Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-10-26
The LAW AND CORSEIS
Learned Supreme Court Judges
Descant on Relation of One
to the Other
SPECIAL CONTRACT QUESTION
Corset Company Sought injunction
Against Woman Employed as DEM
onstrator and Who Disresarded Her
, Representatives. Weaver Writes
the Opinion.
Special to Times Republican.

| Special to Times Republican.
| Des Moines, Oct. 26.-The supreme
court of Iowa has come to the defense
models who balk at the style Of cor
sets, and even base ball players who
jump their contracts may find some
sort of hope in the decision Of case
by the august body Thursday. Pretty
show girls may jump from one opera
to another. and shapely models may
wear a dozen different kinds Of COR
sets a week, regardless OF contracts,
for aught the supreme court Of Iowa
cares.
No less distinguished an attorney
than Congressman E. H. Hubbard, Of
the Eleventh Iowa district argued the
case before the supreme court that re-
suited in decision which brings joy
to the life Of every actress, corset mod
Ell, ball player and people of similar
PROFESSIONAL occupa lions in the state
Of Iowa. The case was that brought
by the Gossard Corset Company
against its pretty model, Helene c..
Crosby. who jumped her contract with
the Gossard company at Sioux City
and proceeded to demonstrate" the
glove-like fit and shapeliness Of anoth-
err brand Of corsets. The Gossard COM
pany at once sought to enjoin Helene
from wearing or selling the otherfcom-
pany's corsets, and brought suit
against her for $4,000 damages.
The Gossard company claimed that
1t was not able to secure an
other woman in the whole world like
Helene, whose personal charms are
thus set forth in its petition, which
Justice Weaver seems to take delight
in repeating in his opinion which fav-
ors the aforesaid Helene, who is thus
described: "A saleswoman and dem
onstrator possessing high, mental Gull
ture and refinement, Of strong and
pleasing Individuality, good address,
prepossessing appearance, striking
physical development, possessing a
knowledge of physical culture and abil-
ity as a lecturer, as we'll as the quality
of high-class craftsmanship, which
characteristics, and accomplishments,
knowledge, attachments and qualifica-
tons We're and are possessed by the
defendant in marked degree"
That is the reason the Gossard COM
pany says it was reluctant to lose He
lene. For possessing these innumer-
able charms She was to be paid $50
week the first year, $35 : week the
second year, and $40 a v Ak. the third
year of her employment fShe was also
to have liberal expense account in
addition to this salary.
When Helene gave up the Gossar:i
corsets and began to demonstrate
straight fronts of another brand, the
Gossard company protested to be
greatly grieyed. The company not only
wanted its Helene back, if court Or
DER coald bring her, but also asked
$4,000 danases for mental and finan-
cial suffering for her loss.
Lillian RusseIl's Case.
In arriving at the opinion of the SUI
preme court that Helene should not be
compelled to demonstrate Gossard cor
sets if she did not want to, Associate
Justice Weaver. who was assigned that
delicate duty by his associates on the
bench, reviews the famous case of Lii
lian, Russell, who jumped a contrac.
with a prominent theatrical company
because she objected to playing in
tights as the manager required. Miss
Russell claimed that the tights were
too cold and she wouldn't wear them
The cold-blooded supreme court of
another state decided that Miss Rus
sell if she wouldn't wear tights for one
company, she couldn't wear even skirts
for another show manager during the
term of her contract, and she, of me-
cessity, had to stay at home, 1t is said.
pathy for Miss Russell and calls that
decision an "uncharitable conclusions, :"
since she had refused physicians adj
vice and wear something under her
tights" if they were too cold. All Of
this is set forth in the decision of the
Iowa supreme court on the Gossard-
Helene Crosby case.
Justice Weaver also refers to the
case of the Philadelphia base ball club
against the far-famed Lajoie. who was
compelled by order of court to bat
home runs for the Philadelphia fans
tho his base ball heart was centered
in the success Of rival team which
he wanted TO manage. Had Lajoie
been a member OF the Des Moines
Champs and wanted to leave the SER
vice Of Mike Cantillon, the Iowa SUI
preme court seems to be inclined to
give him a free pass, no matter how
much thew might regret his deuarture
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