The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-09-22

his Topeka home in haste. The flowers
in the parlor of the Packard home
dropped and died and a doctor came to
see the daughter instead of a clergy
man.
The dispositions in this case were ta-
ken last August. Judge Hazen of this
city, representing the plaintiff, and
Arnold, made the trip to Los Angeles
and were present at the taking vf the
testimony.
Mr.. Thompson's Testimony.
James Thompson. SO years old, resi-
dent of Los Angeles, was the first wit
ness. He testified that he had former
ly lived in Topeka and that he was a
friend of Mr.. Arnold. the defendant.
and had known him for 20 years. That
when Arnold came to Los Angeles in
November of last year he came to see
the witness and told him that he had
come there to marry Miss Packard.
He said the engagement was made un-
thoughtedly and now he didn't want to
marry her. He had a letter with him
then addressed to the girls father
breaking the engagement. This was on
Monday and the date of the wedding
was set for the following Wednesday.
Mr.. Arnold showed the witness at
this time a diamond brooch and other
articles of jewelry that he said he had
brought as presents for his bride. He
tionable, but that he did not want to
marry her. He later brought the girl
to his friends office so he could see
her and after this meeting asked Mr..
Thompson what he thought of Miss
Packard. This was the first time the
witness had ever seen the girl and he
was very favorably impressed with her
and told Mr.. Arnold so, adding that she
appeared to be a girl to be proud of.
She appeared to be in splendid health
NI1o Tr-ifr so N
Tuesday, the day before the wedding,
he carried the fatal letter to the Pack
ard home and gave it to the father.
He said that at the time of taking the
letter to the house he saw the pre-
parations going forward for the we'd
ding, that the house was then being
decorated.
The Fathers Story.
F. NJ. Packard, father of the defend
ant was the next witness. He said the
girl was "A years old at that time.
That Arnold came to him in the spring
of 1907 on the occasion of his first
trip to Los Angeles, and asked him for
his daughters hand in marriage. The
father said that at the time he re-
ceived the letter of declination at the
hands of Thompson all was in readiness
for the wedding. The food for the
banquet had been ordered, the flowers
already received, the invitations sent
out for the wedding, the notice of the
approaching ceremony printed in the
papers, the wedding trousseau ordered,
the preacher engaged and many pres
ents received from the invited guests.
When the father received the letter he
went at once to the hotel to see Ar
mold, but the latter had gone. That
Miss Packard had always enjoyed good
health up to this time, but that upon
being apprised of the contents of the
letter she was seized with convulsions
and later nervous prostration and soon
became almost a total wreck. That
she wept continuously. lost Is pounds
in weight and that to this time she
pines and refuses to be comforted in
her humiliation and sorrow.
A Los Angeles physician was the
next witness, and he testified that he
had treated Miss Packard for two
months for insomnia and nervous
ness.
A girl friend of Miss Packard next
testified as to the arrangements for
the wedding, the grief and sickness of
the bride. This girl had come to the
house to carry flowers behind the
blushing and happy bride, but instead
she sat up all that night and applied
cold cloths to the aching head of a
miserable and heart sick woman.
Said He Loved Miss Packard.
w. L. MunScey. brOther-in-law of
Miss Packard, told of a conversation
he had had with Arnold during the
latter's visit in Los. Angeles in which
the Topeka druggist told of how he
loved the California girl and was go
ing to marry her. They discussed the
plans for the coming wedding with
great friendlinesS.
Miss Packard's mother was the last
witness. She said that Arnold came
to her and asked for her daughter
and said that he loved the girl more
than he had loved any girl before and
that he thought she was perfect in
manners and every other way. The
mother further testified to the
preparations for the wedding, the
presents received and her daughters
illness for the next two weeks and
her unhappiness since that sad
occasion The mother said that her
daughter had isolated herself from
society.
This breach of promise suit will be
tried in the United States court at To- |
peka at the November term. Besides |
these dispositions Miss Packard has all
of Arnold's love letters and also the |
letter he wrote to Mr.. Thompson, his |
old friend, which is said to be of great |
Some members of the |
Packard family will be in Topeka at |
that time and possibly Miss Packard |
herself.
Mr.. Arnold's side of the case will |
not likely be known until introduced |
as testimony in the trial.