The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-05-01
Aged Nh. Compton Says Bad
Health Prevented Marriage.
LOVE LETTERS WERE SINCERE
Still Loves School Teacher Who Is Suing
Him Physician Told Hin He Was Liable
10 Drop OFT at Any Time.

Newark. n. j.. May Its all the doc
tors fault
That's the excuse Charles w. Comp
ton, undertaken. 6S. offered the circuit
court yesterday for not marrying Ida T.
Smith. school teacher 36. after having
asked her three times--ne was positive
it wasn't four
That's the excuse he offered for hav-
ing transferred all hIs property to his
sisters
Looking as digniGed as Il Is possible
for a man TO look when his fervid love-
letters are court records, when his moro
fervid kisses have been reduced TO evil
dence, when a determined woman de-
manding $4,000 for a damaged heart,
Compton was the central figure yester-
day.
That the woman suing him is DETER
mined-read this letter from her, admit
ted in evidence before Compton took the
stand
My Beloved-A day or two have passed
and you have failed TO appear. What am
/ TO understand by your conduct? IL Is
certainly reprehensiblc. You have been
out several times during the last week
Sure your could have managed To give ma
ten minutes OF your time.
You are imposing on my patience. I'M
] waited so long for YOU Yours. by all
that is right and honorable IDA.
MEANT WHAT HE WROTE.
Compton was ready TO admit much
his 6s years. his green-gage plum wooing.
his impassioned letters. his proposals of
marriage, his calls and his kisses--this
much he confessed TO, calply and cooly
THE letters you No Miss Smith
while she was in Connecticut" her coun-
sci asked then-'I ask you now IL you
felt and meant what you wrote theny'
Every word?" came the emphatic an
swer
You did love her?'
"I did"
"Devotedly?"
yes sir
This marriage was 20 have taken place
June Is last?'
Eyes. STR
"Why didn't II take placer
Because OF the advice or my physi-
clan"
Have you ever refused TO marry herY'
mo. sir: never" replied Compton.
moment later the defendant admit
ted that while driving one day I'm De-
cember 1899, he told the plaintiff he
! would have to give her up because OF
his illness.
TRANSFERRED HIS PROPERTY.
But all this was but preliminary to
real trouble for Compton.
Miss Smiths lawyer wanted to know
why. just after his love for Miss Smith
had begun to cool, he had transferred
all his property TO his rour sisters.
Compton fastened TO explain that IL
was because the doctor had told him he
was in, a precarious condition--likely TO
drop off at any time
You knew" the lawyer asked that
on the eve of youI marriage. you a
man past 6S years OF age, were deciding
your property so as TO make your wife
that was to be penniless. didn't your
NO sir / had something else, some
personal property
WAS IL worth S50007"
Possibly"
"Was 1t worth sl0,O0O7"
mo"
do YOU now think ft was right for
Gu, a man 6s 20 transfer all your prop
erty on the eve of a marriage TO wom-
an 20 years old?"
II had a right to do that" said the
defendant defiantly.
Compton testified tDat the day after
he transferred his property Miss Smith
treated him with coolness. Nobody
could blame her for that, her counsel
said, but Compton couldn't see II that
way.
HE STILL LOVES HER, But
From June to Sept. /, 1900" was
asked. " did you call on Miss Smith?"
"No, sir"
you considered yourself stiil en-
gaged?"
Yes
Did you write to ner during that
timer"
NO"
Did you sec herr"
NO.
'Yet you were still IN love with herf'
Not 70 the extent had been"
did you receive letter from her?''
yes"
Did you answer it?''
'No."
eff YOU were to be married on tho 18th
Of June. why dl1 you enter into a con-
tract with your sisters for them to take
care of you. and not your wife,"
This question irritated Compton. fTs
hesitated. He didn't exactly know,
ccpt that he wanted 90 provide for hts
sisters IN case anything happened 10
him.
HIS HEART AFFECTED.
DR. Augustus w. Wendell testified that
Compton was a victim or numerous Ills.
the most serious of which was an az.
fection OF the heart. Or Joseph Few
smith, too, had found Compton's heart
affected.
Us the affection sucn as would maks
it detrimental TO him 70 marry?" ono
of the lawyers wanted 20 know.
con the contrary. I believe marrying
would De decidedly beneficial 90 him.
replied the physician, and there the case
rested until today
RUSSlkS NEW CRUISERS