The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-07-19
Before Death He Is Said to Have
Spoken of Taking "Sweet-
heart" With Him.
REFERRED TO MISS PIERCE.
Lewis Lyon Proved an Important
Witness for Plaintiff in the
Suit Involving Dead Cap
italists Estate.

months before his death. to Lewis Lyon OF
No. SSi2 Olive street. according to the lat
ter's testimony yesterday. taken by deposit
ton in the Fierce-Imboden suit.
Lyon was much surprised at this dis
closure. He laughed and said to 1mboden
Surely. you are joking"
mo, indeed. Lou; that's right" an
| swered Imboden.
We'll, who is 1t, Luke?" Lyon Their
asked
THE little dark-eyed lady whom you saw
the other day in the safe deposit offices"
The above conversation. as related In evil
dence, is thought to be important in the
legal action. upon the issue of which hangs
the disposition Of n $4,000 estate. 1t is
looked upon by Attorney Joseph Wheless,
representing the petitioner. Lille Belle
Pierce. as indicating yelled expression on
the part of Imboden of formally marrying
the plaintiff soon rs his daughter, who
but lately became Mrs. ]. G. Parrish, was
welded.
According to the story told by the plain
| tiff. the common-law marriage contract was
to be absolutely secret until after the
daughters wedding Everybody concerned.
| Miss Pierce AYERS, was bound 20 the closest
secrecy until the event TRANSFERRED. Then
| was the public announcement TO be made
| and the casual words of Lyon are taken
| as limiting, to another besides those person.
| ally interested. the purpose of public mar
rage.
WITNESS DID NOT
| KNOW PLAITIFF.
| Each Of Imboden's old friends who have
taken the stand testify that tie dead man
| was very reserved in discussing his persan-
| al affairs. That he should go so far with
| Mr.. Lyon is considered significant.
Lyon did not know Miss Pierce: never
having been introduced to her. But on sew
| eral occasions, ct the theater ard at the
vaults Of the Missouri Safe Deposit Com
pany In tho Equitable building. he had oeen
her in company with Imboden. He positive
ly identified her yesterday at the Office Of
Attorney Wheless. where she sat listening
to the dispositions. as the woman whom he
had noticed.
Morris S. Hacht of No. 5oo3 Minerva ave-
nue.. closest friend OF Imboden, testified in
manner. on the whole damaging to the
claims Of Miss Pierce. He admitted that
1mboden always was extremely courteous
to and considerate Of Miss Pierce. but that
he never spoke of her as wife, nor limited
an intention of marrying her. He declared
that he had met her three years ago on a
Washington avenue car with Imboden, and
that the latter had introduced her as Miss
Pierce.
The taking of dispositions in St Louis was
completed yesterday. The defense will not
endeavor to make their testimony a mat
ter of record at this time. but will wait un-
til the trial in the fall. Attornew Wheless
will continue collecting his testimony at
French Lick Springs. in Indiana, on
Wednesday.
Miss Pierce. or Mrs. Imboden," ap-
peared during the proceedings yesterday.
She said that she had not been sick. but
merely indisposed to attend when her pres
ence was not necessary.
ATE AT PIERCE HOME
WITH IMBODEN.
MI Hecht was first called to the stand.
He said that he was retired real estate
man, and had known Imboden we'll. hav-
ing been associated with him in business
ENTERPRISES. He never had any conversation
with him concerning Miss Pierce. but
had been in her house in company
with Imboden seven or eight times.
IT generally went between Z and 8 in the
evening"" said he. and remained until be-
tween 10 and II. On several occasions I
took meals there, at which Imboden acted
as host and served the vianGs. In one in
stance, 1 was invited to dine there in COM
pany with a lady who was a friend of
mine. But did not.
ION another occasion. when Imboden's
daughter, now Mrs Parrish. was sick,
remember having been asked by Imboden
to carry messages to her. I was requested
to do all that I could for her comfort I'm
boden asked mo II had any money said
that had not and he asked me to get q |
x.zt,T
money inside of a note, which he had given
me for Miss Pierce. I do not know what |
were the written contents Of that note
"Imboden always treated her with the |
greatest possible respect He generally ad-
dressed her as Baby or Miss Lille So |
far as l know, Imboden paid attentions to |
no other woman during this time.
''once. during his absence from the city, |
by his request, l called on her several times |
and tried to make things as pleasant as /
possible. 1 supposed that they were merely /
friends.
ASKED TO BE TAKEN
TO VIEW THE BODY.
lat the death of Imboden, I went tn his
house. While there received a note from
Miss Pierce, stating that she wished to see
me. called upon her. She Appeared much
broken up as :ntsht be expected when one
has lost their closest friend.
Il asked if there was anything I could do
for her. and she replied that l could do her
a very great favor-escort her to the I'm
boden home and allow her to see the body
At first l consented but. coming later at
the hour set. l had changed my mind.
told her that did not think it INV province
to interfere in the matter. Hence. I did
not go with her."
In cross-examination. Attorney ]. d.
Dalton brought out that she had been in
troduced as Miss Pierce and that Imboden
never spoke of marrying or of having mar
ried her.
At the beginning of the examination of
Mr.. Lyon the conversation regarding I'm
boden's little sweetheart" was brought out, |
Lyon and Imboden also were associated IN
business matters and were very friendly. |
When Imboden first mentioned a trip East |
Lyon supposed he meant to go with his
daughter and he- husband. But Imboden
expressly denied this and said that he was
going with Ibis little sweetheart"
Attorney Dalton tried to shake him upon
the Identification of Miss Pierce, but failed.
Lyon seemed sure that Imboden never was
attentive to any other woman during the |