Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-13
NOVEL SUIT AT LAW.
A Kansas Lover Seeks to EnjOin His
Sweetheart From Marrying Someone


Special Correspondence OF The Evening Star
ATCHlSON, Kan, Feb. 10, 1894.
This town has received great deal of
prominence because of the fact that John
j. ingalls, resides here. but it is now certain
that it will be more widely advertised than
ever within the next thirty days because
of the remarkable and heretofore unheard
of proceeding soon to be instituted in the
Atchison county district court.
The case will be that of an injunction suit
brought by Joseph r. Rank against a beau
tiful and progressing young lady by the
name of Miss Antoinette Smythe. to re-
strain her from marrying another and
handsomer man.
At first, when this matter was talked
about, the people of Atchison regarded it
more OF joke than n reality, but they
have now discovered that Rank is desper-
ately in earnest and determined to see il
the court can prevent the other fellow from
stepping in and capturing the prize that he
has been industriously working for during
the past two years.
The novelty of such proceeding is the
talk of the town. Society is all agog over
It, 1t is the sole topic Of conversation in
the little sewing circles or about the tea
table. In fact, the lawyers are talking about
u, III
would be more than fair and proper to give
the plaintiff. who has been encouraged, a
chance to coax the girl to change her mind
Inc prominence OF the parties interested
IN this unusual controversy lends additional
zest to the matter. Mr.. Rank is the city
editor of the Atchison Daily Globe, and a
very estimable young man. Miss Smythe,
whose hand and heart he felt he had surely
won, is very charming young woman, who
is living with her aunt in this city. She is
highly cultured and educated and of a very
retiring disposition. rarely appearing in So
ciety, and with but a limited acquaintance
In the town. She was raised in Allegheny
City, Pa, where her connections embrace
many well-known people.
The gentleman who. IT is discovered, has
won the affections of Miss Smythe and
against whom the injunction suit will be
aimed. is Mr.. Charles Harrison, a promi-
pent merchant tailor Of this place. Harrison
Is a third cousin of the ex-President, and
young man of irreproachable character.
But lie Is suave and sly in his love affairs,
and II seems has, by degrees, won the
affections of Miss Smythe completely Rank
DID not realize this until 1t was announced
recently that Harrison was to be married
soon. Inquiry was made and it developed
that Miss Smythe was the idol of his heart
and that he had, during his occasional
visits, succeeded in securing from her a
promise of marriage. Rank and Harrison
have long been fast friends. Rank did not
know that Harrison was undermining him.
because the latter would quietly steal away
week and pay visit to Miss Smythe. while
Rank depended on his Sunday visits to
hold the affections of the Pennsylvania girl
A number of Ranks friends have urged
him to drop the matter, but he declines to
heed their advice. He is desperately in love
and believes if he can secure a restraining
order from the court he can induce Miss
Smythe to reconsider and make good her
promises to him.
There is a mixture of politics in this ro-
mantle proceeding that Is amusing OF
course. Rank will have to have a lawyer
Rank is a democrat of prominence, and his
name Is freely mentioned for postmaster of
Atchson. His best legal friend is Frank G..
Crowell. prominent young republican and
member of the state central committee He
Will undertake the task of convincing Judge
W. ID. Webb of the district court that Miss
Smythe ought to be restrained from enter
ing into marriage contract with Charley
Harrison.
While Miss Smythe is too modest and
oashfui to go this far a matter of pro-
lection, Harrison will see to 1t that she is
represented, and to that end w. p. Wag-
gener, general attorney of the Kansas City,
Wyandotte and Northwestern railroad has
been engaged to take charge of the case
WagSener is young lawyer and is anxious
TO defend the fair Pennsylvania girl with
out charge. His argument will be that she
mas legal right to marry Harrison il she
wants to. and that Ranks only recourse is
preach of promise suit, as such a pro-
ceedlng as is contemplated is contrary to
public policy.