Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-04-14
A NIGHT SHIRT STORY.
An Ohio Judge Loses Night Shirt
and Friends Play a Joke.
They Are Now Sued BY Woman VINO maoe
the New Garment.

New York. April 13.--The loss by
Judge Underhill of Canton. ONO, OF ms
night shirt on Sound steamer curing
the summer of 1929 Was the Gauss 'i
no md of amusement TO ms nahy
friends IN this city, and the Joke th.S
played on him a few months inter- ny
inducing Mrs Bella Stapleton. Il dress
maker To make him an elaborate SUB
stitute which has never been paid Tor,
has resulted in i'll feeling between some
- hie friends. and some litigation. a
faature of which was PARTIALLY tried
before Civil Justice George t. Roesch,
the Fourth district court, yester-
day.
Judge lrnderhill is a man of large
oronortions and a politician of consid-
cradle note. He and General George
"A sheridan. who has q national repu-
tation as an orator anu a Repubncan
nolitician. have been friends for wears,
and frequently met in this city during
campaiens. General Sheridan is nov
an inmate of the Soldiers Home at oid
Point Comfort They never met n
this city but they visited the saloon OF
John w. Stapleton, at Ninth street an"
First avenue. to discuss politics over
friendly glass in TIE little room III the
rear of the saloon.
. Judge JInderhill visited the city dur
ing the summer of 1899 and went down
East to spend a few Weeks vacation,
He returned by NAY or Il SOUND
steamer, and the following lay dis
covered that he had left his night shlft
in his state room. He communicated
with the Steamboat Company to haNN
it forwarded to him, and was aston
ished when notified that ms hl&nt
shirt was last seen as an inlproviscd
sail on cat boat up the sound.
When John w. Kennedy ana other
friends of the judge heard of this they
laughed heartily, and in September.
while Kennedy and W. j. EauEheln
were slipping milk punches and talking
over Judge Underhilrs misfortune in
Stapleton's little. room. they thought 1t
would be a brilliant idea TO have an
elaborate substitute made.
Mrs. Stapleton agreed to become a
narty to the surprise arranged for the
Judge, and says that she was given
nositive instructions by Mr. Kennedy
TO make a night shirt. regardless OF eN-
pense. leaving the style and decora-
lions to her Judgment entirely. 1t took
her a week to make it. and her bill
was forwarded to Judge Underhill and
he was greatly pleased with it. but the
bill has never been paid. and Mis-,
Stapleton was compelled 10 bring :,
suit against Nj Kennedy to recover
the amount.
She testified before Justice Poesch
that she selected white silk Cor mater
ia,. valued at $3.50, and purchased 81
worth of silk embroidered trimmings
and when the gown was finished it was
nm elaborate and artistic affair.
O. Did Mr.. Kennedy tell you Wha'
kind of a nightshirt to make. a. NJ
sir. He left it to my judgment. ane
told me to spare no expense, and tina
he would pay the bill.
o. Didn't he tell you anything abou
the STYLE of it, A. No, sir. He sale
that he wanted q handsome shirt. ever
if It took a week to make-full size. A
first they had a dispute about wh'
should pay for it Mr.. Haughein wanted
TO pay for it, but Mr. Kennedy insisted
that he was given the order and that h
would foot the bill.
John w. Stapleton. the husband
supported his wife's statements an'
declared that Kennedy induced him t.
call his wife into the saloon ard tol'
her to make the finest shirt that coul'
be made
MIR. Kennedy denied point blank tina
he had given any order for the shirt
He knew that the loss of Judge Under
hills shirt was coneidered a good jok
to his friends especially when the.
heard that the garment was being use
as a sail but he denied that h had eve
asked Mrs. Stapleton to make one 10
the judge. and she did not present hin
with the bill until two years tier. Ii
stated that if Mr. Haughcn could b
produced as n witness and would t4s
tify that ne had given the order for til
shirt that he would pay for it.
Judge Roesch inquired if they la'
been drinking anything stronger THAI
milk punches, and he said that they ha
not. The hearing was then adjourne
until the coming week to give tn
parties an opportunity to produce Nh
Haughein as a witness.