The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1907-03-07
Am OLD BEAU
Sued on Valentine He Sent Their
ty.Fiye Years Ago.

ASKS BIG DAMAGES.
The Widow After Long Interval Of
- Marriage Flounts Rhyme, and
Says He Renewed Trosh, But. q
Trolley Smash, it Seems, Jolted
an the Lovs Out OF the Old Gen.
tleman.
A queer case ls> being tried at
Hartford, Conn, which is attracting
considerable interest. Thirty-five
years ago Thomas K, Fits; of Ash
wood, who is now seventy-five years
old and wealthy, promised to be the
present Mrs. Bridget Theresa Cor
mans valentine. Although she af-
terward married, and is now fifty
three and widow with three chill
dren, she is seeking through the
courts $4,000 damages because her
whilom admirer declines to live up
to his ancient assurances af undy-
ing love.
The breach Of promise suit of the
widow against the aged and promi-
nent citizen promises to become in
court annuls as celebrated as the
case Of Mr.. Pickwick. Every action
of Mr.. Fits from the time that he
sent the valentine through the pro-
tracted married life Of Mrs. German
and after death had freed her, is
recorded and its Interpretation by
and effect upon the feelings ofMrs.
German affectingly recited.
There were tears in the eyes of
Mrs. Germans lover and his voice
broke from pethos when he read
the fateful valentine. and the widow
soDbed through the recital.
Maiden fair, to you I send
This token Of affection true,
Showing where my feelings tend,
Like the magnet unto you.
Worlds may pass away and perish
Every feeling die away,
But the constant love l cherish
Never. never shall decay"
When the lawyer had calIned him
self after lingering on the words
Never, never shall decay" and the
comely widow had dried her eyes,
she took the witness stand to tell
of her romance and it's sad ending.
/ Mrs. German said that sic had
known Mr.. Fits before her mar
riage and that he had showed her
attention, but had not reached the
point Of declaration when Mr.. Cor
man appeared. This was in 1872,
and after the first announcement OF
the banns in church Mr.. Fits called
on her.
.'He said that he would have been
in yMr. Gorman's place if he had only
| been more forward" said Mrs. Cor
man, "and then he cried, and cried
and said to Mr.. Fits:
80 Now, ThoL.as, you. never told
me anything like that before.
did he show you any marks OF
affection on the occasion Of your
marriage?" Mrs. German was asked
YES" she replied, with downcast
eyes; ION the very day Of the we'd
ding he sent me three or four bas-
kets of peaches, and I understood" >
Mrs. German declared that, with
her husbands knowledge and con-
sent, her acquaintanceship with Mr.
Sitts was continued and that he re-
NAMED batchelor. They often
net, and went driving together, and
he always seemed sad and often
sighed, and she sighed, too.
She said that her marriage to Mr.
German was disappointment, be-
| cause of the conduct Of her husband
He left her and was gone four years
and during this period Mr.. Fits
called upon her and they discussed
the possibility of Mrs. German OBJ
tanning divorce. Mr.. Fits told hel
at this time, Mrs German testified
that he was worth $65, 600, and thai
if she got divorce he would marry
her at once and make her life happy
In April, 1908, Mr.. German died
and in June Mr.. Fits called upor
the widow.
"'Well, you are single at last,
said Mr.. Fits to me, and | said
Yes" Mrs. German testified.
He continued to call on the widow
on an average of twice month, anc
made presents to her and to mem
bers of her family.
Then in November. he asked me
to barry him." the witness testified
land I told him that l would, auC
her voice softened to whisper
And he said that he would come
at Thanksgiving and we would tall
the arrangements over. 1t was un
derstood that we were to be married
the next May and would go to the
st. Louis fair for a wedding trip.
"And because he had proposed
and | had accepted him, and knew
that he was wealthy, l told all m!
boarders about it and let them go
! and I had twenty-two.
Just at this time a trolley ca
butted into the romance. 1t strucl
Mr.. Fits and injured him so pain
fully that he had to go to bed.
II