The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-04-12
Smith-Vaughan Breach of
Promise Hearing Begins in
Wayne Circuit Court Mon
day and All Are Prepared.
ALLEGATIONS SET FORTH
BY THE PLAINTIFF.
Says That Wealthy Local Man
Proposed to Her But He
Later Refused to Wed-Re-
Iations to Be Exposed.

Guess that's love all right. That
sounds like love TO me-'Your own
true love. John. :" In this manner
John F. Robbins, attorney spoke with
a chuckle yesterday afternoon, a. he
concluded making d notation of the
contents of letter written by JOhn D.
Vaughan TO Mrs. Susan Smith. Five
letters. which are said to contain 9th
er similar expressions of endearment
were delivered into the hands OF
Thomas J. Study and Wilfred Jessup
counsel for Mr. Vaughan. The court
ruled the letters were to be delivered
latter did not appear and his attOr-
neys took charge of the epistles. Some
of them were written in the form OF
brief notes in lead pencil on white
paper Others appeared on blue sta
tionery and were sent in blue envel-
Opes. The letters are not expected to
prove such important testimony as
was first supposed.
Everything RaaI,.
Everything is in readiness for the
opening of the trial at O'Clock to-
morrow morning. The jury has been
summoned and yesterday afternoon
the three attorneys mentioned above
declared the trial will proceed with
out intervention. One attorney was
willing TO wager dinner that it would
continue for six or eight days and no
compromise would be suggested or eff
fected. Nevertheless, there is a ieel-
ing of uncertainty and it may be that
the jury will be accepted and some
testimony taken and even then a mo-
1iOn made for dismissal. That neither
side is anxious for a public trial is
expressed by the majority of local at
torneys. A compromise at any mo-
ment it is believed would be accept.
able. Neither party is willing to make
the advance, however. and it will be
only because of this fact and not from
a desire of the principals to air their
private affairs in the courts that the
trial will proceed, if it does proceed
Vaughan a Suitor.
Mrs. Smith alleges that on more
than one occasion John d. Vaughan
was suitor for her hand in marriage
She declares he called upon her FIRE
quently and made numerous overtures
TO her. Finally she saw the light as
he did and stood ready to accept his
offer. In answer to a letter of appea
she came to Richmond from Muucie
where she was residing at the time
and made effort to meet her intend
ed one. She could not find him, how
ever. Search about the city as faith
fully as she could and use of the tele
phone frequently failed to divulge the
whereabouts of the man she had come
TO see. Her disappointment chargit
and modification We're severe it is al
legged and after mature delberation il
was decided. it is said the Severed
heart strings never could be repaired
except by an application of Wall stree
balm. An attorney was consulted anC
suit was filed demanding $4,000 dam
ages. That was about Christmas
time of last year. The case has beer
set for trial repeatedly but contin
uance taken in each instance
John ID. Vaughan is a well know
man about town who has passed hi,
IL.
the owner of valuable real estate anC
personal property and his wealth i:
estimated i'll the neiShUOrhoOd o
S150,00o. His general reputation il
we'll known. On the day after the sui
against him was placed on file. Mr
Vaughan was asked for an eXpl e.
sion on the subject and replied 1t j
n perfect scheme of blackmail"
Many Dispositions.
Numerous depositions have Ueel
taken from nonresident witnesses an,
these will be published by the cour
tomorrow. In almost every instanc
these dispositions are in regard To h
reputation of the principals as t
chastity and morality. The question
What do YOU know rs TO-
reputation Tor chastity is it good o
bad? is question that has been ash
ed repeatedly OF witnesses, Thurs
day of the past week. Attorney Henr
7. Johnson. representing Mrs. Smith
and Wilfred Jessup attorney for III
defendant. and court reporter A !,
Curme were st Carthage taking del
osidons. Previous TO the time of he
marriage 10 Smith. and before sh
vas divorced from her first husband
whose name was Phelps, the presen
Mrs. Smith and her husband live
al Carthage and enaged in the restal
rant business. Friends of the woma
at Carthage were selected by her TO
character witnesses. Judging from tn
list of names presented in court
Was Mrs. Phelps Here.
1, was as Mrs. Phelps that the plair
tiff resided in this city with her Nv