or NOBODY, is the motto of every tyrant-Hence the embassy of Logan.-Look to it, people of America, and, by times, take heed! "MARCUS." WOLF IN SHEEP's CLOTHING! ANN BURNS, VS. INTERESTING LAW CASE, Action of damages for breach of promise of marriage, before JOHN BAKER. the Honourable Judge Kent, at the sittings held after July term, Friday, August 17, 1798. Counsel for the Plaintiff. Mr. HARRISON, Mr. MONRoe. For the Defendant. Mr. EVERSTON, Mr. LEE. Mr. Monroe, on behalf of the Plaintiff, opened the cause. He stated to the court and jury, that his client was a young woman of respectable family and connections; that she had been addressed by the defendant, in the character of a lover, who sought a connection with her on honourable terms; that he continued his attention to her, till he had effected her seduction, and when he had discovered she was pregnant, had abandoned her; that the defendant was a man who belonged to the society of the Methodists, and had introduced himself to his client as a preacher of the gospel, and under the cloak of religion effected her ruin. He trusted the jury would mark such conduct by heavy da mages. Thomas Thomas Ivers was the first witness called for the plaintiff. He swore that he knew the parties; that the defendant was a preacher in the methodist church, and as such, became acquainted with the plaintiff, who was his grand daughter; that he knew him frequently to wait upon her home, and shew the usual behaviour and attentions of a young man who was courting; that he, as well as her connections, had a high opinion of his religion,, for he was very much accustomed to pray in the family, and to sing psalms, and it was considered by him as well as her friends, as a match. Roderick M Cloud the next witnesss, was called to prove the defendant's hand writing-which having done, the following letter was produced and read in evidence. [It seems to have been written in answer to one, in which the plaintiff had informed him of being out of health.] As the correction of it would be something of a task, we give the letter of the preacher verbatim et literatim, preserving even the spelling; it was addressed to Mr. Nancy Birn, Woodbridg. DEAR MADAM, Ihad the plesure this morning to Read a few lines from you my Dearest friend in which I had the Disagreeable News of your illness of body with gratitude I inform you that I am well in body and mind thanks be to GOD for these inestimable blessings it was with pleasure that I Received your letter but the news of your indisposion pierces my breast with Disagreeable & Keen Sensations of Sorrow but I flatter myself that it ariseth from the feteage of your Journey and that you will shortly Recover through Divine mersy and be restored to your helth and to my sight but in this I must Say Not my will but the will of god be Done. I have not yet gone the small Journey that I expected and as Sercumstanies now is I dont think I shall Mr,,asbury has arrived here and wishes me to with him to wilborough Conference I have not consented however the time approaches that I must leave you with all that I ingoy beneath the sun and enter into an unkind World to preach tthe gospell of a gloryous Redeemer or ellse fare well to hapynes forever it is vaine for us to murmur or repine at Divine providence let us gladly Do, and Sffur the Will of god oure time is short and is Wasting away eternaty is Rolling on a few more Rolling suns & and meeting and parting Will be no more O let it be our anktious Care to se cure an interest in the blood of Jesus that we may meet where parting Shall be nomore forever thare sickness and sorrow shall be done away. O then, let our affection be Weaned from things of earth & let our harts be in heaven Dear Nancy, let me intreat you to lay asid those glomy thoughts Concerning the ingoyments of this present world and seek those ingoyments which from a bove by giving Christ your hart but must I seas to wright my time and paper fales and Now to the arms of a bleeding saviour I Commend your prisious soul and body hoping that he Who a lone can Do the Work Will bring you into soundness of helth of body mind and soul & gide & comfort you through this short life and bring us at last to ingoy him and each other in a better world and now may the spirit of peace and love be with you my Dear let our lov Constant and though partid in body Wee shall be present in mind and hart thin thin mountains shall rise and oceans Roll To sever us en Vain I am your affectionate friend New York July the 28 1798 JOHN BAKER Ebenezer Doughty was next called-He swore that the defendant told him about a twelvemonth ago, at which time, as it afterwards appeared, the plaintiff was pregnant, that if a certain something turned up, he should be married very shortlyotherwise not in two or three years; and that he was acquainted with the circumstance of the defendant's visiting her, and being attentive to her and to her only. William Vallead swore, that he saw the defendant frequently visiting the plaintiff, and attending particularly to her; that he asked him if he intended to marry, and he said he did not know; on which the witness advised him to discontinue his visits, to which, however, he paid no regard, but went to see her as usual. At length it appeared the plaintiff was pregnant, and charged it upon the defendant--he did not pretend to deny it, but said however, on being asked if he would marry her, le did not know how it might be, but he could not think of such a thing then, and begged the matter might rest there till he should come back from the country, where he was going to preach the gospel. Margaret Morgan was next called as the last witness, she said that she was present when the defendant was sent for and told the plaintiff's situation, and charged with his baseness to her, and reproached by her that he had seduced her under a promise of marriage. He admitted he was the father of the child, and as to the rest he replied, that the best and godliest of men had been overcome; that Adam, Adam, and David, and Solomon, had also fallenbut that this was all owing, however, to the warmth of her own passions; and in fine, that if he had promised her marriage, she could not prove it, nor could she recover any damages if she did, for he was not worth any thing. Here the plaintiffs counsel rested the cause, leaving it to the jury to presume whether a promise of marriage was not so irresistable as to entitle them to a verdict. The counsel for the preacher opened the defence by stating that they should depend much on the failure of the plaintiff's proof; but if the jury should be of a different opinion, they should shew, in mitigation of damages, some very improper conduct on the part of the plaintiff, such as no virtuous woman could be guilty of; that they would next shew that the defendant was worth nothing, and of course it could not be expected that a verdict for large damages would be given, even if they should think the plaintiff had made out her cause. Roderick M'Cloud was then called again, as a witness for the defendant.-He was asked by Mr. Lee if he was not knowing to the plaintiff having at some time granted improper liberties to a certain person? He answered very readily, that he was knowing to her granting very improper freedoms indeed, and such as he was persuaded no virtuous woman in such a situation would.-Here he was interrupted by Mr. Monroe, who told him that cuch was very exceptionable testimony, and that he must name precisely what these freedoms were, that the jury might judge of them-He was then asked who the person was who had received such improper favours? He boggled a little, and at length said he could not answer that question, as it affected too nearly his own character, but it being urged |