The times., 1897-05-30
BR|CE FILES HIS ANSWER
Reasons Why His Table Linen
Bills Remain Unpaid.
CRESTS CAME MUCH TOO HIGH
millionaire Ex-senator, Sued by His
NeedlewoipaD fer Embroi6e cry
Work, Alleges Overcharge- High
Price for the Brice Monogram ON
Napkins Compromise Declined.

Through his attorney, Mr.. Walter V K
Berry, ex- Senator Calvin S. Brice has iiled
an answer to the suit entered against him
ten days ago by Mrs. Mary w Paxton, a
dealer i'll line art needlewoIk, who fur
nished the wife OF the defendant with
a quantity OF fine and elaborately- worked
table linen Ior which, it was alleged, she
was TO have been paid $426.50.
The millionaire railroad king, in his
answer. claims a tender of S2es.62. and
alleges that only that amount is due Mis-.
Paxton, there having been no agreement
as TO the price TO be paid for the work
After the articles had all been delivered
bv the lady The amount Offered her was
S2SS So, but she refused TO accept IT.
and demand ded $42S so, which the de-
fendant claims to be exorbitant and ex-
cesSiye.
An affidavit accompanies the answer,
in which Mr.. Bnce says: THAT on or
about December 10, 1886, his wife, lie
string TO have certain monograms marked
on certain linen of her own, sent to the
establishment OF the plaintiff, said plaint-
iff also having estahli shments in fhill-
delphia and Newport r. l., and asked
her TO cell or send one Of her employees
To defendants house in regard to said
work
The affidavit then goes on TO say that
one of the employees arrived at the house
in due season and was given instructions
as to the work desired, and was shown a
copy of the monogram, and Mrs. Brice
asked ir the work could he finished by
no tn llS
some OF the linen January l, and she
also asked for an estimate OF the cost
of the work According to the affidavit
she was assured that the work could lie
completed within the time desired, but the
party sent could give no estimate Of the
cost.
Mrs. Brice then asked, it is alleged that
as soon as one piece he completed il ot
brought for her inspection and information
as 10 its cost, bat Mr.. Brice claims that
this was not done, and that Mrs. Brice
left the city soon afterward and did not
return until near the end of December.
Mr.. Brice claims that Mrs. Paxton Cid
not deliver the goods on December 81, as
agreed, and his Wife was obliged to go to
much expense TO get table cloths and nap
kins, because OF the failure of Mrs. Pax
ton TO deliver the linen when promised
1t is cla lined that the linen was not de
lirered until the middle Of March and tha,
near the end Of the month q bin for
S42S.5o was sent Mrs. Brice, and Mrs
Brioe ella inns that no other materials than
needles anu thread were furnished, and
having a knowledge of the value Of such
work, thought some mistake in tie bill
had been made She interviewed Mrs. Pax
ton regs riding the supposed mistake, .bu
was informed that the bill was correct
Mrs. Brice t'coDrteously Informed Mrs
Paxton that the bill was excessive" She
then consulted with Others enga ged in the
same class of work and obtained estimates
from them as to the value OF the work.
From the three highest estimates given she
found S2sS. 50 to be fair estimate and
offered that amount in payment, which
was refused, and the result was the suit
entered by Mrs. Paxton.