The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-06-21
TELLS LOVE STORY
Pearl Helbert on Witness Stand
in Own Behalf.
w. G. Wintemute's Perfidy Told
in District Court.
WEDDING DAY SET.
Announcement Published in To-
peka Papers.
Shows Love Letters and Court
Gives Her $4,000.

Because he broke her heart and de-
stroyed her happiness W. c. Wintc-
mute must pay Pearl Helbert $1,000 for
breaking the marriage vow. The girl
wanted $4,000. but Judge Dana decided
that $4,000 would repair the damages
and heal the young womans heart
aches. The decision in the case was
rendered at 2:30 this afternoon. follow
/ ing the testimony this morning in the
first division of the district court.
For an hour today Judge Dana heard
loved and waited for Wilton c. White
mute, only to see him married to an
other On the lawyers table a suit
case filled with endear3ng messages
| gave silent testimony to the fact that
Wintemute, loved the 1ulvane street
girl He was not present to defend
the case.
Tears trickled down the little girls
face and damped the heavy black veil,
! as she read Wintemutes letter, saying
that he was compelled to break the en-
/ gagement. Then the prospective girl
! bride told Of the cooling, the joys and
happiness of the days when she was
| to have become the wife of the railway
employee. But her voice choked and
| the steel blue eyes Welled with tears
as she told the court Of the long, tedi-
GUS days and nights following the
| breaking Of the engagement.
1t was in october, 1908, when Winte-
mute turned his attentions to Miss Hell
bert. Three months later they were
engaged to be married Wintemute held
| a position in the building department.
of the Santa F'e and drew a salary of
/ $125 g. month. When in Topeka the
| girls suitor was almost a daily visitor
at the Helbert home, 1854 Mulvane
street. Much of the time he was out
| of town. Then endearing letters came
| with astounding regularity that told
| of the mans undying love for the little
| Topeka girl. They were answered In
/ the same spirit and Pearl told the court
she looked ahead with pleasure to the
day when she was to become Wintc-
! mute's wife.
He was so good and kind and at
fectionate," the girl said, land of
| course couldn't help but love him."
So it was agreed that the couple were
to be married Easter Sunday, 1910
Daily the girl planned her Wedding
gowns and made preparations Tor the
greatest event in her short life. But a
! short time before the wedding White
| mute requested a postponement Of the
| ceremony. Pearl consented. Never once
did the lovers attention wane. With
the same regularity Wintemute wrote
| of his constant love. In the fall or
/ 1910, the man came to Topeka to visit
his fiansee. He stayed several days.
At this time it was agreed that the
wedding should occur in February TINS
, year. Then Wintemute went to Texas
:
I'VE had planned such grand
time said the young plaintiff, as she
looked at Judge Dana, "and all of US
had bought presents and made prepar-
ations for such happy day.
l The Last Letter.
1t was the day before Christmas that
the blow fell. Attorney Brannaman
handed the girl a letter which White
! mute had written and asked her to
read it. Pearls hands trembled and
: she looked at the pages out of red
: swollen eyes In part the letter said:
my Dear Little Girl: 1 want you to
be brave now, if you were ever brave
in your life. For have just received
! news that renders all hopes of our
!. marriage hopeless. can't tell you
about it now, but it is the result of
the most hairless folly on my part l
would tell you more, but can't be-
Heve little girl that you love me and l
, would like to see you happy but FOR
months there has been cloud hang
j, ing over my head that has haunted
I me at night and made it useless for
! us to think of marriage. want you
; to forget and forgive-if you can.
The next day was Christmas. Alone
/ in her room Pearl Helbert tried to do
. as her lover asked-to forget and for
a give. Heartbroken and almost ner-
vous wreck, she said she will never
forget that cold, cherries Christmas
, morning. A sympathetic mother and
c
s couldn't bring back the warm sunshine
+ and happy days of Wintemute's pres
ence.
A letter was also sent to Pearls
& mother, asking her to comfort the
! daughter. Another letter came to
= Pearl early in January. The girls ap-
|; preaching marriage had been an
! lnounced in the Topeka papers and now
3 for days she said she Stunned her Old
: time friends and acquaintances.
e Married Another Girl.
Then on January 90. she read Of
Il Wintemute's marriage to another girl
g Pearl said a doctor had forbidden hel
Il to work, that her nervous system is
s shattered and somehow the bright
i days of long ago won't come back.
: Wintemute is in Michigan-with the
e other woman Miss Helbert believes
: her heart aches and pains and suf-
o fering have been worth $4,000. Hel
[ attorney offered the big grip filled
r with love messages as q part of the
s persistent courtship. But Judge Dana
d said he didn't care to hear them
Il n