The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-08-07
MAJOR hRAE 5 ISSUED
For Breach of Promise, De-
ception and Assault.
MARRIAGE BY CONTRACT
Was the Beginning of Miss
Ella PIatt'S Troubles.
MARRIAGE BY CONTRACT

Washington, Aug. S.-Major George A.
Armes, a retired regular army officer liv-
! ing here, has been sued in the supreme
court Of the district Of Columbia for
breach Of promise of marriage by Miss
Ella NJ. Plat, an artist, also of Wash
| ington. Miss Platt fixes her damages at
$4,000, and alleges. besides breach Of
promise, deception and assault.
Armes served with distinction n the
civil war. He was brevetted twice-1nce
for gallant and meritorious service at the
battle of Hatcher's Run, in Virginia, and
once for the same sort Of service during
the campaigns of 1864 and 1860
He entered the regular army at the
close of the war as second lieutenant
Of cavalry, and was retired for physical
disability IN 1883 as captain. He has
just published book giving a history of
his stormy life. He claims to have been
ceurt-martialed more times than any
other officer in the service. The last time
he came before a board was in 1889
Governor Beaver of Pennsylvania was
grand marshal Of the Harrison Inaugural
ration parade. Armes wanted to be an
aide on his staff. Beaver would not
make the appointment. Armes met him
on the night of the parade at the Ebbitt
House and. pulled the governors nose
He was put on parole for five years for
this offense and forbidden to live in the
District of Columbia during that time.
Miss Plat alleges in her bill of partic-
ulars filed with the court that on several
occasions, notably July 20, 1897, and Aug
ust 4, 1897, Major Armes asked her to
marry him and she promised to do So
He at the same time promised to marry
her. Since that time she has repeatedly
asked him to keep his agreement and
marry her, but, she says, he has refused.
She fixes her damages for this treatment
at $4,000.
She then alleges Major Armes told her
that under the laws of the District of Co.
lumbia it was only necessary for man
and woman to draw up an agreement to
live together as husband and wife to be
legally married. She had great faith in
him, and on July %, 1897. signed the fol-
lowing agreement:
I'VE do hereby agree that we will and
do hereby become man and wife, and we
agree to love, honor and obey each other
and to live together as such and for the
mutual benefit of each other"
After both had signed, Miss Plat al
leges, the major told her they would be-
come man and wife at once. She lived
with Major Armes, she says, for four
months, supposing herself to be his law
full wife. Then she discovered that the
agreement had no standing in the law.
She demanded that the major marry her
legally, as he had promised to do. The
major refused to go before a minister or
other lawful agent for marrying and stin
refuses so TO do. Whereupon Miss Plat
thinks she is entitled to $4,000 more.
Miss Plat has other grievances. She
says she entered into contract with
Armes to manage his suburban hotel,
Fairfield" for 20 per cent of the profits
Armes to furnish everything. In month,
She alleges, Armes removed her She
wants $4,000 additional for this breach Of
contract.
Finally, Miss Plat alleges that on Jan
uary 20. 1898, the major assaulted her,
beat her, shook and pulled her, threw
her down and violently kicked her, caus- |
ing her much pain and suffering and |
making it necessary to spend large sums |
for medical attention. She claims So !
900 damages for these alleged indignities. |
By decree signed April %. 1897, Mrs |
Lucy H. Armes was granted a divorce !
from Major George A. Armes. For some /
time prior thereto the parties had figured |
in the divorce courts. Mrs. Armes once
withdrew a proceeding she had insti-
tuted for divorce against the major. Lat
er, however, she filed a new suit, in con-
nection with which she was granted
divorce and the custody of the children
Of the couple. Major Armes is very
rich man. !