The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-11-20
BREACH OF PROMISE.
An Interesting Suit at Beaver, Pa,
A Buxom Widow of Forty Claims
100000 as Fitting Sum
To Compensate Hor, Her Affections
Having Been Trifled With.
The Defendant n Widowor and q
Very Wealthy Man.
The Plaintiff, on tho Witness Stand,
Tells How the Old Coon Began
to Make Love to Her
His Business.

| PIrTsBURd, Pa, Nov. l0.-The 100000
breach of promise suit brought by Mrs
Eliza lIibbard against Horny q. Fry,
General Superintendent of the Rochester
Tumblor Company, was called at Beaver
Pa, this morning. The courtroom wus
crowded TO its utmost capacity and the
liyolicst interest was manifested in its pro.
ceedings. Ms. llibbird. the plaintiff, is
the widow Of Dr. Henry lIibbard, a
prominent physician, who diod ten years
ago. She is tall, well built, decidedly
pretty, and about forty years OF age, She
has family Of two sons, the younger Of
whom is fourteen, and daughter who is
seventeen. Mr.. Fry Is widower Of forty
five, is the General Superintendent of the
Rochester Tumblor Company, President
of the First National Bank of Rochester,
and has largo business interests in New
York and elsewhere. IIo is generally
supposed TO be millionaire, and certainly
lives in princely style in the borough OF
Rochester. He has family OF five child
ren, two sons and three daughters, tho
youngest OF the five being y daughter Of
thirteen years OF age. Ills wife died oight
years ago.
Mrs. Hibbard alleges that Fry made
proposals. OF marriage 10 her, which she
finally accepted. lie informed her that
his daughters, who are very proud, oh.
jeotod seriously TO his paying attentions
to hor, and would raise q fuss II the sub
/ N..I. A Al
but that after everything was once quietly
over. aud they found that he chose 10 suit
| himself, they would come around all
right She says she did not relish this,
| but when he proposed that they 90 10
Niagara Falls, and there be quietly mar
ried, keeping the marriage secret for
awhile, she consented aud they started.
They stopped for dinner at the Hotel
Anderson in Piitsburg. llc excused him.
self for a short time, aud soon returned,
saying that business complications had
arisen which demanded his remaining at
home, aud that the wedding would have
70 be postponed. They returned home,
aud Mr.. Fry soon ceased his visits for
what reason sho knows not.
In April last ahc brought suit
against him, claiming SlOO,OOO dam
ages for tiining With her affections.
Mrs. Hibbard claims TO have all the tcsti.
mony necessary 90 suhstantntc her asser-
tions Private detectives have been at
work on both sides gathering up evidence
~ 10 the character Of the principals In the
suit, and over 100 witnesses will be called.
| Mr.. Fry denies that hc ever thought Of
marrying the plaintiff, much less pro-
posed H.
A brilliant array Of Beaver County legal
| "a. l. -. NIl
~ presiding. Samuel u Wilson and JAS.
| cunningham represent the prosecution,
while T. II. Dougherty, J. NJ. Buchanan
and j. Is. Hannah arc looking after the
interests Of tho defendant. shortly before
the opening Of court Mr.. Fry came In
looking confident, and few minutes laior
the plaintiff. accompanied by her niece,
entered tho courtroom. She appeared
serene aud smiled pleasantly to acquaint-
anccs. Alter the selection Of q jury aud
some preliminary sparring between the
opposing coun-cls, birs. llibbard took the
stand aud began her story. She said she
had known Mr.. Fry for seventeen ycam
and attended the same church. He be.
| gan paying attention 10 her at q picnic at
| Rock Point, three yonrs after the death Oi
his wife. lie sat beside her aud they read
| the same paper on tho train. lie asked
her about her habits aud when hc could
call 10 see her. She told him 10 call that
night aud when hc camo into the parlor
siid she was the fint lady ho had called ON
since his wifoH death aud lac felt queer.
lie also said be felt loncly and was doing
Jhrco mems work 10 keep his mind occu.
pied. lie then asked her why she did
not marry and she rcplod she did not
think much of love affairs lie then drew
hs chair closer aud seemed eager. lie
did not make love 10 her that night, but
talked generally Of love affairs. When
he left he said she was the lovclcsi woman
lac had ever known aud invited himself 10
call the following Tuesday night.
The court here adjourned for dinner.
When the Court fcasomblcd In the
afternoon, Mrs. llibbard continued her
testimony. She said: "The next time
weather. lilo was feeling badly and WINS
not happy because he was 10 lonely and
wrcichcd, and intended making a change
before year. We played two or three
games Of checkers. and he asked me why
| never married. | said did not care ior
any one, and would not marry unless |
loved ,hom. lilo wanted 10 know what
thought Of him. | tried 10 play checkers
20 keep his mind oil the subject but lac
| finally pushed tho checkers away end
took my hand. From that time he never
addressed mo except by the word dear
aud used every other term Of endoarmcni.
As we eat on the soia he said, Dear, YOU
know my lonely and md heart
told YOU what | thought Of you
tho first time. ] have been among
lno women, and when ! tell you, dear,
you can depend on II, / never hal
thought for apy till met you. lie told
me wealthy lady had proposed 10 him,
aud sent him cun buttons for a Christmas
git, but lac returned them. When | told
bin | had never cared ior any one Il
seemed 10 distress him. Finally he stood
up and took both my hands and said, with
iaco close 20 mine, You will tako me
some time, dear. 30 live with you always,
won't your | said, Il expect Bo' The
next sunday was slippery and cold, and
lac insisted upon seeing me home from
church. lilo did not como In the next
evening set, 10 thought bad offended
him and sent him note. When no
called | told him I was afraid he was
angry, and he said no could not stay mad
II ho wanted 10. That night he asked the