The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1905-12-28
MOUNT AYR SENSATION
More of the History of the Gay
Costa RiCan, who did not Wed
Mt. Ayr Society Girl.

pcucS, Tue l')SNl lllcall VINO was TO nave
married Miss Bertha ShrimpIin, a we'll
known society young lady of Mt. Ayr.
continues to be the tal% of our neigh
ocring town. All of the big daily papers
lave published sensational accounts OF
the alftir, and pictures OF all the parties
involved in the affair. 1t is claimed by
some that the fellow was simply tryi, g
to get hold of some of the brides fathc, s
wealth, and that he had no intention of
marrying the girl.
The Mt. Ayr Record OF last week
says:
Don Amanda took his departure on
last Thursday night on the midnight
train over the Great Western. Many a
wedding cake is still unbaked and the
white gloves which Amanda ordered to
go with the rest of his wedding togs,
are in the show window of a local hab-
erdashcr. Don Amanda left declaring
his unwavering love and intense devo-
tion for Miss Shrimplin, whom he insists
is the only girl he ever loved. He in
tends to return to Costa Risca, so it is
claimeds where he will endeavor to Sc
cure divorce from his former wife and
return with the docume mt duly signed
by the American consul. Armed with
this document he hopes to secure a mar
riagc license here and once more set
sail upon the uncertain sea of matri-
rimony.
LETTER FROM FORMER WIFE.
Chicago, ILL.,. December H., 1905
EDS. RECORD: Your letter has been re-
ceived, and gladly comply with your
request for letter giving history of
my married life.
was united III marriage to Amanda
de Cespedes by Rev. w. Il. Pool, pastor
of the Methodist church of which am
a member, on October 1G, 1901. He
represented to me that he had two
farms and a studio in Costa Rica, that
our wedding tour would take in the fol-
lowing places: Chicago, Buffalo, Ma
CARA Falls, New York and within two
weeks we would take the steamer and
sail for Spain where we would fsojourn
for a year or so and then go to Costa
Rica, our future home. We managed
to get as far as Buffalo when funds ran
out and he was obliged to send to New
York for draft of one hundred dollars
which he happened to have in a bank,
and which proved to be the end of his
capital. On this and an additional
amount Of his pawning his watch fob,
we lived in u little four room, apartment
in New York City for three months, he
doing nothing towards earning a living.
By the first OF January, 1907, he had
succeeded in getting mortgage on his
mothers house in Costa Rica (Which is
valued at three hundred dollars) for one
hundred and twenty dollars. With this
money we secured passage for Costa
Rica. On reaching San Jose, oar future,
home, he borrowed five hundred
dollars from a friend of his to start a
Photographic material store, from which
he earned a scant living. He still is in
debt to his friend for this amount
and various other small amounts which
he borrowed from time to time.
On August 6. 1902, our baby girl was
born and on July u, 1893, a little hoy
was born to us. In November, the
same year, complications having arisen
from his continued Indebtedness, he
left nle saying he was going to 90 to
work in the mines near Nicaragua. He
hadn't the means to go on aud wanted
to pawn bracelet that my fathet-in-
law had made me present of. which
was worth thirty-fse dollars, and 4
watch which be had given ME before
we were married. refused to let him
have then and he became enraged and
threatened To shoot me with revolver
which he had in the house. This can
prove by witnesses. However, after
such threats, and us did not care to
sacrifice my life for tho price of brace-
let, | gave them to him. He returned,
however ina months tine, when his
funds had run out and he could not
borrow any, not having gone to work at
all merely lnlking tia pleasure trip.
He still had the small kodak supply
store in San Jose, but not having busi-
ness qualifications to conduct it properly
its worth had dwindled down to the
value of S1.50, for which amount he sold
it soon after his return. With this
money he told me he was going-to start
upa show (circus) business hut instead
on the third day OF March. 1904, unbe-
known to anyone, he sneaked out OF the
country, going to the United States,
leaving me penniless and without any
means of support, and dependent upon
the charity Of my sister who was then
visiting me, and who was at that time
employed as stenographer for Thomas
Scott, a broker in San Jose. On arriv-
ing in the United States he patched up
his actions by writing me that he was so
heavily indebt that he Ii I'D to take this
means OF getting ont of the country,
and thatShe WAS going to procure work
at the st. Louis Fair. which he after
wardssdid by applying to the General
Commissioner Don Gonzalez. from Costa
Rica, and not through the government
as he represents, working on salary of
fifteen dollar week. He wrote me
love letters all the time and told me hat
Sif could raise the money to come to
him, aud naturally wanting to get back
to my own country where j had some
means of protecting myself in case Of
such actions being repeated as before,
and the, utiook of home for myself
and children, sold what furniture we
had and came with both babies to st.