The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-03-07
LEIDY WAS FALSE
This Is Charge Made by Miss
ClOe MattesOn.
May Result in His Losing In
ternal COllectOrship.
THREAT OF A SUIT.
Plucky Little Woman Deter r.
mined i'm Her Course.
Ex-senator Comes to Topeka
But Refuses to Talk.

Will ex-senator Fremont Leidy ever
be confirmed as internal revenue COL
lector?
Following the adjournment of con-
gress when the senate failed to act
upon the appointment of A. w. Smith
as pension agent and Senator Leidy as
collector President Taft announced the
reappointment of Smith. Nothing was
said about Leidy.
1t has developed that there are in
fluences aside from politics which may
prevent Mr.. Leidy's reappointment.
A pretty little woman with dreamy
brown eyes and a determined ring 70
her voice may have more to do with
Mr.. Leidy continuing in office than
questions Of politics.
Following numerous reports that
Miss Cloe Matteson, a Kansas City,
Kan, woman, expected to commence
breach of promise suit against Free
mont Leidy, internal revenue collector
for Kansas and was trying to hold
up the confirmation of his appointment
in Washington. Leidy this morning
came to Topeka and spent several
hours In consultation with Miss Matte
son. He refused to discuss the occa-
sion of his visit and did not deny
declarations made in his presence that
he was formerly engaged to the wo-
man.
Leidy Broke Engagement.
1t is claimed that the trouble started
last September, a few days after
Leidy's appointment, when the FL
Dorado man broke his engagement TO
marry the woman. According to Miss
MatteSon's statements, he told her 15
days before their wedding date that
he had been married to another woman
ten months. Miss Matteson says they
were engaged to be married last April.
After the alleged contract had been
annulled, it is said that Miss MatteSOn
attempted to hold up the confirmation
of Leidy's appointment in Washington
and had told friends she considered
suit against the former Butler county
| senator for breach of promise. In the
| presence of a State Journal representa-
tive she showed Leidy a letter which
she had written to Charles Curtis,
United States senator, concerning the
| matter Neither would consent to a
publication of the contents of the let
| ter.
While the 1909 session of the legis-
Iature was in progress, Miss Matteson
came to Topeka to visit friends. Mr..
Leidy was at time representing Butler
county in the senate. According to a
statement made by Miss Matteson, the
| two became quite friendly
1--WE went in society together said
Miss Matteson, land were seen togeth-
! er in public on numerous occasions L
was an honorary member of the state
Editorial association and Mr.. Leidy
! was my guest at the annual banquet of
the association that year. While there
we both met a number of the Kansas
| n ewspaper men. Mr.. Leldy was WIN
! me the entire evening.
| Following their social visits in To-
peka. it is said that the couple cores
bonded after Miss Matteson returned
| to her home. Leidy this morning ad-
mitted that he had written to the Wo-
man on several occasions and that he
had visited at her home.
| When a reporter went to a house
on West Sixth avenue, where Miss
Matteson is staying, he was admitted
to a large room on the second floor of
the house. Miss Matteson and Leidy
were engaged in conversation. The
revenue collector still wore his over
coat, his hair was rumpled and his
face was flushed. Both emphatfcally
refused to state the nature of their
| conversation.
I,eidy Will Not Talk.
] T.eidy was asked about various mai
| ters surrounding their alleged marriage
contract, but he would not be inter-
viewed Miss Matteson was more con-
versative. At times she wept copious-
ly. The ElDorado man would neither
deny nor affirm the alleged contract.
! Once Miss Matteson lost her temper
Turning to her alleged fiance, she ex-
claimed:
| sMr. Leidy, don't you dare to deny
that we were engaged to be married >
To this statement Leidv said never
a word Quietly he sat in a comfor-
table rocker, his hands folded and ex-
cused himself whenever an opportunity
was eiven to talk. 1t is known that
after Miss Matteson was first inter-
viewed Monday afternoon, that she
called Mr. Leidy over the long distance
telephone He was in LeaVenWortn
and she told a. friend that he had prom
Ifsed to come to Topeka today. He
came Almost Immediately he went to
the house where Miss Matteson is stay
ing and remained in her company un-
til noon.
made by Miss Matteson, Leidy pro-
posed to her last April. She accepted
They were engaged to be married
Before the date of the proposed we'd
ding Leidys appointment to the Of
fco of internal revenue collector was
reported from Washington. Miss Mat
teson says that q few days later theil
nuptial vow was announced in the So
ciety columns of the Kansas City news
papers Leidy, she says, then came tc
Kansas City. He told her, she de
, clares. that he had been married tt
, another woman nearly ten months anc
that his marriage to her would be i'm
with which to fix his former mar.
riage. Leidy was asked about all o.
these things in the womans presence
He refused to deny or affirm any par
of the report Then Miss MattesoI
took the initiative ana reiterated tbs
story.
Asked if his visit to Topeka was fol
the purpose of gaining a reconcilia-
tion Miss Matteson denied in no un-
certain way that such was the pur-
pose When asked if the visit had any
thing to do with Mr.. Leidy's reap
pointment, the woman said:
ASK Mr.. Leidy, he can tell you al
about that I have nothing to say
shows Letter OF Protest.