The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-10-03
Mrs. Risley of Cowley County
Found Alaskan Easy.
BLED FOR HUNDREDS.
Paid $125 for One Imported
Silk Raincoat Alone.
The Victim Says All He Has to
Show Is Experience.

Winfield, Kan, Oct 3-The amount
that Louis G. Thomas, the Douglas,
Alaska manufacturer spent on Mrs.
Sarah Risley, of Atlanta, this county,
for clothing. is gradually coming to
light; also the manner of their court
ship, which was started through
matrimonial bureau. and its ending.
Thomas made one visit with her at
her home near Atlanta last May and,
he says, arranged that they would be
married at Douglas, where she would
follow him in short time. Returning
to Douglas, he got things ready and
sent her s175 with which to make the
trip. But she did not go, writing, in
stead. that she wanted him to come
here and marry her. She urged him
to meet her in Wichita, and this was
finally arranged. He met her there
last Friday, and stayed until Tuesday
afternoon, when they came here, at
her urging to get married. They put
up at the St. James, having arranged
to get married Wednesday morning,
but in the night she stole away, TAX
ing all her new clothing, and, he says,
all his money. She had a rig take
her to Atlanta Tuesday night, and
went out TO her farm, three miles
west where she was arrested WedneS-
day afternoon.
Mr.. Thomas is a we'll appearing
man of about so, a native of Alaska, is
a widower and has a grown son, his
partner in the furniture business. De-
string to return to marital felicity ne
took the "PilOt" route, and he became
enmeshed with Mrs. Risley. Her let
tiers to him, of which he has a num-
Der betray a modest eagerneSs to
again marry. She sent him one of her
most youthful looking and most fiat
tering pictures, one that would con-
vince any man of his age.
Before leaving, Thomas says. his
fiancee had induced him to send her
costly presents, among them two
chains made of gold nuggets, for
which he says he paid SIS and $50 at
wholesale. From Seattle he sent her
some dresses and other presents. He
came on here and after visiting her
time went back. Again, at Seattle, he
bought her some finery. These item
ize as follows:
One Merry Widow hat ........ $500
One French hat, with plumes.. $500
One black silk dress with corset
to nit -......--..- ofoV
He had left her money to pay her
expenses, but in a letter from her
son he was urged to send some more;
his mother wanted the very best OF
dresses so she could show her friends
who had plenty. He laughingly tells
how Fanny" had access to mas
pocketbook and had appropriated the
gold, so that they were broke again
They would have to have $3.50 more
for the trip.
When he went back to Douglas af-
ter his first trip, Thomas says he took
the widows son, John RiSley, with
him, to help him along in the world.
Thomas sent her $175 to go there
on, but again she failed him. She
wrote that she wanted him to come to
Wichita and be married there. He
says that he wanted to marry her so
badly that he agreed and came on like
a little man. The humor of the situa-
ton now appeals to him strongly. He
tells the story with the utmost good
nature. money is to spend" he says
philosophically, "some men spend it
for liquor; some spend it for gambling
and some spend it for experience;
mine is for experience"
They met at Wichita last Friday
and took rooms at hotel. Then they
went shopping to get her trousseau.
He had about $500 in gold, carrying it
in a belt around the calf of his leg
and another around his waist Both
these belts, bearing the imprint of
once bullying coin, but now empty, he
showed the reporter. They bought the
following items, as nearly as he can
remember:
- ell l.