Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-10-26
DAM AGES CLAIMED
Mai Lucy Lection Sues Senator Will
liam V. Sullivan.
ASKS FOR FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS
Plaintiff Alleges Breach of Promise
of Marriage.
PA p T r S FL L f d TO ID A Y

PAPERS FILED TODAY
Senator William V. Sullivan of Mississippi
was today sued by Miss Mai Lucy Lection
for $4,000 damages. which she claims have
resulted to her through breach of promise
of marriage on the part of the defendant.
Rumors of the filing of the suit have been
in the air for several weeks past, Miss Lee
ton having been in the city during the
time in consultation with her attorney, AL
bert SilIers. The suit placed record
shortly after noon today, and it is stated
that the plaintiff is to leave for her former
home in Mississippi this afternoon. She
was at the city hall at the time her declara-
ton was filed. but declined to discuss the
nat:-r, saving that her bill set forth all
the facts.
The first paragraph Of the declaration
states the cause of action, and says that
Miss Lection promised to marry Mr.. Sulli-
van. and he undertook and promised to
marry her. And she AYERS that she con-
fided in his promise, and has remained sin
gle. and until the defendant without
cause or right refused to marry her was
ready and willing to marry him.
Miss Lection recites that she met the de-
PENDANT about October I. 1895, at his law
office in the town of oxford, Miss. He was
employed at that time TO defend her
brother-in-Iaw. She declares that Senator
Sullivan was then and is a widower,
his wife having died in the month of June,
1895 He was a distinguished lawyer and
was known TO her only by reputation, and
she had never conversed with him except
in a professional way.
Miss Lection further says that at the
time she met Senator Sullivan she was
married woman. but was not living with
her husband. She resided with her mar
ried sister ten miles in the country, in
Lafayette county The evening of the
first day she met him, she alleges, Mr..
Sullivan wrote her a note. asking her to
call at his office; that he wished to see
her professionally. and. too, that he was
very much taken with her appearance and
wanted to see and know more Of her.
Alleges She Was Humiliated.
She declares she felt Inundated by the
sudden and unexpected attention of so
distinguished a man and of short ac-
quaintance. Following this, she says, Mr..
Sullivan called upon her the next week
and began by wiles and articles to in
duce her to accompany him on a journey
to Chattanooga. Tenn. where he said he
was called on urgent business. she re-
fused to leave her home with a man she
had known 50 short a time.
According to the declaration Senator Sui
livan then asked her to correspond with
him and she agreed. letters passing be
tween them each day She declares ne
vowed himself to be very much infatuated
and urged an early journey She hnally
agreed To accompany him to Memphis,
Tenn. He sent buggy out TO her country
home for her to come in the evening OF de-
parture. as she had agreed to spend day
in the city and return the evening OF the
same DAY She says he promised not to
say one word 10 her that he would not say
to his daughter. So they continued on these
terms for four months, Mr.. Sullivan prom
Using that he would secure a divorce Tor
her from her husband.
And by his wiles and articles" con-
tinues the petition, and his protestatfons
of affection he began 10 take advantage OF
the plaintiff. not only to win her affections,
but to finally and fully dominate and con-
troll her and her life About the LIST of De
New Orleans with Mr.. Sullivan and to
BAY ST. Louis, where by his promise OF
marriage and professed affection, she lived
with him. On numerous occasions, she
saws she desired and proposed to terni
nate her Illicit relations with the defendant
but he objected and urged her to continue
About January l, 1896 Mr.. Sullivan, the
declaration AYERS. placed Miss Lection in
Nelson's Business College, Memphis to give
her business education, that she might be
able to do his office work, and thereby re-
main with him until his wife had been dead
a sufficient length of time for him, with
propriety, to marry the plaintiff after he
had secured for her divorce During this
time her college tuition and board, she says,
were paid by the defendant and in May
1897, through his efforts before the chan
Gerry court of Lafayette county. Miss, the
her husband.
Plaintiff Comes to Washington.
When Mr.. Sullivan came to Washington
TO fill his first term as a representative she
remained al school several months, when,
At his request, she came on here with him
about May 10, 1897. She declares they lived
together in Alexandria for three months as
Mr.. and Mrs. w L. Sutton. he introducing
her as his wife. She declares she asked him
TDlf Dr1oiS - MAJ T.
rage, when he stated he wanted TO COM
plete her education she would never
make mistake and could appear to better
advantage as his wife when he should be
called upon to occupy a higher position
Fully trusting in him, the petition to the
court recites, Miss Lection was placed by
Mr.. Sullivan in the Fauquier Female Insti-
tute. at WarrentOn, Va. the defendant in
forming the professor that the plaintiff was
his niece, and that all her reports should be
sent him.
She remained there from January until
June, 1Sss. during which time. she alleges,
Mr. Sullivan wrote to her every day, prom
Using he would marry her in the summer,
after the institute closed.
She declares further that about this time
she had an offer of marriage from young
man who lived near her home. She asked
Mr. SulliVans consent to break her rela-
tions with him. but he urged and insisted
that she should not marry the young man
from Mississippi. bat to wait and that he
(SuIivanD would marry her that summer
in Washington. So, trusting in his prom
ises. she says, she refused to marry any
else.
When Mr.. Sullivan appointed to the
United States Senate by the governor of
Mississippi. in June. 1895. Miss Lection de-
CIares she came this city and lived with
him a $50 18th street, being introduced by
him as his niece. The defendant deferred
their marriage from time to time she says
she being ready al all times to fulfill her
promise
Promised in Presence of Others.
Miss Lection says that Mr.. Sullivan S
promises 10 her We're made in the presence
of other persons. and that the relations ex-
istinG between her and the defendant were
known to other persons. and his statements
that she his aflanCcd wife and that he
was to marry her soon after the death
of his wife as he could do with propriety.