The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-07-24
sP[CU[AT|ONC0STs
$4,000 AND HIS
BRIDE OF IS
Erskine Danfcrth Invests in Mexican
Venture, and Now Returns To His
Old Haunts Where He Got
Life Savings.
Past go, He Married Canadian Girl
But Their Romance Is Quickly
Shattered.
DENTON HARRoR. Mich. july 2

BENTON HARB0R, Mieh1. July "a.
when Circuit Judge Coolidge last
week wrote an opinion IN the divorce
case OF Erskine Danforth W.. Ina DAN
forth he let fall the curtain on what
win perhaps be the last act of Dan
forth's life. A few years ago a retired
capitalist. today all that Danforth
owns Is one-horse dray line Win
tiers OF the past found him by his
own comfortable fireside; now stormy
days OF his present existence find him
huddled In the lee OF some protecting
building. waiting for a call that VIII
summon him and his horse to work.
Danforth as a man Of means sought
after by officers OF the Beuna Vista
Plantation company, now In the hands
OF o receiver, purchaser OF large
block Of stock In the concern, his
counting of three sisters and the win
ming Of the oldest, Ina, q pretty girl
OF nineteen, the bringing Of the girls
from Canada that the rich Benton Har-
borite might WOO and win a young
bride, the short courtship and equally
short married career Of the couple,
the downfall of the Beuna Vista COM
pany and the wiping out OF Danforth's
$4,000 investment are all told In the
opinion OF Judge Coolidge. The facts
were presented In court, but did not
become known until the judge review
ed them In his opinion = 4
II was in September OF 1905 that
Danforth married the girl of nineteen.
But the real history OF the case began
with the visits to Benton Harbor or
the secretary OF the Beuna Vista com
pany. formed for the purpose OF ex-
plotting great rubber plantation in
Brazil Tales of fortunes made almost
overnight In rubber investments fas-
cinated Danforth, who up to this time
had enjoyed the reputation OF making
and keeping money, but never losing
any. The interest of Danforth In the
company increased with the frequency
OF the secretary's visits. In the end
Danforth invested nearly seventy
thousand dollars
Then followed Danforth's wooing OF
the sisters. Past sixty years of age,
father OF grownup children. but a
widower. Danforth longed for a bride
Of tender years, He confided his de-
sires to the secretary. That genius
proved obligingly useful. He told Dan
forth that his wife had three cousins
residing In Canada any one OF whom
would make the Beuna Vista investor
desirable wife. He suggested that
one OF the sisters, Ethel, be sent for.
Danforth acquiesced and forthwith
the sister came. But somehow she
didn't take kindly TO Danforth's pro-
posals OF love and offers Of marriage.
Proving obdnrate, she was sent back
and the second sister brought to the
stntes. She was Elizabeth. But like
her sister before her she could see
nothing Of attraction In Danforth. She
too refused to reciprocate his affec-
ton Then Ina came on. DanfortfI
for the third time played the role or
lover. He was more successful in
this attempt. for after two months
courtship he married the girl.
They came to Benton Harbor TO live
In September- Then troubles Hft.itt.
piled for Danforth. Almost simultane-
ously with the desertion OF his wife
came the embezzlement In Mexico or
the company's funds. Beuna Vista
stock sagged In the market and the
bottom went out OF Il with a bans.
Other investments proved profitless
and few months later Danforth an
peared on the streets OF the town with
an old gray horse and dilapidated
dray. All that he had left was praetic-
ally the old homestead.
Danforth asked for divorce against
his wife. She returned To Michigan
and told . story OF Entertainment thai
suppressed the court, for in his opinion.
granting the divorce, he characterizes
Danforth's treatment OF hts wife az
"intolerable." she appears" wrote
the court, TO be an artless, innocent
girl not matured. II Is case where
she was overpersuaded by the en-.
treaties OF her relatives and especially
BY the fiattering representations and
promises OF the complainant The
court further adds that mercernary
motives no coubt influenced the pirIs
relatives In urging the marriage and
that they presumed Danforth would
live but a, few years.
In granting the decree to Danfortb
the court awards the girl alImony. she
gets 1880 OF the stock which il
owned by Danforth in the Beuna Visit,
company. The wife Is also given
$1,000, solicitors fee OF 500 and tho
costs. Danforth being compelled to
secure this amount by mortgage on
everything he now possesses.
Danforth will probably continue to
operate his dray until old age forces
him on the street His wife has re.
turned to her old home in Canada and
beuna Vista stock continues TO sag.