The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1907-04-11
LOVERS met
in WAHPETON
BREACH or PROMISE ACTION
STARTED.
Fair Plaintiff Asks Federal Court for
$4,000 Damages Against Prominent
South Dakota Resident-Wahpeton
Lawyers in the Suit.

Sioux Falls, S. d., April 11.-What is
believed to be the first breach Of prom
ise suit ever Instituted in the United
states court for South Dakota has just
been commenced in the federal court
in this city by Miss Martha Nelson,
who gives her residence as Minnesota.
The defendant is George A. Bruce, a
prominent citizen Of Britton, S. d.
In her complaint the plaintiff states
that both herself and the defendant are
rs years of age. She alleges that on
Sept 1S, 1905, at Wahpeton, N D., her.
self and the defendant, in consideration
of a promise made by each, entered
into a mutual agreement, by the terms
OF which the defendant promised to
marry the plaintiff, it being agreed
that the marriage should take place
during the summer of 1907. Announce
ment of the engagement and the time
when the marriage would take place,
1t is alleged in the complaint, was
made to their friends and acquain-
tances and became generally known.
1t is alleged that about Feb. %, 1907,
the defendant in disregard of his prom-
ises and engagement entered into a
contract of marriage with another wo-
man, whose name IS unknown to the
plaintiff, and that because of his mar
riage the defendant has rendered It
impossible to carry out his engagement
with plaintiff. The plaintiff sets forth
that she has at all times been ready
and willing to carry out her part Of
the contract.
She alleges that she had no knowl-
edge of the intention of the defendant
to disregard his agreement to marry
her until the latter part of February
of the present year after the defend
ant had actually been married to an
other woman. She alleges that she had
spent large sums preparing for her
marriage, arranging for wedding cloth
ing and in making and procuring lin
ems and other household articles with
which to commence her married life,
eXpending therein money and services
to the value of $780,
The plaintiff further sets forth that
she is a school teacher, accustomed to
teach in city schools. and earns and
is capable of earning s75 per month.
Expecting to be married she alleges
she arranged TO abandon school work
about June 1 of the present year. and
therefore neglected to make applica-
tlon for school for the next school
year, causing her a loss of about 5000.
1t Is further alleged that knowledge
of the defendants marriage caused her
to suffer a severe mental and nervous
shock, which has left her weak, ner-
vous and incapacitated for the per-
formance of her duties as a teacher
The marriage Of the defendant to an
other woman, it is further alleged, has
humiliated her and caused her to en-
dure great mental suffering and an
guish; that she had entertained sim
cere and lasting affection for the de-
fendant. and that therefore her suffer-
ing will continue for long period Of
time.
1T is alleged in the complaint that
the defendants action In marrying an
other woman was intentional. and ma
liciously done for the purpose of hui
initiating and disgracing plaintiff and
bringing her into humiliation and
shame before her acquaintances
She asks that she be awarded dam
ages in the sum Of $4,000, together
with her costs and disbursements in
the suit. The plaintiff is represented
In the action by firm of attorneys
residing at Wahpeton. N. d., her pa
pers having been sworn to in North
Dakota.