West Virginia daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1894-1902, 1902-06-03
OIL NAN SUED
FORs4(,OOQ.
Mrs. Cora B. Davis Says Theo-
dore Barnsdall,
MILLIONAIRE OPERATOR
Pr SmIsea 10 Make Her His wife :
she Sets Forth q Strange Contract.

Mrs. Cora B. Davis has sued
Theodore N. Barnsdall In an Ale
gheny county court for $40, 900
damages. The action Is akin to a
suit for breach of promise to marry
and contains some unusual as well
as sensational features, although
the alleged contract on which the
suit was brought was not one for
the actual marriage of the plaintiff
and the defendant.
BarnsdaN Is the well-known mil
lionaire oil operator and the plain
tiff Is a woman who admits being
his mistress for long time. Barns
dali Is married and has two daugh.
tiers, who are at present, 1t Is said,
attending school. His marital af-
fairs we're aired considerably some
years ago through actions between
them In court. AS far as Is known
they are not divorced. Attorney
James A. Wakefield Is counsel for
the plaintiff.
Every effort possible has been
made to suppress the facts of the
case from the public, but the state
ment was finally filed. Mrs. Davis
says she met Barnsdall at Mt. Glen.
ems, Mich. In October, 1894, when
she was 1o years old. BY artful
devices, she says. he won her afiec-
lions and caused her to become
greatly interested In him.
She says he told her he had a
suite pending for divorce from his
wife, and expected to be a single
man soon. He then sent her mon
ey. In May, 1895. Under profess
sions of love and promise, of mar
rage as soon as he got his divorce.
she says she was betrayed by him
and they afterwards travelled extern
sively together. From Plttsburg
she says they went to Marietta O.,
New York and other places as man
and wife, being so represented by
him, she ayers, to people they met.
In the summer of 1895 she says he
took up quarters on Ninth street,
Plttsburg, where they lived as man
and wife for two years, at the end
of which time, In May, 1897, they
went to Avery's Hotel, Mt. Glenn
ems, Mich. where they remained
until August, 1897. There she
says he paid her bills and then they
returned to Marietta, Ohio, as hus-
band and wife. She says she was
held out as such there until May,
I898,when he furnished handsome
home for her In Columbus, Ohio.
There they lived as Mr.. and Mrs.
Thomas Bell until July 1o, 1898.
While there a daughter was born
to them. They left Ohio and.
travelling as man and wife, stop
ping at Browns Palace Hotel, In
Denver, Col, for several months,
after which they went to Los An.
geles, CAL, until he was to get dl.
vorce then pending. She remained
there until April 1899, when he
furnished her a home In Chicago,
ILL.,, where she lived as Mrs. Thee
dore Barnsdall for three months.
He then sent her to Europe, and
booked her as his wife. She re-
NAMED abroad ten weeks and came
to New York city on her return.
There she lived for seven weeks
more, after which she went to De-
troit, Mich. All this time and In
Detroit, Mich, she says she was
held out to be his wife. In Detroit
differences arose between them In
March 1900, and they decided to
end their relations. She says she
agreed to get married and quiet the
fears and suspicious of his wife If
he would pay her $40 600 for the
maintenance and education of her
daughter, would buy her a home
and give her $50. COO cash. She
got married In March 1900, and
now says that Barnsdall has not