Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-04-12
THE VALUE OF A KISS
Mrs. stayton, of Riohland Center, Wis,
Wants $4,000 for Three smacks Sur
reptitiously Taken - Court Room
Crowded at the Trial.

Richland Center, Wis, April 12-Are
three kisses, alleged to have been taken
from Mrs. Sarah Stayton by David G.
James, former G. A. r. department
commander of this state, worth $4,000:
This is the question which a jury has
to determine some time today and
which has brought every farmer and
his wife for miles around to this city.
Robert Stayton and his wife, on jan
1, 1901, were engaged by Defendant
James to run his farm three miles from
here. The first of February Mrs. Stay
ton says David James came to the farm
house took from her kiss. and de-
parted carrying basket OF eggs. Enc
kiss was not obtained without consid-
cradle difficulty, but Mrs Stayton says
1t left her speechless with humiliation.
Mr.. James is charged with repeating
this operation on March 81, and with
making an attempt which failed on
April 10.
However, these osculatory episodes
did not interefer with the Staytons re-
manning on the farm until Dec. 81. NOW
Mrs. Stayton says she intends to have
satisfaction, and has commenced a liti-
cation which promises to make the suit
of Stayton VS.. James as famous as that
CT Bardell VS.. Pickwick
Robert Stayton. who has leaped into
fame as the husband OF Mrs. Stayton,
is one of the plain people and figures
but little in the proceedings. For TWEEN
ty-five years he has been the husband
of the woman whose kisses are worth
$4,000 each, and yesterday afternoon
was the first time that the breezes OF
Htchland Center had encountered his
whiskers. This was when he entered
the court room with his wife leaning on
his arm. The court room was crowded
and hundreds Of eyes were turned upon
the pair. Mrs. Stayton bore the scru-
tiny calmly, but it lasted only few
moments.
The crowd gazed with surprise upon
David James, for they could not believe
he had kissed the woman. But Mrs.
Stayton is confident OF proving her
case, as she declares that Eli. her son,
saw one Of Mr.. James alleged attempts
upon her. When the plaintiff was asked
in a recent deposition why she did not
call upon her offspring for assistance
she replied:
.,Twarn.t none OF his business, and
besides, l amt afraid of no darned
man."
Mrs. Stayton is q large, robust wom-
an, and the defendant, while still q Wig
crous veteran, is nevertheless on the
down hill Of life. He is one of the most
prominent citizens of Richland Center.
and has conducted a hardware store
here for years. He is the best-known
G. A. R. man in the state, is a member
of the Shiloh battlefield monument
commission, and is active in politics. He
declares he will spend his last dollar to
fight the case, and says that the only
motive of it is malice on the Staytons'
part for his refusal to pay them $52 for
the board OF dog while they were ten
ants of his farm. Furthermore Mr..
James has no fear of the suit going
against him, and when the trial is cons
cluded, he says, he will have more to
say.
However, Richland Center was never
in the throes of such excitement before,
and the country for miles around has
but one topic of conversation. g. A. r.
buttons predominant on the streets, and
the veterans who have never flinched
in the presence of an enemy say they
would have done so in the presence of
Mrs. Stayton. The trial will probably
not last long, as Judge Clemenston, who
Il: presiding, has a reputation for
Fastening matters.