Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-11-21
NEWSPAPER PLANT INVOLVED
Editor Wright Of Charles City Pross
Gavo Half Interest to Man Who Ex-
pected to Marry Wrights Daughter,
But tho Engagement Was Broken
Lovo Letters In Court.
Special to Times-Republlcan.

| In 1902, Harris w. SmltH, former
school teacher in our public schools.
and Miss Meavc Wright, daughter OF
Mr.. and Mrs. II. i. Wright, OF prohibi-
ton notoriety, desired to get married.
but the parental approval was with
held. Finally however. becoming con-
WINGED that the daughters mind could
not be changed. conditional engage
ment was agreed to, covering period
| Of three years. ut the end OF which
time IL both the young people still de-
sired to get married, no objections
would be interposed. But tho young
| people seemed to have chafed under the
long delay. und finally. in 1908, real
engagement was entered into between
them. and to make the best of bad
matter. the old folks gave their con-
sent.
| Desiring to do the generous thing by
| his daughter, or so 1t appeared on the
surface. II. r. Wright gave his pros
pectiye son-in-law a half interest in
his newspaper business, and since that
time the newspaper has been conduct
| ed under tho nfm naIne OIL WIlsHt ~
Smith. proprietors.'
But while the father had apparently
surrendered all hope OF changing the
mind Of his daughter. not so with the
mother. An aunt Of the young lady
was residing In California, and mother
and daughter at once made visit to
the Golden state. and according to the
views Of those having special oppor-
| tunities OF knowing. the mother and
aunt found rival for Smith and in
due time a wedding occurred and Miss
Wright became Mrs. Sharman instead
OF Mrs. Smith.
| Mr.. Smith did not pine away and
| drown his sorrows In a flowing bowl, or
HE himself to the river banks and seek
u watery grave, but tossed smile
from an otherwise placid countenance
| and contented himself that he at least
hal left q half interest in our local
daily newspaper plant, and proceeded
to exercise all the rights and privi-
leges of proprietor. Then the fun
commenced Mr.. and Mrs. Wright took
turns at trying to compromise with
the young man, but nothing but the
half interest or its equivalent would
suffice, so Mr.. Wright commenced in
junction proceedings in the October
term Of court, and the case was open
ed for trial last Tuesday morning and
was closed Friday afternoon after
three and half days of weary, altho
at times. interesting proceedings.
Judge Burr represented Mr. Wright
and Hon. Milton Remley and w. E.
Haven were attorneys for Mr.. Smith
| Mr.. Wright was the first to take the
| witness stand, which he occupied until
| In the afternoon, giving his version Of
the love affair Of his daughter, which
| involved a half interest in his news
paper property.
The trend Of Mr.. Wrlght's testimony
was to show that the engagement Of
his daughter to Mr.. Smith was condi-
tional and letter from Mr.. and Mrs.
Wright, to Mr.. Smith, written in 1902,
was read by Judge Burr in support of
their claim. The witness reviewed the
circumstances leading to Mr.. Smiths
connection with the office and claimed
that the gift Of half interest In his
Office was to be his daughters upon
their marriage, and that placing
Smiths name at the head Of his paper
as one Of the proprietors was in order
| to give him a prestige and influence
before the public.
| And when Smith announced to his
prospective father-in-law later that
| the daughter had written him from
California asking to be released from
the engagement, Mr.. Wright promptly
assured him that he had not inter-
fered with her course In the matter
which suggested the impression that
that was just what he had been do
Ing.
Wright's testimony was contradic-
tory In many points, and 1t was with
difficulty that direct answers could b.
secured from him.
Mrs. Wright's testimony and alsr
that of her daughter was the same MS
the first witness, but their contradic-
ton was more prominent, and much
merriment was produced. The defense
admitted the conditional engagement
of 1902, but they rested their case upon
a more recent engagement in 1908,
J which witnesses denied but a letter
from Mrs. Sharman, the daughter, in
which there were many tender pas
sages and an expressed desire for Sc
cret marriage at once, was read in re-
buttal which provoked q smile from
even the dignity of the court. But
rather than have another and still
more enrapturing epistle produced,
Mrs Sharman admitted the engage
ment.
Miss Murrison was put on the stand
by the Wrights, but her testimony
was soon interrupted by the appear
ance Of a letter she had written to
Smith urging him to stand for his
rights and contending that the
Wrights had mistreated him.
Mr.. Smith made a good witness and
cross examination did not embarrass
him whatever.
The gist Of his claim was that he
was to work until this fall for his ex-
penses, applying the product of his la
Dor toward paying the indebtedness on
the plant, al which time the marriage
was to take place and he was to be-
come half owner of the printing estab-
lishment.
Having complied with his part of the
contract he expected Mr.. Wright to
fulfill his. During Smiths testimony
the situation was enlivened by Mrs.
| Wright shaking her fist at the witness
and calling him liar.
During the progress OF the trial Mrs.
| wrioht was again called to the stand