The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-08-08
A SCANDAL SUIT.
Edward Preble of Newton Centre
Brings Actien Against Mr.. Ransom.

Brings Actien Against Mr. RansOm'
He is the Son of the Late Judge Preble of
PortIand-YVas Engaged in the Bates q
VALLEY Suit Some Time Ago-He Places
His Damages at $4,000.
SAWYER d. O. Linsoott, as counsel for
Edward Preble of Newton Center. Mass,
has filed papers in the Middlesex county
court suing Mrs. Celina Ransom, also of
Newton Center for o,ooo. The charge
brought is Islander. Mr.. Preble alleges
that a story has been circulated to the
effect that he, although recently married
to young lady of Newton Center, had
another wife and family in Paris. Mrs.
Ransom has filed nossanswer.
Both Mrs. Ransom and MIR. Preble are
well known in Newton Center. Mrs.
Ransom is the wife of Chauncey Ransom,
who is president of the Standard Pub
fishing company. She is an elderly lady
with silvery hair. Her home is in a fine
mansion on the Commonwealth avenue
boulevard and furnished luxuriously
The estate is of considerable extent and
occupies a commanding position on tho
porner of Center street.
Edward Preble is man of about 40
years and is the son of Judge Preble of
Portland. From:his father he inherited
considerable property, the Preble house
being a part. The suit of the elderly
mother against the firm Of Bates & Wal
ley, stock brokers, to recover securities
Is matter of notoriety. The suit was
successful but Bates & Valley went
through insolvency. Two months ago
Mr. Preble married Miss Caroline Capron.
Mrs. Ransom IS lawyer says that 'some
lime previous to Mr.. Preble's marriage
10 Miss Capron, Mrs. Tomlinson called
Dn Mrs. Ransom who is an old friend
for the purpose of making inquiries in
regard to the character Of Mr.. Profile.
She asked Mrs. Ransom If she had ever
heard anyone say Mr.. Preble had been
married.
MRS. Ransom stated that she had
heard statements TO the effect that he had
D wife and child In Paris. This state
ment was made by Mrs. Ransom without
the slightest malice towards Mr.. Preble,
of whom she had not the slightest knowl-
edge and with whom she was not ao-
quainted.
Under the circumstances it appears to
have been a privileged communication,
given in confidence to a lady seeking in
formation"
The Preble side Of the story is some
what different. 1t practically CONSTITUTES
the statement made by Mrs. Ransom as
a charge of bigamy, and holds Mrs. Ran
som responsible for all the gossip which
has been current in Newton Center con-
corning Mr.. Preble. Apparently there
is a difference in the calendars of the
Ransom and Preble families for the
Preble case makes the date of the alleged
SANDER nearly month later than the
date fixed by Mrs. Ransom for the visit
of Mrs. Tomlinson, or on the day proceed
ing the Preble-Capron marriage.
According to the friends of Mr.. Preble
the information was furnished gratuit-
with a severe TRADE against Mr.. Preble,
in which the claimant is charged with
having a.wife and children living in Par
is.
There are mum ber- of other people in
Newton Center who have heard and re-
peated the story regarding Mr.. Preble as
a matter of gossip, and some of them are
wondering now if they will also be called
upon to defend themselves in the court.
None sof them are as wealthy as Mrs.
Ransom, however, and they seem to feel
that in this fact lies their security.
1t is stated that the cause of all the
trouble lay in the fact that the Paris
story was not told to Miss Capron until
the day before the wedding and that the
wedding tour was consequently spoiled.
IL is certain that neither side is prepared
to back down in the least