The San Francisco call., 1897-10-03
F ailing to Win a Widow,
This Man Goes for
Her Money.
Miguel LinareS of Los Angeles
Brings Action for Breach
of Promise.
Lost Bride at the Last Momeni
Because He Had No We'd
ding Ring.

LOS ANGELES, CAL, Oct. 2.-Miguel
Linares is plaintiff In a somewhat unique
breach of promise suit. He asks $50, 600
damages from the lady who was his
prospective bliie and who was 10 have
brought him fortune OF 500, 900.
Linares owns a small lemon orchard
about six miles from this city and is q
widower, having lost his wife but a few
months ago. The defendant is Mercedes
Valdez widow of about 65 years and the
owner of valuable real estate in the hear.
of the business portion of the city, her
possessions having a frontage on Spring
and High streets, between Temple ana
Franklin.
AS in most cases of this kind there are
two versions of the story of the broken
courtship. That OF Linares is partly tod
in the complaint filed by his attorneys,
in which it is declared that, relying upon
the promise of Mrs. Valdez to marry him
on August Is. Linares procured the
proper license from the clerk of the SUI
perior Court.
The widow had arranged that the we'd
ding should take place at her house, so
thither Pinares repaired with the said
license, and in the presence of The invited
guests offered to perform his contract of
marriage.
But" says the complaint, "the defend
ant then and there refused TO consum-
mate said contract of marriage, snd in a
| rude and insolent manner ordered the
plaintiff and his invited friends 10 imme-
| diately lesve her house."
The complaint, after recitng the will
| ingness of tine plaintiff to marry defend
ant. concludes as follows:
"The defendant without any just cause
or reason broke her said contract as here
tofore stated, and in tine presence of in
vited guests of plaintiff and defendant
| openly refused 20 perform her said con-
| tract. By the breach of her said contract
with the plaintiff he has been damaged in
the sum of $4,000. Wherefore plaintiff
prays judgment for the sum of 1000
damages and for COSTS of suit
Linares' legal representative supplied
some further interesting details OF the
sudden change OF heart on the part of his
former fancee. The couple had known
each other for about twenty-five years,
but the courtship extended over very
short period. Linares has little lemon
orchard worth, he claims, about $1,000.
his is ali the property he possesses.
On the day fixed for the Wedding din
ner. prepared in the finest style of the cul-
! mary art, was spread at the home OF the
| promised bri e. 1t included wines in
| great abundance. All the guests haa as
4 Sc NJ blcd and the ceremony was about 10
| begin when the groom dis covered that he
had forgotten the wedding ring. He pro-
| posed to 60 to his ranch for it; but his
| forgetfulness cost him his bride and her
| fortune.
Mrs. Valdez became angry and refused
TO listen to any excuses on III. part OF
Linares. She declared that it he did no.
think enough of her to have brought the
ring she did not think hs would make the
proper husband for her. She declined 10
have the ceremony go on and ordered her
! betrothed ana all the Assem- bled guests
! from the house.
William r. Burke is the bu .iness agent
of Mrs. ValCeZ. He declares that she i. a
kind-hearted oll woman with little knowl-
edge OF the world and Is easily imposed
upon. During the last illness of the wife
OF Linares Mrs. Valdez advanced him
small sums OF money at various times,
supplied the necessary medicine. and
even provided Lnares with clothing.
Burke claims that the proposed marrias.
was scheme conceived by some friend of
Llnares, who saw 4 chance to work upon
the sympathies OF tho aged woman to the
| benefit OF Linares and himself Burke
further declares that during the courtship
L.nares endeavored to sell hi. little farm
to Mrs. Valdez for $500, but on his advice
she declined to make the purchase, As in
| his estimation IL was not worth more
! than $50.
Burke stated that he knew nothing of
the contemplated marriage and would not
bave interfered had he bsen aware of
what wa, going on. He further stated
that the cause OF Mrs. Valdez. refusal to
nave tEe ceremony proceed was the way
in which Linares and his friends s conducted
themselves. They were coarse and boi.-
ferrous in their behaviour he said, and
Mrs. Valdez, seeing with a woman's in
stinet what would be her probs bic future
life as the wife OF the plaintiff put a sum-
mary sop 10 The procet dings.