"A Bad Case of Brown" National Police Gazette (1878)

Transcribed from page 6 of the May 21, 1878 issue of the National Police Gazette.

A BAD CASE OF BROWN

Shocking Effect of Too Much Moody and Sankey on Female Chastity

PHILADELPHIA, Pa., May 11.—An interesting breach of promise case has just been concluded in Judge Mitchell's Court. The plaintiff was Elizabeth MeKeown, a tall, slender woman, showing by her luminous eye and pallid cheek that some debilitating agency has been silently at work in breaking down her health. Her suit was to recover damages for breach of promise of marriage, the defendant being Thomas Brown, a man who has arrived at the meridian of life.

Her story, as stated under oath, was that she came to this country about twelve years ago, and after supporting herself in various families with her needle, she obtained a position in a clothing store. While engaged in this establishment, in 1873, she became acquainted, with Mr. Brown, who was employed by the firm. The acquaintance ripened very quickly into intimacy, and night after night found him in her company.

She said she thought he was an awful good man, he presented her with two Bibles and two Moody and Sankey Hymn-books, and every night he read a chapter from the Bible, and their voices mingled in the "sweet by and by."

At last the critical moment came, and he asked her to be his wife. To make his avowal more binding, he took the little gilt-edged Bible which he had given her, and swore that she should be his wife, and then, to clinch it, got her to make oath that she would be true to him. This was as good as being married, he said, and only wanted the form to make them one. The old, old story followed, with multiplied sins. After he had claimed her as his own he began his letters with "My dear wife," and made use of expressions which assured her he intended to make her Mrs. Brown.

In June, 1874, it was apparent that she was in a fair way of becoming a mother. Then it was she said he forced her to Camden, and there the operation was performed that underminded her health. When closely questioned by the opposing counsel the witness, with many signs of emotion, exclaimed: "If God was to stand here: now, He would say that what I have said is true! Look at me!" she exclaimed. "My face was not pale, and my eye was not sunken then. I am ruined in health; I am ruined every way; and do you think I would come into this Court to be made out a common prostitute?"

The defense to these general charges was two-fold: First, that Miss McKeown was aware that Brown was married; and second, that during this period his mental condition was such that he was not accountable for his acts, and that she, through the blandishments of the sex, led him where she would. The servant-girl in the family of the defendant testified that she frequently saw the plaintiff in the vicinity of his house, and on one occasion she entered the dwelling, fell upon her knees, and begged of Mrs. Brown that she would ask her husband's pardon for what she had done. This was subsequently denied, however, by the plaintiff. There was other evidence to show that the plaintiff must have known Brown was married before their introduction, from conversations regarding him in their workroom.

Mrs. Brown was called to the stand in behalf of her husband, but, although he was in court, he was not placed on the stand to deny any part of the plaintiff's statement. This fact counsel for Miss McKeown dwelt upon with great force. The charge of the Court was brief, the point dwelt upon most being that the jury should satisfy itself that the plaintiff was not aware of Brown being married at the time of the engagement. After being out a brief period the jury returned with a verdict of $1,250 in favor of the plaintiff.