Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-07-13
A SOCIAL SENSATION.


i The Kansas City papers at hand to-day
contain several columns on q social sen
sation there, wherein one OF the principals
Is Miss Laura Y. Ashdown, handsome
and vivacious Young lady who will be re-
membered by many as having spent the
summer here some three years ago, the
guest of her father, the late superintend-
ent of TIE Santa Fee gas works.
As related by the journal the facts are
as follows:
Mr.. Ethe bert F, Allen, q well known
society young man OF this city, was mar
ried Wednesday evening to Miss jennie
| Riddle, and was also sued by Miss Laura
V. Ashdown, Of st. Louis, for $20 900, rs
damages for breach OF promise.
In the petition filed by Laura V. Ash
down, OF st. Louis, yesterday afternoon,
she states that after an acquaintance that
lasted several years, on February 20, 1855,
Mr.. Allen asked her to marry him. She
consented, and contiding i'll his promise,
which she regarded rs sacred, she re-
manned single. Lately, however, Mr..
Aliens attentions became changed and
she finally learned that she had been cast
aside, and that he was engaged to marry
Miss Jennie Riddle. She wrote to him
several times asking him to live up to his
promise, the last letter being sent from
st. Louis last March, but he treated them
with silent contempt. In consequence OF
his refusal to live up to his solemn VOWS
she claims to be damaged TO the extent
Of $4,000.
The attorneys for Miss Ashdown did
not desire to cause npleasantness, or
turn the wedding, an occasion OF joy and
happiness, into one Of sorrow and tears.
The papers were filed yesterday afternoon,
and a deputy sheriff given them to serve
on Mr.. Allen, but was instructed to avoid
any trouble and not TO create any scene.
He went to Mr.. Aliens room, at the
Nivison house, but the object OF his search
was not there. He then repaired to the
Hotel Brunswick, where the bride and
mother have been living for the last
seven months, and there served the
papers on Mr.. Allen.
When interviewed Mr.. Allen at first
pleaded earnestly that the whole business
be kept secret, not for his own sake, but
for the sake OF the ladies in the case. He
did not seem to bear any ill-will against
Miss Ashdown for her action, and CON-
plimented her very highly, both as to
character and personal appearance,
When pressed as to whether there had
been any engagement between them, Mr..
Allen said
"Well, sir, hardly know what to say.
She may have had in mind some slight
promises that may have passed between
US several years ago. But there was
nothing definite, nothing definite. l
have not seen her or heard from Ler for
over year. She belongs to good fam
lily in st. Louis, has visited here, and it is
here that l met her. l think she has
made a great mistake in bringing this
suit, and think it very i'll advised. have
no fear as to the outcome"
Mr.. Allen evinced disinclination to |
give any information as to when he had |
met Miss Ashdown, how long he had
been acquainted with her, and as to what |
had caused the termination Of their love
affair.
Although at present living with her
mother in st. Louis, Miss Ashdown lived |
for number OF years in this city attended
school here, and mingled in society. She
is beautiful girl, brunette with wavy
mass Of dark brown curls and laughing
hazel eyes. While here she had a num-
Der OF admirers, but Allan was the favored
one, and was almost in constant attend
ance upon her. She went to st. Louis
about eighteen months ago, and Allen
visited her there several times, and it was
there, it is alleged, that he became engaged !
to her.
The defendant is a well known and de-
cidedly popular young man. He has
lived here for thirteen years, and during
The past few years has been engaged in
the real estate and loan business, his office
being in the Beals building, on the corner
of 9th and Wyandotte. He is also promi-
nent in Masonic circles and is the illus
.rious potentate of the mystic shrine.
The young lady he married is the daughter
II the late congressman, Hiram Y. Riddle,
Who represented the 4th Tennessee dis
riot in congress from 1874 to 1878. She
md her mother moved TO this city in the
Early part of this year.