Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-08-29
GEO. HILES SUED BY MISS
CARTER.

George Hiles, the we'll known and
wealthy lumberman railroad owner
and land proprietor, is made the
defendant in highly sensational suit
brought by Elizabeth Carter, III the
Circuit Court, to recover S2o,OOO Tor
alleged breach of promise of marriage.
The plaintiff alleges that on January l,
1868, when she was 10 years of age and
a resident of the town of new Lisbon,
Juneau County, and while carrying on
good paying business, she became
acquainted with Mr.. Hiles, who, she
AYERS, represented him self to be an
unmarried man of large means and
great wealth"
"Soon after their meeting" the COM
plant sets forth, "the defendant COM
menced paying marked attention to
the plaintiff, escorted her to places OF
amusement, gave her presents, express
ed great personal admiration for her,
professed to be in love with her, and
in a short time made her an offer of
marriage" The plaintiff confesses to
having been fattered and pleased with
the attentions of the defendent, 'and
gave ear to his compliments and flattery
and willingly accepted his protiered
offer of marriage, which was appointed
TO take place i'll the near future"
The complaint further sets forth that
relying upon his promises and yielding
to his solicitations, "the plaintiff was
seduced by the defendent into social
relations with him the same as If they
were lawful man and wife, and gave up
her employment and devoted to his
enjoyment her company and assocla-
tions.' During the year 1868, 1T is
alleged, the plaintiff and defendent
travelled together and lived in Chicago,
Milwaukee and other places as man and
wife, the defendant tall the time prom
ising to perform his agreement of
marriage, but continued eXcusiug his
delay in that regard for one reason or
another ON account of some alleged
business relations" The same state of
affairs existed, it is averred, until Aug.
1875, when the plaintiff, learning that
the defendant was married, left him
and settled again at New Lisbon.
She did not see Mr.. Hiles again, she
alleges, until August 1887. AT that time
she AYERS, he sought her out and "assur-
ed her that he would soon be freed
from his marital relations and able to
make good his offer of marriage y
Upon a promise of handsome compe.
tence' to be settled upon her in ner
own right, it is alleged, the plaintiff
gave up her business and resumed heI
former relation with the defendant
living with him in various places until
the 18th of January, 1886, when they
finally separated.
Closing, the complaint sets forth ''tha
during the several years association o
plaintiff and defendant together al
hereinbefore related, she had gooC
offers of settlement and valuable situa
tions in life, but refused them all OF
the advice of defendant and at his
special instance and request and went
with him relying on his assurances anC
promises of marriage and settlement
as aforesaid for compensation for hel
losses and sacrifices and services. Thai
all along during the continuance of sale
social relations between plaintiff anc
defendant as aforesaid, she performed
all the conditions of a faithful wife anC
friend for defendant, nursed him il
sickness, looked after his persona
comforts, attended to the cleanliness
and order of his apartments, and wa
his assistant, companion, counselor anC
friend in business"
Finally in 1886 the defendant, it i
alleged, refused to make good hi
promises or to compensate the plaintiff
for her services and has since refuse,
to do so, hence the suit for S25, ,000 dam
ages. Carney & Ryan, of Waukeshs
are the plaintiffs attorneys, and c. W
Briggs is the defendants attorney
lEvening Wisconsin.
We understand that Mr.. Hlles ha
settled for something like $500.