The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-06-12
MARRIAGE NEVER
MENTIONED, SAYS
BROWN
IN BREACH OF PROM.
isE CASE MAKES SWEEPING DE-
NAL OF STORY TOLD BY FLOR.
ENeE Foss.

David A. Brown. defendant In the
breach OF promise case brought by
Florence Foss. which has been In pro-
gress for two days before Judge
Brooke. took the stand Friday morn
ing In his own defense. II was not
left for the PLAINTIFF attorney to bring
out that in his early days Mr.. Brown
had sown his wild oats. This was
shown by questions put by Attorney
Groesbeck, who appears for the de-
PENDANT, and the latter told without
hesitation Of his early escapades.
Mr.. Brown said that he was born
In Edinburg, Scotland. in 1871. and
came to Detroit with his parents when
boy. He said that he first met the
plaintiff when he was taken to her
home by her husband. Charles Gid
den. his boyhood friend. He told Of
the efforts he put forth to induce Gid
den to give up drink. and Of giving
him employment when he was unfit
for work.
Was marriage ever mentioned be-
tween yourself and Mrs. Glidden?"
was asked.
mo. Never
When did you first hear that you
had promised to marry herr"
When returned from my honey
moon In 1904. l found letter from
Attorney Greece awaiting me. The
letter was shown at the last trial but
&c disappeared. and have not seen It
since"
How old were you when you met
herr"
Il was about 81 and she about &C."
The witness then related his story Of
the assistance he had rendered Mrs.
Glidden both before and after she So
cured a divorce from her second hus-
band. He declared that he never call
ed upon her except in response to
message from her, and one to return
watch given as security for a loan
TO Glidden. The loan was never re-
paid. the witness said, and when he
learned Mrs. Glidden was hard up he
took 1t TO her. When he called he
found her Ill in bed. and while there
the ambulance called to take her to
the hospital That is the occasion as
Brown describes 1t, when Mrs, Glidden
said he kissed her as she went To the
ambulance. He denied any love max
Ing. and said his presence there at
that time was an accident.
The witness denied making any ar
rangements for her care at the hospi-
tai. but at another time when she was
sick and out OF money. he guaranteed
her bill In Harper hospital for one
week, and later had TO pay It, He
was repaid when Miss Foss sold her
furniture.
Mr.. Brown contradicted the evil
dence OF Miss Merritt. the aged wit
ness Of Thursday, who said Brown
called on the plaintiff often. Brown
said he did not know Miss Merritt.
and had never seen her until she
walked into the court room. He said
he called on Miss Foss once when
she lived on Fifth-st., the number he
could not remember, but on that &C.
casion he was sent for.
The witness admitted calling on
Miss Foss once at the hospital. but de-
MED proposing marriage, and said she
was In ward with ten or more other
patients, who could have heard the
conversation.
The cross-examination opened short
ly before noon. One OF the frst ex-
,hibits was letter alleged to have
been written by Brown to Miss Foss
when he was a soldier at Tampa dur
ing the Spanish war. The witness
examined the letter carefully, and
then denied writing 1t. The letter
was addressed: my Dear Florence"
and was unsigned.
The defendant also denied owning
a red automobile, but admitted he did
own one Of the frst steam cars man.
ufacturer. 1t was between blue and
green In color. He said he never
went In e buggy to see Miss Foss, as
had been testified to, as he did not
own a horse and buggy
Brown admitted calling on Miss
Foss. all told. about five times. once
to return the watch, another time to
tell the result of his efforts to get her
husband, Glidden, to return to her.
and perhaps twice when he was trying
to get her a position as nurse in Red
Cross hospital. which he succeeded In
doing