The herald., 1896-02-04
ONCE A SOCIETY LEADER
And Now Defendant In a Heavy
I" Damage Suit
MARY THURMAN'S POSITION
Years Ago Was Prominent ia the Best
Circles at Washington
=
MARY THURMAN'S POSITION
Her sister.in.Law Now Suing Herself and
Is. Husband for False Imprisonment
and Malicious Arrest

w alQO M. 1Ofk tHeTo SAL uuriHR q greater
part of yesterday,a woman who was at one
time regarded as one of the leaders of the
best society of the national capital. Six
teen years ngo Mary, the daughter of the
late Allen G. Thurman, then the great sem
ator from the Buckeye state, was said to
be one of the most be autiful and brilliant
young ladies' in Washington.
But yesterday she was enacting differ
ent role. She was the defendant in dam
age suit brought by her sister-in-law against
herself and her husband for s25, 900 dam
onment.
During the entire day Mary Thurman
Cowies Clifford Holiday sat by the side of
her attorneys and listened to the proceed
ings. She was apparently interested for
she frequently suggested points to her
lawyers, Hon. W. j. Hunsacker and John
M. Lucas. Next to her sat her husband,
Edward Holiday, once a we'll known base
Mrs. Holiday was dressed in full mourn
ing for her father-the old Roman-who
died a short time ago. Her countenance
shows that time is not dealing gently with
her, although traces of departed beauty
are yet discernible.
Sixteen years ago Mary Thurman mar
ried Lieutenant w. S. Cowles in Washing
ton. He is now United States naval
attache in London and was recently mar
ried there to the sister Of James R. Roose-
velt, the secretary of the United States
embassy. The married life of Mr.. and
Mrs. Cowles was not happy and separa-
heard of Mrs. Cowles, until q short time
ago she married Thomas Clifford. linguist
and brokers' clerk at San Diego. Later
wife and two children turned UP at San
Diego, the woman claiming to be Mrs.
Clifford No. /. Clifford. with Mrs. Clifford.
nee Thurman, proceeded across the line
into Mexico, and finally at Ensenada Mrs.
returned to this country and married
"Bug" Holiday, the ball player. The
couple are now residing in this city and
have been for some time past.
In the damage suit Mrs. Fannie L. Holli-
day, the wife of the dead brother of the
male defendant, charges that on August
10th last, Mr.. and Mrs. Holiday Icaused
her arrest upon charge of threatening to
destroy their property and do them great
bodily harm. She was arrested at her
home, $50 South Hill street. about 8 o'clock
in the afternoon. taken to jail, and there
confined in a cell with negro woman and
a Chinese woman. Here she spent the
night. The next day she was arraigned in
court. She claims that Mr.. and Mrs. Hol-
liday were there and that "Bug" came to
her and offered to dismiss all PROCEEDINGS
provided ehe would at once leave the city.
''Bug', to furnish the necessary money.
The plaintiff declined to accept these
terms, whereupon she was placed under
$1,000 bonds to keep the peace. AS she
could not furnish the bond, having no
friends here, she went to Jail, and was
there eight days, until she was released
upon a writ of habeas corpus.
Directly she was released she was re-
arrested and returned to Jail. She was
there detained three hours, when she was
taker into court and the proceedings
against her were dismissed.
In their answer the defendants deny that
the prosecution of the plaintiff was mali
cious.
The case is being tried by jury. and a
rather anomalous feature of the body OF
twelve good men and true who have been
selected to try the case is the fact that it
includes very intelligent looking negro.
A good portion of yesterday was con-
sumed in getting jury. Late in the after
noon the plaintiff, Mrs. Fannie l.. Holli-
day, was put on the stand to tell her tale
of woe and misfortune.
She is pretty little brunette. 81 years
OF age, bright and intelligent and very
prompt about answering questions. In
fact, she was almost too prompt. as Judge
York was compelled twice to admonish her
to go slower and give the attorneys for the
defendants an opportunity to interpose
their objections, and the objections put in
were numerous. Judge York, though, held
for the plaintiff in nearly every instance.
Mrs. Fannie Holiday told a very pathetic
tale in response to the interrogations of her
attorneys, Gen. Johnstone Jones and Gen.
A. B. Campbell. She said that she was a
seamstress and hair dresser. and that one
year ago yesterday she came to Los Ange-
les with her husband at the invitation of
Mr.. and Mrs. "Bug'' Holiday. April 10th
last her husband died. leaving her with one
child, a little boy. She then related the de-
lais of her arrest and imprisonment, and
told how she was compelled to leave her
little boy alone all night. When court adj
journed the plaintiff was still OH the stand.
She will resume her testimony today.