The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-06-22
SENSATIONAL SUIT.
Bernard Murray, Manager of the
Eldridge Hotel
At Lawrence Files His Anticipa-
ted Suit
AGAINST w. A. HARRIS.
Charges the Ex-Congressman
AGAINST w. A. HARRIS.
Charges the Ex-Congressman
With the Alienation
Of the Affections Of His Wife
Now Mrs. Harris.

The much talked of and long expected
damage suit against ex- Congressman W.
A. Harris of Linwood, Leavenworth
county, was commenced this morning in
the United States circuit court Bernard
Murray, the plaintiff, asks for $4,000 to
patch up his wounded feelings and to
cover his humiliation because Harris es-
tranged his wife and after she had Sc
cured a divorce married her.
Murray lived in Lawrence and was
proprietor of the leading hotel, The
Eldridge House" from 1888 to 1888 He
says in his petition that Harris became
acquainted with the family at the
Eldridge house in 1883 and Immediately
began to pay Mrs. Murray attention. He
saws that Harris would frequently go to
the apartments of the husband and wife
and was treated as trusted friend He
would escort Mrs Murray to meals and
to public places
The petition says that he continued to
secretly, covertly and wickedly pay
attention to her until he procured an es-
trangement" and the divorce
Murray saws that in 1898 Mrs. Murray
went to Pitts burg on the pretense of Wis
iting sick relative and remained until
November and that Harris went to the
city and made prOtracted visit and then
cores ponded with her When she re-
turned from her visit he again visited
her and continued his visits until the
death Of Mrs. Harris, which occurred
January 4, 1894 Murray says that at
the instigation of Harris. Mrs. Murray
went to the Harris home the day follow
Ing the death of Mrs. Harris.
Then comes the most sensational part
of the petition. Murray had returned to
Lawrence and was again in the hotel
business About ten days after the death
Of his wife Harris went to Lawrence and
became the guest of the Murray family.
He was about to return to congress and
he remained in the hotel until the day
he was to leave
It was train time and Landlord Murray
started out to hunt his guest. to inform
him that his train was due. He went to
his wife's apartments, and on opening
the door he found his wife and the con-
gresham embracing and both in tears.
Harris said, in explanation of the situa-
ton, that sit was only such regard as
might be taken and shown to friend of
the family, who by their sympathy had
soft3ned his bereavement"
1he explanation evidently satisfied
Murray for he says that Harris at once
left for Washington without saying any
thing else.
A short time afterward Murray says
that he went to Colorado on business
and while he was gone his wife applied
for divorce, but when he returned she
withdrew the suit. He then moved to
Kansas City and his wife commenced a
second suit and secured a divorce in No
vember 1894. In February 1895 she
married Harris.
Murray charges that Harris induced
her to secure the divorce, and "deliber-
ately, methodically and purposely laid
Siege to the affections of his wife, and
induced her to leave him" He SAYS that
he "had no thought of the sinister de-
sign" and that Harris used his position
In society to debauch the affections of his
wife and ALLEVIATE her from her hus-
band"
In his prayer for damages Murray sets
up the following support of his claim for
$4,000:
"The plaintiff has been injured and
damaged by the wanton and malicious
acts and conduct of the defendant; in
seducing and debauching the affections
of his wife; in the alienation of her
affections from her husband; in the loss
OF her society; in the destruction of his
purposes and business; in the wreck of
his life and in the great agony of mind
and distress of body and mind and in his
shame, disgrace and humiliation"
Murray's attorneys are w. c. Spangler
and George q. Norris of Lawrence, and
Waters & Waters of Topeka
When Harris was in Topeka last week
he was told that the suit would be filed,
and he laughed at it. He will not allow
Murray to take judgment if he can help
1t. The case cannot be tried before next
November.
Harris Populist friends in Topeka say
the suit has been commenced to prevent
him from becoming a candidate for gov
ernor next year. It will probably accom-
plish it's purpose.