Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-03-14
MRS. AYERS EXPLAINS
Defendant in the Anstead Suit
Details Her Relations With
the Merchant.
Claims Former Employer. PART
ner and Lover is Attempt.
ing Blackmail.
Says She Can Show She Does
Not Owe Anstead One Cent
..Latter a Wreck.


The suit recently commenced at Ma
rion, Ind, by O. M Anstead, a former
dry goods merchant of this city, against
Mrs Lizzie Yohn- Ayres, his clerk and
manager, to recover $4,000 alleged to
be due him from the proceeds of the
sale of stock of goods, has brought
forth vigorous reply from the fair de-
PENDANT A recent issue of the Marion
Chronicle contains the following inter
view with Mrs. Ayres, who is now the
wife of a prominent Marion business
man:
II worked for Mr.. Ansted at Mar
shalltown, Iowa. He had a good BUSH
ness there and was a good business
man at that time. He was clever, a
smooth talker, and keen in affairs. He
was successful and prosperous. l was
promoted in his establishment from
time to time, and became it's manager.
I'VE formed the idea of a partnership,
and went to Grand Rapids to carry out
the plan. There 1 received one third
Of the profits. We were betrothed at
that time, my partner and /. But after
che year and half not only was the
Partnership dissolved, but the engage
n.-nt was broken. During our part
nership I found myself imposed upon.
/ did the buying, the bookkeeping, the
banking, the hiring and discharging of
the help. and in fact all the work. Mr..
Ansted dissipated. He at times reached
such a state that he would himself ex-
press doubt as to his own sanity.
Clerks spoke of his queer actions.
'In time / came to fear him. I have
in my possession the newspapers con-
tanning the legal notice of our dissolu-
ton of partnership, together with the
notice as to the payments of accounts
due the firm, etc.
II went to Bloomington. Ill. and with
my savings and sum borrowed from
an uncle 1 opened a store. The only
transaction between Avstead and my
self after my leaving Grand Rapids
were those of business firms, and as
strangers. There was no silent part
nership. Mr.. Ansted's money did not
bought $500 worth of dress goods and
took that lot off Mr.. Ansted's hands.
Later he bought $3.50 worth of cloaks
and handkerchiefs of me for his Deca-
tur store. / paid him for the first lot
and have receipts and correspondence
showing the settlement. At the time
of his assignment at Decatur, whittier
he moved from Grand Rapids. Mr.. An
sted owed me 1925 on this $3.50 account,
and / filed my claim with the assignee,
III due form. and was paid with other
claimants. For this transaction have
proof also. Not only did Ansted owe
me at the time. but he borrowed 81, 900
of me, which he repaid in the mean
time. / have his three notes, and CORE
spondence in which he states that his
is squared, with the last
payment made by him. His attorneys
told me that Ansted claims these notes
were given to me by him as collateral
on which was enabled to raise money.
That statement is untrue, as I can
prove.
AS a matter of fact, after his as
signment at Decatur, Ansted wrote to
me asking for loan of $500, stating
that it would keep him from sinking
I did not lend him that amount.
Sent Her a Knife.
"Ansted has annoyed me greatly.
When was at Bloomington he caused
me great nervousness. He entered the
store at one time with a dagger in his
possession. and left the knife to be de-
livered to me. While at Decatur it is
\, ,ad a y, x,;tl,
volver. He not only drank, but he had
formed the chloroform habit, and had
fallen so low as to be placed in pri-
vate retreat at Jacksonville. He also
was given the Kelly cure at Dwight
and was intoxicated Immediately after
leaving Dwight. / sold my store at
to Miller & Barley, of this
city, and came here some six years ago.
Ansted wrote me to congratulate me
upon the deal had made. He told me
was in luck. He said nothing of any
claim against me.
IT understand Ansted claims he paid
For diamonds in my possession. I can
easily prove that I paid for my own
at Grand Rapids. have rec
ords of each transaction.
II had not heard from Ansted for six
years until last September or August,
then he wrote to me from ST. Paul,
asking me to lend him SIS. He said he
was without clothes, shoes or a place
10 sleep. He wanted to take position,
ne declared, and needed the money to
prepare for work. He did not mention
at that time any claim he held against
ne. and simply begged for SIS. He had
placed 1-cent stamp on the letter and
declared that ne could not raise funds
with which to buy a 2-cent stamp. n
showed the letter to Mr.. Ayres, de-
stroyed it and did not answer.
"Ansted's appearance here was sur
prise to me. His attorneys told me that
Ansted claims he did not know I was
n Marion. But if he did not know of
ny presence here, how does he explain
he request of last fall for a loan?
"Ansted's presence in town was first
Known to me positively when Landlord
Norris, of the Virginia, told Mr.. Ayres
# the presence there of Ansted, who
seemed to know me. 1t was stated at
irst that Ansted spoke very we'll of us.
Then, as I expected he called at the
rouse. He asked for $40, saying that
le expected to take a position with |
Ioldthaft & Sons. and that he must /