The sun., 1900-09-27
A TALE OF LOVE AND LIBEL
NEW YORKERS, CUBANS AND A BRIT.
IsH HICE-CONsUL INVOLVED.
Iatter's Alleged Letter About a sham Mar
riaEe In Cuba Basis OF the Libel suits
Brought After Mrs. Robert Clean Had Left
Her Husband and Attempted suicide.

IaterS Alleged Letter About a sham Mar
riaEe In Cuba Basis OF the Libel suits
Brought After Mrs. Robert Clean Had Left
Her Husband and Attempted Suicide.
In suit brought by Louis NJ Clean here TO
recover $4,000 damages for libel from George
Dobson and his wife. Mary Ann Dobson the
scene Is laid In Cuba. The charge Of the plain
tih is that the Dobsons circulated a letter they
said they had received from John S. Harris,
who for twenty-five years has been British
Vice Consul at Sagua la Grande. containing
derogatory remarks about tho plaintin and
his brothers and falsely saying that the plaintin
had gone through a sham marriage In Cuba.
A member Of the Dobson household in this
city for number OF years was Minnie Twit-
chen, an orphan, and a niece OF Dobson. Tho
Dobsons were introduced In 1897 to the three
brothers Robert, William A. and Louis NJ. Clean.
The Cleans are the sons OF wealthy parents
whose property Is In Cuba. Robert Clean
married Miss Twitchen last November and
few days later they set sail for Cuba. They
had intended to reside in Cuba, but Mira. Clean
returned 1ve months later without her hus-
band and told the Dobsons she had been de-
ceived into marrying a man who was already
married. She informed the Dobsons that she
had found in Cleans pocket two letters from
a woman named Antonia, who had four children
OF whom, she said, Robert Clean was the father.
Two Of the children had died OF starvation
during the Spanish war. Mrs. Glcan,atter dlE-
closing this Information, attempted TO commit
suicide
Dobson, after hearing these. matters from
his niece, wrote to Vice Consul Harris TO get
information about Robert Clean and his a eyed
prior marriage Mr.. Harris, az the D0D5ons
sayreplled that he had known the Clean FAMILY
for forty-six years. He named girl, ANITA,
or Antonio St; Ana who some years ago. ne
WTp tarh "a .ha
Robert Clean at the same time as her sister
was married to his brother Louis The letter
witness to the sham marriage were away or
Cea!. Mr.. Harris wrote that he would rather
see a daughter or niece buried than have her
marry one of the Clean boy.
Robert Clean does not appear to have litt-
gated about the letter, but his two brothers
have done SO In the suit 1f Louis NJ, N clean
learned about the alleged sham marriage OF
the two Clean boys. The two girls were
father Of the Clean boys The girls had In
sisted on a marriage, the pChsons aver, and
Robert and Louis Clean invited party 81
friends including Judge age OF that district,
To- Sayiu whore n marriage ceremony was
performed between the two girls and the two
brothers but no record Of the marriage was
damages that. while Robert Clean was court
ing Miss Twitchen, he was writing aneGtlohate
letters, to Antonio In Cuba. saying she was
Louis VI Clean says that he has never mar
ried. and that his brother Robert never mar
ried any one but Miss 1witchen,
On a motion for further particulars OF tho
alleged sham marriage set up In the answer OF
the Dobsons. Justice TrlaN of the supreme
Clean has an action pending to recover $4,000
damages from the Dobsons for circulating parts
Of the Harris letter rejecting upon him as one
OF the clean boys Az an element Of damage
he sets up that his engagement to marry Grace
Viola ByingtOn was declared OF by her when
she learned about the Harris letter
Dtsir rvtn teyllf
A. Clean this summer 10 recover $4,000 dam
ages for statements alleged to have been made
bv him rehecting on her character While the
suit was pending Miss Bylngton sent for Will
liam A. Clean and explained that she had learned
that he had not made the statements against
her and afterward her suit was dropped. On
her motion 20 discontinue she averred that she
was induced by Dobson to sue Clean. Dobson
denies that he induced her to sue.