The San Francisco call., 1897-10-03
Tells of the Breaking
of the Engagement
With Melcher.
Discussed the Approaching
Wedding and Parted the
Best of Friends.
The Fair Defendant Relates an In
teresting Story While on the
Witness Stand.

LEWISTON. Me, Oct. 2.-The evidences
in the Mecher Hadley case is all in and
the arguments will be heard Monday.
The fair defendant was on the stand most
most of the forenoon to-day. Her testi-
mony was in substance that while there
had been an engagement, yet no time for
the wedding had been set; that Melcher
had given her presents. part OF which she
had returned; that she understood they
were 10 be married and 10 live at Mr.
Melcher's house, which house was to be
furnished at the expense OF both; that
the engagement was broken a week prior
TO the Friday evening when she made the
matrimonial alliance with Mr.. Hadley
that Meicher knew of her promise to
marry Mr.. Hadley, ard that he congratu-
lated her and wished her all future hap
piness in he: Western home. Her ap-
proaching wedding was discuss. ID freely,
and Mr.. Melcher understood it thor
oughly, and he said in parting: "Well,
Louise, we part the best of friends"
She invited Mr.. Melcher to drive her
out that last evening" but when he came
she wished to have conversation with
another gentle N an, and excused herself
for twenty minutes. When Mr.. Melcher
called again she asked him to put up his
horse and come in, and he did so. This
was the night they parted 1.-The best of
friends" which was the Friday evening
before the departure for Boston on Sun
dav to arrange for the wedding with Mr..
Hadley. Mr.. Hadley had a conversation
with her father that Friday evening.
Hon. j. DingIey, father of Mrs Hadiey,
was the next witness. He denied en-
phatically several important statements
! made by Mr.. Melcher in regard to conver-
satlons with him He never gave his con-
sent to his daughters marriage to Mr..
Melcher. Witness stated that Mr.. Meleher
said that he was afraid Louise had made
a mistake In going to California.
Everything Mr.. Melcher said seemed to
indicate that the marriage contract be-
tween himself and his daughter had been
| Cancelled some little time before At the
afternoon session Mr.. Melcher was called
in rebuttal. He denied, many OF the inn
portant statements of the defendant and
her prime pal witnesses and affirmed his
own statements.
+ Mrs. Hadley was called and denied the
sta tements of Mrs. Berry and others.
Tie first witness this forenoon, Mrs. j.
DinGley, m other of Mrs. Hadley, tes-
titied positively that there had been no
correspondence with her daughter during
her engagement with Mr.. Melcher, but
that she had met Mr.. Hadley several
years before. She was present the even
ing OF the parting between her daugh hter
and Mr.. Melc er. Mr.. Melcher did not
en- brace or kiss her daughter; he simply
shook hands and said, Louise, we shall
continue to be good friends"
The message Mr.. Melcher gave to the
witness on the train on the way to Boston
just prior. to the Hadley marriage was,
Tell Louise that it Is all right between
u.s." Here is a saccharine m ersel from
one of Mr.. Melcher's letters to Miss
DinGley:
chow would like to see my sweetheart
just now and give her good hugging and
lots of kisses, and l know that she would
respond with as many in return as l could
Civ. WHAT DO you say TO that, my love?
think II is rather too bad that you are
having such a bad time with your ankle,
and | would like 10 bathe and bandage it
for you. l well know that / could do you
good and help the ankle some, don't you
thinks? Much love and many kisses for
yOu sweet one