1859
Shaw’s dream of funding a Garden was threatened by a lawsuit for breach of promise.

Sepia slide of Effie Carstang portrait from New York Illustrated News. April 5, 1860. Page 328 1 duplicate 1 duplicate from slightly farther away.

Sketch of the Breach of Promise Case, Carstang vs. Shaw, at St. Louis, Missouri, 1860. Published in Harper's Weekly, March 31, 1860.

In 1858, Shaw made headlines when Effie Carstang sued him for breach of promise. The young St. Louis woman claimed that Shaw had promised to marry her and then backed out. The trial made headlines not only in St. Louis but also around the country. Initially, Carstang won a judgment of $100,000, but Shaw later won on appeal. It was fortunate for the Garden that he did because the amount of the award was so that had Shaw lost he might not have had enough money left over to start his Garden.