Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1910-06-03
FLINTY JURY SAYS
WEALTHY WOMAN
MUST PAY A DEBT
Safe Deposit Company Hales
Her Into Court, and Is
Given Judgment for
Over $500.

New York, May 2S.-Hetty Green,
the richest woman in America" in the
city court, for the first time in her bus
mess career, has lost a case before a
jury. Mrs. Green must pay the Safe
Deposit company OF New York, the cor
poration that sued her, $569. 25-rent Of
IL safe deposit boxes for five years,
with interest.
Outrage, Outraged" exclaimed Mrs.
Green, her crepe-clad figure shaking
with Indignation, as she heard the ver-
dict. Isn't there any justice for a
woman who has money!"
This final outburst came as the cli-
max to a series of explanations that
astonished the jurors n called forth a
rebuke from the court. The judge in
sisted that there hould be no more
conversation carried on by those pres
ent at a time when Mrs. Green was re-
lating her version of the case to those
who sat near her.
In an Old-Fashioned Gown.
A maid, carrying two umbrellas, at
tende Mrs. Green to the courtroom.
The richest woman" wore an old-fash-
toned gown of black, a black veil for a
hat and carried q pair of black gloves
n a black bag. Her lawyer, Louis F.
Doyle, Joined her in the courtroom.
AS soon as Mrs. Green was seated she
began to explain to everybody who
cared to listen that the safety deposit
boxes in question contained "old STUFF
that belonged 10 the estate OF her faith
er, Edward Mott Robinson.
MY father has been dead as years"
she began.
How do you like the jury?" her
lawyer asked her.
They're a fine looking lot of men,"
was the reply. Il like jurors anyway.
7 $500 N~-A 49,. 80 -
DR.. William Mitchell, vice-president
of the safe deposit company, informed
the jury that Mrs. Green had paid the
rental on the boxes until January, 1904.
Prior to this time, he said, she had
been paying about SIP a year for each
box, but pon her protest he reduced
the price to $40 per box.
Did you show Mrs. Green more con-
sideration than would have been shown
the ordinary patron?" the witness was
asked.
| Mrs. Green VolubIe.
1T is true that we made her a lower
charge for the storage Of these boxes"
DR.. Mitchell answered.
isn't 1t a fact that you wanted Mrs.
Green for a customer so much that you
were willing to store those IL boxes for
nothing?"
ut is not"
LII. NlllCIlSll GApltiIlSu LIldJ III udu
sent Mrs. Green many bills since 1904,
but she had never sent hin any pay
ments.
Mrs. Green then began her testimony
at a rate that made the court stenog-
rapher gasp. She was told to go slower
and TO answer the questions that were
asked.
Those boxes were stolen out OF my
fathers estate" she began e~xcitedIy.
My father died as years ago and"
She was told to forget about her
father and tell about the storage Of the
papers.
Il did it for my SON. she continued.
Hes running a railroad and cannot be
here. This is the third Matchmaking
suit that I've had. / was paying for my
fathers estate, Of which my son, Edgar
H. Green, is the sole surviving trustee
and my daughter is the executrix.
Walks Rather Than Ride.
Then you never agreed to pay any
amount personally for the storage Of
the boxes?"
mo, l didn't" she snapped. Il
wouldn't want to pay storage As years
on a lot of things stolen out OF my
ather's estate"
Now, be calm" her counsel advised.
I'm calm" Mrs. Green cried out.
I'm calm, but I'm telling the truth.
They don't belong to me-according to
God, they don't belong to me. Accord
ing TO the law, they belong to my son
as trustee"
There has been a great deal Of liti-
CATION over your fathers estate?" the
| witness was asked.
Yes. there has. They tried to steal
my share in Chicago" she replied.
Did you sign any paper agreeing TO
| pay $40 a month s~torage?"
81 did not. / objected to 1t, just as
-.~
a price for old stuff like that"
Mrs. Green went out of the court room
! with her maid and her soninlaw. They
suggested taking a taxicab, but 1.-The
richest woman" preferred to walk to
| her office in the National Park bank.
Her lawyer announced hat 2c ap-
peal will be taken from the verdict.