180 INDIANA HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS 



interpositions of that same good Providence, in their 

 favor. 



A stranger traveling through the village, while upon a 

 smooth road, and without any apparent cause, broke one 

 of the axeltrees of his carriage, which necessarily de- 

 tained him through the day. In fact it was with the 

 utmost difficulty that he could prevail upon a mechanic 

 to do his work, so anxious were all classes to witness the 

 "great trial." Finding so much excitement prevailing, 

 his curiosity was also excited, and, by the kindness of 

 the landlord he was introduced to a gentleman of the 

 bar, who promised to accommodate him with a seat with- 

 in the bar — a respect often tendered to strangers in the 

 West. 



During the progress of the case it was discovered that 

 no point had been neglected by the complainant; among 

 other things he denied the right of Indiana, as heir to 

 any part of the estate of Abel Atwater, and openly de- 

 nounced her as a bastard. Here the coils of the serpent 

 thickened. Scott flew to his wife for the "marriage cer- 

 tificate." Records of marriage at that time were not kept 

 as they now are. Mrs. Scott knew the time and place 

 they were married well. A difficulty had arisen with her 

 step mother in regard to the wedding, and they went to 

 the house of the Rev. Mr. Ives in the next town, and there 

 in presence of his wife, and some twenty slaves, were 

 married. Ives and his wife were both dead, long since. 

 Old Dinah, one of these same slaves, then living with 

 them, and some dozen more remembered the time well. 

 But, though one would as soon doubt his own existence 

 as doubt the world of Old Dinah, she was a negro — a 

 slave — and her testimony in a Court of Justice was not 

 evidence. Mrs. Scott also knew that a marriage certi- 

 ficate was given; that Mr. Atwater put it in his pocket- 

 book — the same pocket book that he took with him — and 

 which was undoubtedly with him on the field of battle. 

 With a still heavier heart than before, he returned to the 

 Court. Just then his council had been called on for rebut- 



