The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-11-20
A SOCIAL SENSATION.
A Prominent Pennsylvania Busi-
ness Man Involved.
THE PLAINTIFFS TESTIMONY
Given Ycsterday-The Defendant Re.
peatedly Called her Dear" but
was not so AfrectIonate when
Reminded of a Promise.

Mis- G4AAS0 4hpb1Ae "6SAAAASN AASAANs ~
Fry, General Superintendent of the Ro'
chester Tumbler Company, wascalled at
Beaver, Pa, this morning. The courtroom
was crowded to itsutmost capacityand the
liveliest interest was manifested in the
proceedings. Mrs. Hibbard, the plain
tiff, is the widow of DR.. Henry Hubbard,
a prominent physician, who died ten
years ago. She is tall, well built, deci-
dedly pretty, and about forty years of
age. She has a family of two sons, the
younger one Of whom is fourteen, and a
daughter, who is seventeen.
Mr.. Fry is a widower Of As, is the Gen
eral Superintendent Of the Rochester
Tumbler Works, President OF the First
National Bank Of Rochester, and has
large business interests in New York
and elsewhere. Ho is generally sup
posed to be a millionaire, and certainly
lives in princely style in the borough OF
Rochester. He has family OF five
children, two sons and three daughters,
the youngest OF the five being daugh-
ter l3 years Of age. His wife died eight
years ago.
Mrs. Hibbard alleges that Fry made
proposals Of marriage to her which she
finally accepted. He informed her that
his daughters, who are very proud, OBJ.
jected seriously to his paving attentions
10 her, and would raise fuss il the sub
iect Of marriage were broached to
them, but thatafter everything was once
quietly over and they found that he
chose to suit himself they would
would come around all right. She
says she did not relish this, but
when he proposed that they so to
Niagara Falls and there be quietly mar
ried, keeping the marriage a secret fora
while, she consented and they started.
They stopped for dinner ut the Hotel
Anderson in Pittsburgh. He excused
himself for u short time and soon re-
turned, saying that business complica-
tions had arisen which demanded his re-
naming at home, and that the wedding
would have to be postponed. They re.
turned home and Mr.. Fry soon ceased
his visits, for what reason she knows
not.
In April last she brought suit against
him, claiming 100000 damages for tri-
ding with her affections. Mrs. Hibbard
claims to have the testimony necessary
to substantiatc her assertions. Private
detectives have been at work on both
sides gathering up evidence rs to the
character OF the principals in the suit,
and over one. hundred witnesses will be
called. Mr.. Fry denies that he ever
thought OF marrying tho plaintiff, mucn
less proposed it.
A brilliant array OF Beaver county
legal talent is engaged on the case.
Judge Hico is presiding. Samuel b.
Wilson and James Cunningham repre-
sent the prosecution, while L. 3. Dough-
erty, j. NJ. Buchanan and j. r. Harrah
are looking after the interests Of the de-
fendant.
Shortly before the opening OF court,
Mr.. Fry came in looking confident,
and few minutes later the plaintiff,
accompanied by her niece, entered the
court room. She appeared serene and
smiled'pleasantly to acquNintances.
After the selection Of jury and some
preliminary sparring between the op-
posing counsel, Mrs. Hibbard took the
stand and began her story. She said
she had known Mr.. Fry for seventeen
years and attended the same church.
He began pay attention to her at pie
mic at Rockpoint three years after
the death Of his wife. lie sat
I..:l. In, and tbny rnud thn
same paper on the train. He asked
her habits and when he could call aud
and see her. She told him to call that
night, and when heicame into the parlor
he said ehc was the first lady he had
called OH since his wife's death, and he
felt queer. He also said he felt lonely,
and was doing three mems work
to keep his. mind occupied. He
asked her why she did not marry
and she replied she did not think much
OF love affairs. He then drew his chair
closer and seemed eager. He did not
make love to her that night, but talked
generally Of love affairs. When he left
he said she was the loveliest woman he
had ever known, and invited himself to
call the following Tuesday night. The
court here adjourned for dinner.
When the court reassembled in the
afternoon Mrs, Hubbard continued her
testimony. She said: "The next time
the defendant called he talked about
the weather. He was feeling badly and
was not happy because he was 80 lonely
and wretched, and intended making a
change before year.
uUn ,,IoVnI fwn nR fhraa ,YOmnu nj
checkers" said she, "and he asked me
why never married. l said l didn't
care for any one, and wouldn't marry
unless loved them. He wanted to
know what thought OF him. l tried
to play checkers to keep his mind off
the subject, but he finally pushed the
checkers away and took my hand.
From that time he never addressed me
except by the word dear, and used
every other term OF endearment.
"As we sat on the sofa, !" continued
the witness, be said: "Dear, you know my
lonely and sad heart. ! told you what
thought OF you the first time. have
been among fine women, and when tell
you, dear, you can depend upon 1t, /
never had a thought for any till l met
you.n
"When told him had never cared
for any one, it seemed to distress him.
Finally he stood up and took both my
hands and said with his face close TO
mine, you will take me sometime dear
TO live with you always, won't your
"During his visits he spoke frequently
OF his loneliness, and one time said:
I'll not be lonesome, when l have you
at the house, dear, even il you are a lit
tie cross; but you won't be cross to me,
will your"
"He was fixing up his house at this
time" continued Mrs. Hubbard, "and
be wanted me to see it, and asked what
portierres liked. ! said old gold"
ale continued to call of and on for
ten months, but did not visit me for
sometime after the marriage of his son
Harry, When he called he was in
mourning, and said he felt so badly be
did not know whether he cared for any
one. He asked me, however, il / loved
him as well as ever, and told him
did"
"on November ., 1887, we came t.
Pittsburgh To get married and intended