The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-02-22
Curious Crowds ScrutiniZe the
Dentist Mercilessly.
But He Pays No Heed to Them
Nor Comments.
A SMILE ON HIS FACE.
The Doctor Outlines His De-
Tense in the Trial.
Says He is Worth But 5000
Case Postponed.

Kansas City, Feb. 22.-The largest
crowd that ever attended the trial of
any civil suit in the circuit court was in
Judge Slover's court room yesterday,
ready to hear the testimony in the sem
sational breach of promise suit of Miss
Martha Smith against DR.. Howard S.
Lowry. for $25,OOO damages. People who
were rarely if ever in the court house
before were there, and so many well
dressed women were among the specta-
tors that the interior of the court room
resembled a crowded church congrega-
ton, except that not only were all the
seats filled, but every available bit of
standing room was taken.
DR.. Lowry, whose sensational attempt
and failure to marry Miss Sadye Ander-
son had been the gossip of the city for
the past "a hours, sat at the counsel
table with his lawyers. On the other
side Of the table with her lawyers sat
Miss Martha Smith. All eyes were upon
them. The scrutiny to which DR.. Low
ry was subjected was intensified on ac-
count of the Miss Anderson episode. Not
a particle of change was observable in
the nervy young dentists demeanor.
He appeared as imperturbable as any
one of the spectators and showed no
sign that he knew hundreds of eyes
were bent upon him, and hundreds of
tongues WaSSlng about MIN.
1t was explained to Judge Slower by
the attorneys that Mr.. Walsh, one of
DR. Lowry's lawyers, would be needed
IN the James case again and another
continuance was asked. Judge Shackle-
1ord, or the criminal court, had agreed
that If the Lowry case could wait until
the James jury was selected and the
challenges made, he would not start
upon the trial of the James case until
the Lowry case had been finished. As
today is holiday, Judge Slower con-
tinued the hearing of the case until to-
morrow morning at 10 O'Clock. There
will then be no further delay until the
case is finished
DR.. Lowry has denied a rumor that
the breach of promise suit is to be
compromised with Miss Smith. He SAYS
he could not compromise it if he wished
as he claims Miss Smith is after re-
Venge- He has also outlined his de-
Tense, which will be a denial of a posi-
tive engagement with Martha Smith.
He admitted that he had thought a
great deal of the young woman and
that there was a mutual agreement of
marriage when he should be freed from
debt, providing they still loved each 9TH
er. He claims the line in his letter your
husband to be" was a pleasantly
DR.. Lowry also expects to prove that
he had not ordered Miss Smith to keep
down her expenses while she was trav-
cling for him. He says she sold $500
worth of machines and that her salary
and expenses and the costs of the ma
property he expects to show that Miss
Smiths estimate of his property-she
placing it at $50, 0O0-is fervid magma
tion. The doctor claims that his pro-
perty today would not bring beggarly
S. 600 and that his real estate is incum-
bered. His practice has been cut in two
since this trial began and he says his
best clients have broken engagements
with him.
The entire story of Dr. Lowry's mar
riage scheme has developed. On his side
he claims that the wedding has only
been postponed. On the Anderson side
1t is claimed that the marriage will not
take place at all and that the engage
ment is broken off, and the details of
this side of the case would indicate that
such is the fact. Miss Anderson was
away from home during the whole of
the Smith-Lowry trial She had been
led to believe the entire affair was a
Matchmaking scheme. Miss Anderson
returned home last Saturday evening.
For the first time she saw the accounts
of the trial and read those sizzling let
tiers. Then she called up DR.. Lowry by
telephone and severed their engage
nent But Lowry called at the An
derson home Sunday and was told to go
away after he had tried to plead his
cause. He returned Monday and tried
to persuade Miss Anderson to marry
him. He called up one of his attorneys
and told him he was going to be mar
ried and that he could do what he liked
with the case. Two attorneys went to
the Anderson home. In the afternoon
Lowry got the license and the rest is
known.