The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-09-17
$4,000 FOR
BREAKING
VOW TO WE'D
Romance Of Mary Ball and
OppsnhsIm Began In Skating
Rink, Now In Courts.

New York. Sept 17.-Papers have been
dled In suit brought against
David Herman Oppenheim. OF No. 1873
West Fifty-eighth street. by James s.,
McEvilly, counsel for Mary Ball. who,
alleging breach of promise. demands $SO,-
900 as a balm for her wounded heart. Mr..
Oppenheim. in the court OF special ses-
sions, will also be called upon 10 defend
an action brought to compel him to sup
port an infant, whose father Miss Ball
alleges he is.
Had IT not been that a skate strap
slipped, resulting in a fall and sprained
ankle for Mary Ball. II is improbable that
she would ever have met the man whom
she is now suing. 1t was at the St
Nicholas rink that the mlshap occurred
Mr.. Oppenheim was there and when a
pretty young woman dropped at his feet
II was natural that he should raise her
and lend such assistance as he could
The young woman, then just II years
old, was pretty and winsome. with pink
and white complexion. golden hair and
blue eyes and a dainty figure. When she
struggled 20 her feet she found that her
ankle had been so twisted that she could
Young Oppenheim supported Miss Ball
70 a seat and helped take off the offend
ing skate. Then he offered 10 see her
home at Concord. Staten Island. He sent
for his own carriage. according 10 the
story by Miss Ball. and after the two
had enjoyed a supper. she was driven
home, and before they parted she had
consented that ne should. call upon her.
PROPOSED MARRIAGE.
Friendship quickly rpened into love.
and she alleges that Mr.. Oppenheim did
not lose much time In proposing marriage
to her. She accepted his offer. and her
parents were not so favorably inclined
There was a delay that fretted the young
woman, and finally she told her parents
that she had been married TO the young
man she loved. They established home
lat No. Il2 West Fifty ninth street, where
they were known as Mr.. and Mrs. Bah.
It being explained that they took that
name until the relatives OF the young
man could be brought to reason.
From their first home Mr.. and Mrs
ball" moved to No. PCS Columbus ave-
|nue. where they lived until last June.
|when they parted. According 10 the story
told by Miss Ball. she believed In the
|promises of Mr.. Oppenheim 20 marry her
until she found that he had other affec-
'tions than those showered upon her. A
hat which she had never ordered and
which she had never received. She says
| that she learned that Mr.. Oppenheim
was living not far away with another
woman. and that he had retained the
name OF Bali In his second establish
ment.
When the young man was accused by
the young woman. she alleges that ne as
saulted her, and that most OF her cloth
ling was torn away. She also says that
she was literally driven from her home
and was compelled to return 10 her pa
rents, who then, for the first time, learned
.that their daughter was not a wife in
name.
No answer to the suit has been made
by Mr.. Oppenheim. but II IL understood
that he will fight and that he will have
the support OF his relatives. His parents
are said to have considerable wealth, and
he is also. said to have come into n for
hume himself a few years ago. He Is
an enthusiast on the subject OF automo-
b!les, and has. frequently been in trouble
with the police as a result of his liking
For speeding his machine through the