The Portland daily press., 1897-10-01

ueQ ana restless when away IrOm you.
think it is wicked for us to live apart in
this way, don't you? You will come and
see me tomorrow evenings? Mamma and
papa want you to. 1t was only that you
were in my room, that is all. Mamma
was perfectly willing and she knew how
happy you made me. But papa is rather
peculiar about such things. He said that
If we were engaged, all right, and dear.
aren't we the same as engaged? Only the
outside world doesn't know it. | am
beginning to think true love doesn't run
smooth. Never mind, sweetheart. Ais
well that ends we'll. promised you
l would have patience and wait u little
time and will try to keep my promise.
Six months Of probation or even year
seems long time after having waited
seven years.
Write and tell me just how you feel
toward me, sweetheart With lots of love
and Kisses believe me ever your own.
| KIT
The other letters produced did OF differ
materially from those given above.
| Mr. Melcher testified that he is fifty
years of age. The defendant called often
at his house before his first wife died.
Immediately upon his death of his wife
| in May 1886 he began 20 receive letters
from Mrs. Dingley-Hadley. He did not
see the de endant for sometime after she
commenced to write the letters. His wife
died in May and some time in June, Mrs.
Dingley and her daughter, the defendant
in this case, began to call at his house.
The first interview he had with Mrs.
Hadley alone was at her own house. She
then asked him if there was any woman
he cared more for than he did for her.
Mr.. Melcher said at that time he told
her he could not think of talking ABOUT
ynarriara co soon after the, death of his
wife.
Mr.. Melcher said that the defendant
asked him If they could not be pledged to
be married and he said that if he married
her, as he was a poor man, people would
say it was for htr money. She replied
that she did not care for that. She loved
him and that was enough. She said she
had had other chances and refused them.
Being asked who these others were the
witness said he did not care to mix others
up in the case and did not wish to
answer the question and it was not
pressed.
Mr.. Melcher then told of his frequent
visits to Mrs. Hadley and how finally
she wished him to pledge himself to her
He told her that IL at the end of six
months he felt the same towards her as he
did then he would pledge himself to
marry her. She did not wish to wait,
but finally said she would wait for three
months. II gave her ring as a pledge
that would keep my word at the end Of
three months. The present was a ring
which my wife used to wear
II went to Mr.. Dingley's house often
after that and played whist many times
with Mr.. and Mrs, Dingley and Mrs.
| IIadley About January ioth, I had a
talk with Mrs. Dingley. / told her that
i liked her daughter and that thought
she did me. told her that / was not in
good circumstances but thought could
support wife"
'What did Mrs. Dingley ssyf''
"She seemed pleased and consented. -
Afterwards l had talk with Mr..
Dingley. told him loved his daughter
and thought had reason to think she
did me. He asked about my means and
/ told him I had been unfortunate in
business, bat had about $1,000 and could
take care of my wife. Mr.. Dingley said
that If it was satisfactory to his wife and
to Lou it was to him. After that the
witness said he became engaged to Mira.
Hadlsy.
~ gave her q diamond solitaire ring
: which was marked January 1st, 1897, the
date of our engagement. Our friends and
neighbors all knew of the engagement. /
proceeded to arrange for the marriage
which was fixed for the 9Th of June. l
preferred Septemb Der, but she wished the
marriage in June and consented.
eve were to live at 23 Drummond street
and repairs were begun on the house.
The repairs were made under the direc-
tion largely of Mrs. Hadley. My mother
went away in May or June. l did not
wish to bring wife home to care for
my mother and SO she was going to
Chicago to live with my sister
Mr.. Melcher said that he incurred
debts to the amount OF about $3.50 in re-
pairing the house. Mrs. Hadley prepared
her ward robe for the wedding trip. 1t
cost her about $500. She paid 500 for
her travelling gown. / bought bag to
match this for which paid ss. She has
1t now"
Mrs. Hadley had been to Boston and
she was taken sick with sciatic rheuma-
tism. This made it necessary to postpone
the wedding. The wedding was then
fixed for June 30. She went to Boston on
Sunday. The Friday night before that
drove around to the house to take her
to drive. She came out and said there
was man there to see her father He
was from Bangor apd was to talk over
business matter. Her father wanted her
present to hear the conversation SO as to
testify to it 1t anything came up after
wards. Her mother came out and pro-
posed we should drive out ways, and
when we were coming back we met the
team which was at the door of the house
and l thought l recognized the man in
the carriage as Mr.. Hadley from Call
fornia whom had seen several years be-
FORE"
| ~ came back and left Mrs. Dingley
and Louise went to drive with me. |
noticed no difference in her conduct to-
wards me. The next day, Saturday, /
was told by Mrs, Hadley that she was not
feeling we'll. She said she was going to
Boston and New York, and perhaps to
the mountains.
| a." That Saturday night was the last time
| he saw her. She acted towards him as
usual, and before he went away sine
| hugged and kissed him. She said she