Waterbury Democrat., 1902-07-02
BREACH OF PROMISE SUIT.
The Woman in the Case Was Formerly a Barber on South Main Street.


 Barber on South Main Street.
 The penultimate scene in the breach of promise suit of Victoria l.. Cotting- ham, formerly of thiss city, against John H. Dale of Springfield, Mass, took place in the district court this morning before Judge Cowell, in q hearing on damages against James Moore for 1,90S and Bridget Shea for $S44.
 Miss Cottingham was formerly a barber here, her shop being on South Main street. In the short time that she lived here she became fairly well known and quite popular. After leav- ing here she went to Meriden and lived there for some time. Then she moved to Springfield and there re- sumed her business as a barber.
 It was while living in that city that Miss Cottingham became acquainted with MT Dale. Dale was raveling man representing large interests in Spring field and Boston and was said to be first class man in his line of business. At all events there is every indication that he was q most successful drum mer, because he accumulated consid- erable property at one time, but eyen- tually disposed of it. He had, how ever, quite sum of money on deposit in the Springfield savings banks and 1t appears that during his intimacy with the fair barber he hinted of this. Their acquaintance arose through the woman's business. The drum mer liked to be shorn and shaven by the fair barber. He used to pass her shop oftener than he had business, and as time went along he used to drop in there and spend a good deal deal of time, whether or not he wished to be shaved or have his locks trim med. He frequently took her fruit and candies and eventually to all ap- pearances they were acknowledged sweethearts. One winters day the fair barber remarked there was some thing wrong with the stove in her shop and straightway Dale proceeded and bought q new stove. This and sundry actions indicated to Miss Cot tingham that the situation was be- coming decidely interesting and soon after the stove incident the announce ment was made that they would mar- Iry very soon. Then Dale became cool. He was away oftener than be- fore. Letters at first warm with af- lection. soon cooled. Two or three times these letters said he was ready to marry her, but his actions denied them. Finally his visits and his let ters ceased altogether. Then there was a resumption of the old order of things. Miss Cottingham meanwhile had removed from Springfield, but at Dale's solicitation she moved back. But they never married and Miss Cot tingham returned to this city and be came housekeeper to a we'll known family. She consulted Attorney Car mody as to the, probable result of suit for breach of promise of marriage and one was entered for $10000. The hearing was held in Springfield and it was the most Imaginable ever held in that city. The defendant tried to show that an old man named O'Sulli- van, who was considered pretty we'll off" had eyes on the fair barber. He was put on the stand, but all ques- tions he parried with the easy humor of an intelligent Irshman of the old, old school. While a great deal was intimated, all that was shown of his actions regarding the fair barber was that she once in while received from him bag of oranges. The result of the hearing, which was before a jury, was q verdict for $5.000, one of the largest sums ever awarded woman in q suit of that character in Massa- chusetts. Dale's savings were not enough to satisfy the verdict His house was sold everything of value he was possessed Of was seized, among them being two mortgages on property held by the defendants in the present case, James Moore and Bridget Shea, both of Rockville. The hearing against these this morning before Judge Cowell was to get legal posses sion of the mortgages and judgment was given in each case, against Moore for $1,90S and against Mrs Shea for $S44. The next scene will be the turning over of the mortgages to MT Carmody's client and then Mir Dale will have cause sufficient to remem- Der his love episode with Victoria l.. Cottingham.