. State in what places you have been living since your separation from your husband, and the time you resided at each place, giving the dates as nearly as you can. 3. State if you knew that your husband had obtained a divorce from you be fore the year 1876, and how and when you procured the information. 4. State if you ever lived in Chicago, and if so, when, and how long. 5.

State if your husband, Ed ward Reado, ever lived in Chicago and if so when and how long. 6. State if vour brother—has1 not been convicted of crimes and served a term er terms in the states prison or prisons of some of the United States and if you know give the state or states and the offences ne committed. 7. Have you any letters of defendant bearing on the question in issue in this case? and if so please attach the originials or copies thereof to the answer to this interrogatory? 8. Have you any letters of your own writtea to defendant and by him returned to you? and if so please attach the orginial or copies to the answer to this interrogatory. 9. Did you not occupy room No. 11 at the Leonard House (or hotel) Ann Arbor Mich., on last New Years Eve and remain all night in said room with a man other than your husband?

10. Did you not from 1876 until the 1st day of February 1879 keep hung up in your room draped in morning the picture ot Dr. Lord who was killed in the "Custer Massacre?" 11. Did you not claim that you were engaged to one Dr. Lord who was killed in the Custer Massacre" and that said engagement had existed years before his death In 1876? Please sta when said engagement to marry was first entered into. 12. State ifyou did not claim to he engaged to one H. W. Dunton, of Adrian Mich., to marry him and if within the last three years you did not sue or threaten to sue him for a breach of said agreemeent and if you did not obtain money from him on that account? 13. Did you not while at Ann Arbor Mich. 1378 write a letter to Mrs. Lora Munger, of Manchester, Mich., in which you said "I intended to wax Dunton because he broke his engagement ,with me," alsoi"I meant you'to stand bv me when I bring my suit against him 14.

State, what articles you purchas

ed in getting ready to marry defendant, what you paid therefore and of whom did you purchase said articles? 15. Who furnished you the money with which you purchased your "bridal trousseau?" 16.

When and where did you purchase

said "bridral trousseau?" 17. Did you not receive a draft from one Wm. McCree, of Auburn, New York, since bringing this suit? If so, please state on what account he furnished the same, and if he is married or single? 18. State if your husband, Edward K. Reade, did not at one time while you were married, and living in New York State, come home unexp ctedly and find one Mr. Harris locked in your room with you, and if he did not run out the back way, and if your husband did not catch him on the back fence as he was endeavoring to scale the same, and did you not then confess your adulteries, and promise never to do so again? 19. How long have you known Wm. McCree, of Auburn, New York, and how much money has he furnished you since 1S73, and on what account was the same furnished? 20. Did you not visit the law office of one Ezra Norris, attorney-at-law, in Manchester, Michigan, one night during the summer of 1876, and remain there alone with him until after 10 o'clock with the blinds down, and without any light, and when you left did you not attempt on coming down the stairway, to conceal your face from two gentlemen on the stairs, with a large envel* ope supposed to be the property of said Ezra? 21. Did you not frequently during the year 1878, receive the said Ezra .Norris, attorney-at-law, at your sleeping apartments in Manchester, Michigan, and remain alone with him in the dark until jnidnight, and after? 22. Did you not on the night of April the nth, 1578, at the residence of Mrs. Lora Munger, in Manchester, Michigan, have the said Ezra Norris, attorney-at-law, in your sleeping apartments or bed room until 12 o'clock, without any light? 23. State if said Ezra Norris is married or single. 24. State if in 1877 two young ladies did not find you lying at full length on your back, on a lounge in the law office of Ezra Norris, attorney-at-law, in Manchester, Michigan, with no person present but Ezra? 25. Did you not one day in the summer of 1*876 or 1877, state "that you had 0.1 the night previous received a communication or "presentiment from God" directing you to go that day to Jackson, Michigan, and if you did not in accordance with said "presentiment of God" go to Jackson, where you met one Ezra Norris, and wasn't the "presentiment from God" merely a telegram from said Norris, requesting you "to meet him." it' ^St-ir^

ACK

H-iwilii

BEAUCHAMP, SELDOMRIDGE,

I DAVIS & DAVIS, Attorneys for defendant

A NARROW ESCAPE FROM THE •HALTER. miiii A BREAKING ROPE IS ALL THAT SAVIS

HIM.

Cincinnati, O., May 21.—Wm. Allen, alias Storey, of St. Louis, who eloped with Jennie Alchley, wife of a farmer of Batavia, Ohio, a few days since, was captured, in this city and placed in jail at Batavia. At ail early hour this morning a mob at the jail seized Storey, placed a rope around his neck, and hung him on the timbers of the bridge over the Little Miami river. After hanging a few min utes, the rope broke, Storey dropped in the river and succeeded in gaining the shore, when he was taken to the hotel, where he now lies in bed in a bruised conditio*.

SANITATION AT NEW ORLEANS. New Orleans, May 20.—The sanitary association has commenced the sanitary work of flushing the streets and gutters with river water. This will be done frequently for the entire length of the city, six miles. It is hoped by this means to abate the nuisance of foul gutters. The French market and that quarter of the city will be supplied with a powerful pump and engine. The association is constructing nuisance boats, has ordered a number of sweeping machines, and is laboring in the interest of sanitary reforms throughout the city

THEY GO OFF LIKE HOT CAKES. New York, May 20.—The rush of women and children to purchase ten-

dollar

refunding certificates at the postoffice, to-day, was greater than on any previous day. They stood in a line, three feet deep. The men's line was very nearly as long and much more orderly. There were frequent quarrels between the women, and a posse of policemen will be accessary.

FOREIGN.

1, ii

The Colliers Resume llt'ork, Giv* ing Two Weeks for an Ad*

%vv

vance.

The French Co mm mists to Receive Pardon, not An* stfty.

Capital Punishment in Switzer* land Left Optional Wilh'Each ,s v. Canton.

1 THE COLLIERS.

THE REICHSTAG.

Berlin, May 20.—The election of a successor to Herr Von Forkenbeck as president of the reichstag is fixed for Wednesday. The National Liberals resolved to abstain from voting. It is thought Herr Sedewtz, conservative, will be elected. It is stated that Herr Von Stanfferberg has announced his intention of resigning the vice presidency of the reichstag. «r ','N

THE LIBERALS BEATEN.

London, May 20.—A Berlin dispatch y. says: Herr Von Forkenbeck's resignation of the reichstag shows that the Liberals have been beaten on all hands by the Conservatives and Clericals. Bismarck's star is in the ascendant. It is rumored that a proclamation of clemency relative to the enforcement of the Falk law will be issued on the occasion of the emperor's golden wedding.

SILVER SALES.

Berlin, May. 20.—The German government has resolved to restrict the i!,5 sales of silver temporarily, and may us possibly suspend them altogether. It is believed that this indicates a dispositiou to increase the silver coinage.

THE ROWERS,

Newcastle on Tyne, May 21.—Hanlon was afloat twice yesterday. In the morn- 7 ing he rowed at speed of thirty strokes per minute and in the afternoon increas- 7 ed this rate to thirty-three and thirtyfour. He turned on both occasions when he had traversed about- half the course. Elliott made two long rows averrging 36 strokes to the minute in the &,,t,,, morning, and thirty-four in the afternoon. In the latter practice he used the long blade and »cull6, six and threei: 7"' fourths inches broad, for the first time.

Berlin, May 21.—The Emperor annulled the judgment of the court martial in the case of the ironclad Biosser Kurfurst, and appointed another under the presidency 01 Gen. Pollbielsky.

THE BERBY.

London, May 21.—The Derby betting "J" is now 200 to 1 against Uncas. Victor Chief is the present favorite at 11 to 2. There is 6 to 1 against Cadozar and Falmouth, and 7 to 1 against Charebert.

The radical members of the chamber of deputies Saturday will propose the following order of day: The chamber regretting that the governmet in the distribution of pardons has not made the application more politic and more conformable with the amnesty law and hoping that in the future the government will so apply as to avoid electoral conflicts and give the country the pacification it needs, passes to the order of the day,

TUB MSftr PRESIDENT.

Berlin, May 21.—Herr Seydewits* Conservative, has been elected president of the Reichstag in the place of Herr Forckenbeck, resigned.

TERMS Of THE TREATY#

Simla, May 21.—Among the stipulations of the treaty between India and Afghanistan Is the cession of Ali Kheye Peiwar Pass, Lundi, Khotal, Khyber Pass and Pisheen Valley berond Qpetta. The British will restore Candahar, and Jellalabad and ultimately Daksha.

THE WATER WORKS TRUSTEES. Special to the Indianapolis 8ent]iel. Lafayette, Ind., May 20.—The newly elected board of water works trustees made a written demand upon the Com- 7 mon Council last evening to "order" the amount for which they shall give bonds for the faithful discharge of their duties, etc. The Republican council, by a party 7 vote of seven to five, laid the petition upon the table. It now behooves the new board to proceed according to law,

FIRE.

Cleveland, May 21.—The foundry of the Globe Iron Works, of this city, was damaged by fire last evening. Loss from $5,000 to $7,000 insurance unknown. ROUND HOUSE AND EXGIHE8 BURNED

New London, May 21.—The round house, New London and Northern railroad and four engines was burned this morning loss is covered by $34,000. insurance.

BASE BALL.

Cleveland, May 20.—Clevelands, 2 Troys, 5. Chicago, May 20.—Chicago*, 9 Bostons, 5.

Cincinnati, May 20.—Cincinnati, 5} Providence, 11.

DEATH OF DR MEARS. Indianapolis, May 20.—Dr. G. Vf. Mears, one of the leading physicians in this city for 45 years, died to-day.

London, May 20.—At a meeting of .f miners representing thirty collieries, at Sf Durham, yesterday, it was decided to return to work, hut to give a fortnight's notice for 20 per cent. adven:e in wages so as to insure a full inquiry.