The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-09
A Strange Suit for $4,000
Damages Comes Up.
Single Woman and Married One
Clash Severely.
WIFE AS A DETECTIVE.
Reads Letter and Traces the
Sender Down.
Turns ClairVOyant and Gives
Several Readings.
A Romantic Episode in Arkan-
WIFE AS A DETECTIVE.
A Romantic Episode in Arkan-
sas City Courts.

Arkansas City, Dec. 9.-The Traveller
says: A sensational damage suit has
been filed in the district court of this
county. Margaret Plummer of Tisdale
is the plaintiff. and Kate E. Ralston
of Chickasha, I. T., the defendant. The
petition alleges defamation of character
and Islander as the cause of action. 1t
states, substantially the defendant, in
the presence of Nola Lee and other
persons, called the plaintiff certain vile
names, meaning that she was an I'M
chaste woman; and that she told Ed
Coats to arrest the plaintiff as an adui-
teress. For this the plaintiff asks re-
paration to her feelings in the sum OF
$4,000.
Mrs. Ralston tells this story: About
three years ago she was a widow, at
Morrow, I. T. She had several children,
and was their guardian, there being
considerable property belonging to
them. At the time Of the opening of
the New Country she met man
who called himself DR.. Ralston, and
said he was from Pratt, Kan, or that
part Of the country. He was a man of
fine appearance and excellent behavior,
and the widow after courtship of
d
year ago last September.
Shortly after the marriage Ralston
began to ask her for money for various
purposes, among them to fit up a doc
tors office in Chickasha. In all he OBJ
tanned from her over $500. He also be-
gan to spend much of his time away
from home. He was at Geuda Springs,
Wichita, Pratt, Oxford and other places
in Kansas during the summer. AS such
things will happen, Mrs. Ralston acct
dentally intercepted a letter to the doc
tor, and was at once on a hot trail.
Mrs. Ralston says the letter was not
signed, but was from box "a, Tisdaie,
Kan. Waiting no longer than was nee
essary to perfect her plans, she went
to Winfield. There she took a buggy
and went out to Tisdale. There being
no hotel, she asked the way to the
postoffice and there looked for box "a.
There was nothing in the box but a
door key and some feminine knicknack.
A young woman was distributing the
mail. Now Mrs. RalSton's wits began
to work Naturally, she thought, a
door key would not be in a box belong
ing to any outsider. So she diplomats
cally engaged the clerk who proved tic
be Miss Margaret E. Plummer, in con-
versation.
She began by asking about hotels. Oh
where she could get room. Miss
Plummer said she was rooming by her
self across the road, but ate at another
place. Mrs. RalStOn explained InaI Sn'
was a clairvoyant, looking for a place
to practice her profession. Miss Plum
mer Immediately became interested, ant
wanted a reading. So they went across
the road to the room TO talk 1t over
Mrs. Ralston says Miss Plummer saiC
she had a love affair and wanted II
know how it would end. Mrs. Ralstol
made up a rigamarole as she wen
along that thoroughly entrapped he
victim. She said among other thing
that she wanted some of the man.
writing. She was cheerfully given sever
or eight of the doctors letters whicl
were making dates at various places
the last one for a meeting in Winfield
on December 4. Here Mrs. Ralston toll
the girl who she was and by threats ant
entreaties induced her to promise t
have nothing more to do with the doc
tor, as he was already a married man.
Ralston arrived on the date set, De
cember A. on the Santa Fe. He went t
the Missouri Pacific depot and met Mis-
Plummer, taking her to a roomin
house. This was all seen by the wifi