The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1910-02-11


of Miss Martha Harper vs.. Patrick
McTighe held the boards today III
the district court. 1t is believed that
most of the testimony will be gotten
il today. The case has its amusing
features. and the action is being hard
fought by Mr.. McIighc.
This case is attracting almost as
large audiences as the Ledbeter murder
cases, and many ladies are in the
audience. Yesterday afternoon so much
laughter was caused that Judge Quinn
ordered the bailiifs to open the doors
and let those who could not contain
their feelings to depart. The hint
was sufficient and nothing more au-
diblc than smile occurred after that.
Plaintiffs Case Outlined.
c. J. Laurisch opened the case to
the jury for the plaintiff. He read
the complaint and explained what the
plaintiff intended to prove. lie said
that the plaintiff has always stood
ready to marry the defendant. The
defendants answer denied all of the
essential claims of the complaint and
alleged his physical condition as being
such that he was untitled to enter
the marriage relation, and that the
plaintiff never intended to marry him.
Mr. Laursch said that Miss llarpers
age is forty to forty-fivc and Wm.
Mc1icbc's sixty-scvcn. McTighc first
met her in the fall OF 1909. and i'll
October took her riding one >;aaiF
toward st. Clair to visit friends and
later took her to st. T,lcr and on
that trip spoke of Il desire TO marry
her. but the promise was made later.
McTighe had spoken of his unsatisfac-
tory home relations, and told her OF
his property and of where they could
live. They agreed to be married, early
in November without setting the time.
Then he took her riding and walking
and TO social functions. and talked
OF their coming marriage, until his
children objected. When she heard that he
was not going to marry her, she had
asked him, but he had said that they
would be married regardless OF what
his children thought She had relied
tions by getting her wedding garments
and household articles ready. Finally
McTighe told her that owing to hi,
children's opposition and his own health
he had decided not to marry her. The
damages sustained covered wounded
feelings. etc.
McTighe Cross Examined.
The plaintiff called the defendant
for cross examination. Mr.. McTighe
said that he was living on his farm
where his son, Tom, is living He
had lived there since spring. Before
that he HAD lived with his daughter in
st. Paul. He never made his home i'll
Mankato, except from March until
November, 1908. He would go Oh the
farm when he took notion to. He
had voted in Mankato.
You voted where YOU made your
home, didn't your" asked Mr.. Laurisch
Il made my home all over replied
Mr.. McTighc.
Mr.. McTighe said that he lived at
St. Paul until March 10, until his good
name and character were attacked in
court in the Frank Smith suit.
do YOU know Miss Harper!' asked
the attorney.
Il have seen her. replied the wit
ness coldly.
You went into the store frequently
to see her, didn't your"
only to buy handkerchiefs, sus-
A. I
Did you see her there!'
''She waited on me, and shook hands
and walked to the door with me-
You had met her, Them
Miss Thomas introduced US
you saw her frequently after that,
didn't your"
Il was taken sick after that"
Did you 20 driving with herr"
''Ycs, sir, she asked me to-"
The witness insisted OH explaining
how it happened, after the plaintiff
had tried to limit him to an answer
vented him. The witness said that
they had left Just after dinner and
drove to Maloncy's and got back be-
tween and 5 o'clock. He did not tell
her about the farms that he owned.
She had not asked him. Later he
drove with her to Tom Moses. near
Kasota. and she had asked him to
drive to st. Peter, as she had never
seen the place before.
Did you buy her any fruit at st.
Peter"
"Yes, sir, | bought her couple of
oranges
Nothing Said of Marriage.
The witness said that they drove
down by the prairie road and back
by the bluff road, past his farm, but
that he did not tell her that it was
his farm. as she did not ask him. He
told her of selling the Ledbeter farm,