The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1901-02-21
ONECENT
BREACH OF
PROMISE.

Philadelphia, Pa, February 90
Colonel Joseph f. Tobias, millionaire
10 years old and almost dying from
nervous paralysis, widower OF only
eighteen months, is the defendant In
a breach of promise suit. Miss Mill
am Brooke Collins, Of New York, q
handsome brunette, 26 years old, says
that the colonel has wounded her
feelings. her spirit and social stand
ing in falling to keep his promise to
marry her to the extent OF $50, 600.
Colonel Tobias was arrested yester.
day on acapias issued by Judge PEN
nvpacker, of Common Pleas Court,
No. 2, to insure his appearance In
that court.
In her retition Miss Collins says
she formed the acquaintance OF the
colonel five years ago when she was
81 years of age and while he was
many years her senior he was SO ex-
tremely devoted in his attention to
her and SO earnest in his protestatlOns
of love that she consented to become
his bride, gs
lie had convinced her she says
that he possessed ample wealth 20
maintain her in manner which she
thought betitting her station IN lie,
and to which she had been accustom-
cd. She says he did not desire To
marry at once, saying that he re-
duired some little time to arrange
his business affairs, and to rake the
necessary preparations for the we'd
ding. AS there was no reason Tor
immediate haste in the matter Miss
Collins says she readily consented to
await the colonel's convenience. NJ
At all their interviews he spoke
enthusiastically of the Joy he would
experience when his fondest hopes
would be realized and they, too,
should be made husband and wife.
But month after month slipped away
and nothing more was mentioned
about a definite date for the marriage
although the colonel, Miss Collins ad-
mits, was as ardent lover as ever.
She broached the subject to him
with all the delcacy possible fora
lady, only to receive the most endear.
ing and loving letters filled with re-
pcatcd promises and pleadings for de-
lay. Finally becoming assured In her
own mind that Tobias was trifling
with her feelings, after having
monopoizcd the best years of her lllc
and having kept her from enjoying
the company OF other men by delud-
ing her with cruel promises and raise
ay1wals she determined to bring suit.
Colonel Tobias is one of the most
prominent club men about town. no
is a retired liquor merchant and MS
| wife died about eighteen months ago,
| leaving him widoWer ana one
daughter, who has since married
wealthy brewer of Dublin, Ireland.
1t is said he had intended to make
| his home with her as soon as niS
health would permit. In consequences
| of his intended removal from TINS
country Miss Collins precipitated the
above mentioned trouble.
MANY friends Of the colonel allege
| that the whole thing is a scheme 10
make trouble for him and money for
the girl. and are loud in their asser-
tions that ii would be impossible Tor
anyone as prominent as Colonel Iooi-
as 10 conceal even If he wished 70,
from Miss Collins, the fact that wheili
he was calling upon her his wife was
living. Therefore it would havs
been simply impossible for her to ac-
bept his promise of marriage, II no
had any, as serious.
The colonel was too i'll to discuss
the matter last evening. He had re-
leased on 1000 bail to appear az
court when wanted, aud unless set
tlemcnt is made soon he will not DO
able to make the journey abroad, az
his physical condition is daily De-
coming more serious.