Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-08-31

Dubuque, Aug. 3l.-A broken heart "a
bundle OF love letters and q request for
Judgment in the sum of 100000 are
what Miss Sara Ham, of Seventh ave-
nue., this city, brings into court at lou-
luth. Mimi, in an effort to have justice
meted out to George Potter, a million-
aire lumberman of that city, for break
ing his promise to marry her.
While lawyers scan the letters and
fold and refold bulky papres Miss
Ham keeps close to her room in her
palatial home nursing her grief alone
shutting out the world in her effort 20
forget the man who was untrue to her
and trying to summon strength to bear
up under the terrible ordeal of a rial
in court.
The defendant, on the other hantl is
defiant. declares that it is a scheme
to blackmail him, that Miss Ham is
not a virtuous woman and that she
has been criminally intimate with
many men.
A bundle of love letters, teeining
over with tender sentiments and adj
miration. protesting undying fidelity
and declaring that he would never
live without her. will play a prominent
par. in the trial. The courtship is of
twenty years standing during which
time Potter welded another woman
unknown 10 Miss Ham. This male no
difference, however, and cooled his
ardor not one jot for he promised TO
we'd his Dubuque lover just as soon as
the lawful wife passed away.
The sensational breach OF promise
suit has not only stirred Duluth but
has caused Widespread interest IL Du-
buque.
In her petition which has beer filed
at Duluth Miss Ham refers TO the sign
| ing of the agreement here year ago
last February. he circumstances are
we'll remembered by few in the city
in what they thought was to be Sc
cret the remainder of their lives.
Mysterious Agreement.
1t was a dark and stormy night in
February Deputy Sheriff Dillon was
| seated at his home at the supper ta-
BILE. The telephone rang. He was re-
| quested to come down town that night
and meet a member of a we'll known
| firm of attorneys in this city.
! The meeting occurred and shrouded
| in mystery, the two boarded a street
car for the northern end of the city
! Just before arriving at Eagle Point the
| two alighted and through the darkness
made their way across lots, until ir
the gloom the big white mansion of the
! Hams doomed UP before them. a fain,
| light Shone from one of the windows
| and in answer to their knock, they
We're admitted TO the spacious hallway
Come in here. Miss Ham, please
and with this the attorney went into
the sitting room and was closeted witt
the woman the plaintiff in the case.
The deputy sheriff remained in The
hallway. at the same time turning III
his coat collar as it was cold and damp
He stamped his feet on the floor ant
shivered, wondering what the affai
was all about. He then took pape
from his pocket and read ii over.
1t was an original notice III whicl
Miss Sarah Ham was the plaintiff 70
a breach of promise suit against a MAJ
named Potter.
wonder what is going to happen,
muttered the deputy as his teeth bega
to chatter.
George Potter is 50 years old. fin
looking, a good business man, an
shrewd. A story runs that years age
when Miss Ham and he were frs
lovers, she took pity on him and gay
him money with which he started i
business and from which he afterward
grew rich.
Potter was once a business partne
: of the late George Burch. Potter wa
secretary of the lumber company
which Mr. Burch was president and
which Congressman Babcock, of NJ
n cedah, Wis. was interested Pott
It was also at one time Il business par
g ner of ex-Secretary of War .Ager
I. his answer to Miss HAMS pet ton Pc
e ter declares that he is worth only $3.50
., 600 but Bradstreets, it is said, rat
q him at half million.
u Just then there was a knock at Il
door. Mr. Dillon opened it and fro
n out of the darkness the form of a smt
" man shambed into the area way. /
i was a stranger but at the same tin
the deputys face wreathed in smiles,
realized that this was the lnysterio
y man they wanted.
rs Miss Ham in?" asked t
stranger.
Yes
I'D like to see her"
"Just stand aside a minute. BY [
way what's your name
Potter" the stranger muttered, a.
then the deputy smiled again.
BY this time the door to the sitti
room opened and the face Of the 9