The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-04
BURNING LOVE LETTERS
MISS DTNGLEY's EPIsTLEs TO THE
MAN SHE DID NOT MARRY.
Sensational Breach of Promise Suit
That Is ArOusing Great Interest,"
Throughout New England.

AUBURN, Me, Oct. S-Never before has
the trial of civil suit aroused the interest
that the trial Of the suit for breach of
promise of Arthur S. Melcher against
Mrs. Louise Hadley has. Mrs. Hadley is a
niece OF Congressman Dingley. Further
more, her beauty and her fortune rendered
her. prior to her marriage to w. e. Hadley,
of San Diego, Cal, a great matrimonial
catch. She had suitors by the score, and
when it was pretty well settled in every
ones mind that Mr.. Melcher was the IA
vored one she married Mr.. Hadley at Po-
land Springs Mr.. MeIcher is fifty and a
widower. Mrs Hadley is about thirty and
dashing blonde, and is reputed to be the
possesor of mind of her own.
Mr.. Melcher makes oath that Miss Ding
ley not only promised to marry him, but
that the engagement was made at her sug-
gestion-in other words, that she proposed.
Furthermore, Mr.. Melcher swears that
when this proposition came up he informed
Miss Dingley that he would have to take
six months to consider it, but if at the end
of that period Miss Dingley was still of the
same mind he would not say I'D. All this
he has steadily maintained on the witness
stand under severe crosS-examination.
Twenty-nine letters have been produced in
court and every one of them breathes the
Warmest affection. Mrs. Hadley sat through
it all, even through the reading Of her let
tiers, with a countenance which gave no
sign of emotion. But she showed no ner-
vousnesS, and even smiled at the attorney
in his opening statements developing the
outlines of his clients case.
In May, 1896, he began, Mr. Melcher lost
his wife. At once the defendant began to
write him letters expressing devotion for
Mr.. Melcher. Later the defendant was at
the house of Mr.. Melcher constantly. In
August she asked him if he was under any
obligations to any woman, and said that she
loved him as no one else could. Soon after
that Mrs. Hadley invited Mr. Melcher to
dinner one Sunday.
AT the dinner she asked him If he would
consent to marriage. lie replied that he
could not promise her at that time but they
would wait, until January, and then If she
felt the same towards him he would marry
her lie declined to promise al the time be-
cause of the recent death OF his wife. In
January he consented, with the understand
ing that the marriage should not take place
until more than a year after the death of
his wife
The first Mr.. Melcher knew Of any
change was when he read the announce
ment of Miss DingleyS marriage to Mr..
Hadley. This was followed by other news
paper articles under such agreeable head
Melcher'S testimony the first letter was one
of coincidence from Miss Dingley. Three
days later supplemental letter of con-
A letter, which in the trial will be known
as the aching void letter, closes as fol-
lows:
THANK you again for your note and as
sure you you do not know how much 1 APP
preciate it. l will do all i can to fill an
aching void. l rather blue to-day. You
don't know the feeling, do you? 1t comes
to me once in while when l get to think
ing too much and longing for some one to
love. YOU KNOW"
letters became more feIvid, and at last
reached the breach of-promise-su tempera-
ture. Early in June, Mr.. MelcherS wife
then having been dead about three weeks
My Dear Arthur-Your sweet and loving
letter of Wednesday was handed to me
Thursday l am glad to know that my let
tiers have been of comfort to you. should
say l never expect to fill Mary's place. Nc
one could. All L will say is that | could not
love you any more than she did, But be-
lieve ! could love you as much. There, dry
your eyes. love you dearly. You must
have long since discovered it.
Mrs Hadley took the stand and acknowl-
edged the engagement, but said they fire.
quently had differences She notified him
that the engagement was off and offered tC
give back the ring, but he refused to take
il. On the Friday night before her marriage
TO Mr.. Hadley, Mr.. Melcher called and ex-
pressed hope that she would enjoy life in
California and that her husband would be
generous in money matters. Previous to the
appearance of MIR. Hadley the week before
the marriage she said that she had not re-
ceived a letter from him for four years.
did you say in one of your letters that
you had suffered much in seven years
Does it refer to the seven years between
your first engagement with Mr.. Hadley and
your marriage to him, and was your suffer
ing caused by lack of affection?" she was
asked
"Oh, 1 loved several during that seven
year" was the answer.