Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-19
'RUSS|E' LOSES SUIT
Jury Refuses Balm in Breach
of Promise Case.
SEALED VERDICT SENT IN
No Proof of Marriage Contract
Shown, Was Judges Charge.
rs SCORED BY GIRLS COUNSEL
Lived Off Miss Smith for Years and
Wanted to Become Loaf
er, he Says.
SEALED VERDICT SENT IN
rs SCORED BY GIRLS COUNSEL

NEW YORK, October ia verdict for
the defendant was found today by the
jury In Russell G. Griswold's f1fty-thou-
sand-dollar breach of promise suit against
Miss Helen Woodruff Smith of Stamford,
Conn.
After four hours of elaboration the Jury
In Justice Browns part of the supreme
court could not decide yesterday evening
whether wealthy Miss Smith had ruined
the young life of Russell G. Griswold, or
'Ruzzielamb." to the extent that he was
entitled to any of her money. and at half
past O'Clock the court ordered a sealed
verdict. This verdict was opened in part
II this morning
"Ruzzielamb's" suit was for $4,000 for
breach of promise by the daughter of the
late James d. Smith, tinancier and COM
modore of the New York Yacht Club.
The case went to the jury at half-past
II yesterday afternoon.
Says Foster Mother Paid.
After Edmund L. Mooney had finished
his cross-examination of "RuzzieIamb' in
the forenoon his own counsel, Jacob Cor
don. asked him to name the mysterious
Mrs. c. who was said to have paid his
expenses at the Water Gap sanatorium.
She was Mrs. Crow of Rowayton, an
old friend of my mother, replied the
plaintiff. "She gave her check for the
the money to her. Mrs. Crow always
has been a sort of mother to me-
More letters were then introduced. one
running as follows:
Dear Ruzzielamb-Where in the devil
have you been? l have been sitting here
alone enjoying the drinks and the smokes
doesn't that sound devilish? Well, hope
you will soon get over to see your loving
little LYDIA PINKHAM."
Did Miss Smith know you were at the
Water Gap sanitarium?' asked Mr.. Cor
don.
''She did, replied "Ruzzielamb."
And that she was paying the bills?"
She did. l wrote to her about it,
An attempt to show the extent of Miss
Smiths wealth was stopped by the court.
The only witness for the defense was
Mary Barrett, who was employed in the
Smith home. She testified to having seen
'Ruzzielamb'' about the house.
In the summing up Mr.. Mooney spared
no words in his Characterization of Rug
Zielamb" and ridiculed the idea of Miss
Smith having promised to marry .such
a specimen as Griswold has shown him.
self to be-" Mr.. Gordon jumped to his
feet several times but "Ruzzielamb'' sat
placidly beside him.
Scored by Counsel.
This man wanted to become a loafer,"
said Mr.. Mooney HE lived on Miss
Smith for years. and when she got tired
of supporting him he became angry, with
the result which you see. He told Miss
Smith he was i'll and she took pity on
him and invited him to her home until
he could recover. Because this defendant
tried to advise him as to the right man
ner of living he says she proposed to
him.
Mr.. Gordon, IN addressing the jury,
referred to the twenty-eight-year-ol
plaintiff as this broken-hearted little
boy"
. Justice Brown in his charge said:
The plaintiff alleges that he was hurt
and injured by the failure of this de-
PENDANT to carry out a contract to marry
him. She made the contract, he says, re-
peatedly, and still no actual proof has
been offered to show that such a contract
was made. 1t is for you gentlemen to
judge whether there was such a con-
tract"
Miss Smith is not worried about the
verdict" said Mr.. Ely. her personal
counsel, yesterday IF they give him a
verdict for $500 she probably will pay it
and say nothing, but l can say that she
is very little interested IN the findings of
the jury"