The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-07-22
WIFE WINS
FROM WIDOW.
Mrs. Gazzsm Must Pay Mrs.
Reading $4,000 Damages.
THE GLAMOUR OF HER WEALTH.
Wsansa Reading From His Homs-Hs
Managed The Widows Affairs and She
Wrote Soulful Poems.

Philadelphia. July 22.-The Supreme
court CT pennsylvania. the court OF last
resort, has affirmed the decision OF the
lower court Of one year ago in the famous
suit OF Mrs C. Charlton Reading against
Mrs. Anna Reading Gazzam, a wealthy
widow. for $4,000 damages Or the aliena-
tion Of the affections OF MIR. Reading.
The suit contained a novel legal prop
osition, since there was no charge OF ex-
IRENE ~FeHgasing =eI=tAse part al either
Mrs. Gazzam or Mr., Reading. The ac-
cusation was rather that the glamour of
the widows wealth had made the hus-
band dissatisfied with the surroundings
OF his own home and with his family un-
Ill finally he was weaned entirely from
the family hearthstone.
Mrs. Gazzam is the daughter of the
late John q. Reading. who left her the
bulk OF his great fortune. She is the
widow OF ex-State Senator Joseph NJ
Gazzam. She has spent much OF her time
abroad and OF late years has had "A home
at cornwall-on-the-H Hudson, n. Y. She
has written verses and short stories OF
the soulful kind.
O. Charlton Reading. a third cousin OF
Mrs. Gazzom, lives i'm Williamsport this
state He had a wife and several chill
dren. AT one time he was well-to-do,
but lost his money. His wife has money
in her own right
my SPIRIT SOUGHT YOU"
The evidence showed that the friend
ship between the defendant and Mr.
Reading began in 1892 and continued up
10 the time OF the suit He was EN-
ployed by her as her business adviser.
a. In FOR %
such duties was required TO accompany
her frequently on extended tours.
In 1892 he went with her 10 the White
Mountains and both stayed at the same
hotel. She went 10 Europe the follow
ing year and then decided to build a
home near New York City. or course
II was necessary for her business ad-
wiser TO accompany her when she was Sc
lecting site. and after she had settled |
upon Cornwall he lived at a hotel there |
while e house was In course Of con-
struction. She lived at the same hotel /
About this time Mr. Reading was made |
president OF the williamsport Gas COM
pany, In which Mrs. Gazzam held stock
When she went to Williamsport she did |
not stop At the Reading home. because
she was such an invalid.
Supplemental TO the testimony the
plaintiff introduced various letters from
Mrs. Canaan TO Mr. Reading which !
were found by Mrs. Reading on her
fathers dressing case. The attorneys
Insisted that they were not strictly busi-
nesslike I'm tone
II am spoiled and lonely for talk with
you.' one letter declared. Another set
forth: "fntultively my spirit sought YOU
AZ your window last Sunday" A third had
q; Il was sorry TO learn that no welcome
awaited you when YOU returned home
christmas. But there are other houses
where you would be welcomed.
The main contention Of the defense
was that woman has no property In
her husbands affections. and that II had
rot been shown that Mrs. Gazzam had
alienated Mr.. Readings affections To |
his Judge Mccarthy dissented
"A wife has equal rights with her hus-
,and.v he decided. ''the loss OF which en-
titles 10 action" The Jury brought YER
iict for s2S.0oo
MIDNIGHT sTRoLLs. fl
In reviewing the verdict, justice Brown
writes:
zone witness testified that having come ,
Unexpectedly upon the defendant and
Reading IN hotel at Williamsport she
ound them sitting on very small
oungs and he had his arm around her
md she was leaning on him. and
'thers relate how Mrs Gazzam and
heading spent months at a resort az
Hudson: how he was
'onstantly in her bedroom; that they were :
IRVING together. and strolled alone at
light through the dark lawn until late
lolrs. al times not returning TO the hotel
lntil ~ ar 1 O'Clock
1T may he that the defendant is guilt
sfs OF what she has been convicted No /,
inele letter written by her. and no one !
&C. testified 10 rs having been done by ,
ter would he sufficient 10 support the
,rave accusation against her. hut all ,
hal she DID and all that she wrote taken :
ogether presents such a case that n fury ,
Hone could pass upon the question OF /,
Ter guilt" !
An Tmnarial poat