Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-06
AFTER BIG DAMAGES.
Miss Burson Of Alexandria, Who is Suing
Banker Gage
breach Of Promise Charged, With
Home-World's Fair Episode.

The news Of the legal fight that Is on
between Miss Annie L. Burson Of Alexan-
| dria and Mr.. James p. Gage the prominent
Chicago banker, has attracted more than
| little attention in this city, where the
young lady is quite well known. Up to
last December she was a clerk in the cen
sus Office. but lost her position when there
was q large reduction in the size of the
| Office force.
The first charge against Gage. who is the
president Of the Clinton National Bank of
| Clinton, Iowa, was Of a criminal character
| and charged assault and abduction. On this
charge he was held under 81. 200 bail on an
indictment by the grand jury. The first
case has been supplemented since the re-
turn of the family to this city by a civil
action asking for 100000 damages for al
legged breach Of promise The latter &C
ton was begun on Tuesday by Miss Bur-
! sons Chicago lawyers. Miss Burson and
her parents recently returned to Alexandria
and are now at their old home in that
city.
Mr.. Burson is of an old Virginia family.
and for a number Of years past they have
lived in large old mansion In q parttcu-
| larly quiet section of the town. They are
| not very well known in Alexandra and
have apparently cared to make few friends.
| Since their trouble in Chicago. Miss Burson
has been quite unwell and has avoided pub
licity as far as possible Prior to the trip
to the fair she had been i'll and since her
return she has kept pretty close to her
home.
This morning a Star reporter went down
| to Alexandria to see Miss Burson and OBJ
tain from her, II possible. her side OF this
oft-told story. The Burson house Is one or
| the largest Of the very old mansions Of the
town and from an architectural STANDPOINT
Is very interesting.
It Is a double house, with q big square
hall and conservatory leading on from tns s
wide. old-fashioned drawing room. An old
iron knocker hangs upon the door ana
altogether the place Is an interesting relic
of the times before the war. when such
Miss Burson herself Is quite young and a
very attractive person. She declined, now
ever, to say anything directly bearing upon
the case. This Mrs. Burson said. was at
about the case could be obtained from her
Washington lawyer, Mr.. L. Guthrie; VINO
was also a personal friend OF the FAMILY ana
to whom all inQuirers were referred. MIS-
ing man is this Mr.. Gage. who Is now the
defendant in a suit for breach OF promise:
"He seemed to us most agreeable ana
attractive young man." she said: he was
thought at first that he was in every way
a most desirable acquaintance. We were
greatly deceived in this and he Is just the
sort of person who could impose on any
very long when this trouble occurred that
has brought upon us all such unpleasant
notoriety 1t Is the first time We have
ever become prominent aud 1t is naturally
very disagreeable to us all The statement
that Mr. Gage was introduced to us by
Mr.. Bennett, who Is now one OF our law
yers in Chicago, is a mistake. He was
introduced by a son Of the owner Of the
hotel where we were stopping In Chicago.
What are your plans for the future?"
THAT will depend entirely on the course
the case takes and the date Of Its coming
up for trial. do not know when that will
be. In The meantime we shall remain here
as this is our home. We were in the west
on visit to Mr.. Burson's mother and
Have you sufficient evidence to make
out a case of breach of promiseT'
II really do not know about that. You
see the suit for damages was instituted az
ter We left Chicago and / do not know
what plan they expect to pursue"
According to the version Of the affair
given by Mr.. Guthrie. Gage had been with
the Bursons almost every day for ten days
after they were introduced. before the night
and when he made an unsuccessful attempt
to lead the girl astray. as she alleges
After the performance they stopped at a
hotel for supper and here 1t was that Gage
is accused OF drugging the glass from which
Miss Burson was to drink.
According to the story the dose was too
strong, and she fell asleep at the table
She was taken in charge by the proprietor
Of the hotel. and put to bed by the house.
left the house. The next morning he re-
turned. and said that he had sent word to
Mrs. Burson that her daughter was iii, but
this was not 50.