The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-02-29
JUST FOR CHARITY
Mrs. Hilbert Says She Employed
Mrs. Cages Husband.
Wealthy Widow Defendant in
Big Damage Suit.
THE FAMILY IS LEFT ALONE
Gage Remained Long Time at
WOman'S Home. :
Now Wife Puts High Price on
His Love.

Susan Hilbert, 1920 Strong street,
wealthy grass widow, is today defend
ing an action in Judge Whitcomb S
court for the alienation Of the affee-
tons of Thomas Gage, a Douglas
county farmer. Sarah Gage, the farm
er's aggrieved wife, is the complainant
in the suit for $1,000 for the loss OF the
attentions of her life'S soul mate.
Near the Shawnee-Douglas county
line Mrs. Hilbert lived for several
years a close neighbor of the Cages.
Often Gage was employed on the FIJI
bert farm, where he performed odd
jobs. In the fall of 1910, Mrs. F1lbert
bought So, 500 home on Strong street.
in West Topeka 1t is charged that
when she came to town, Gage came
also. His stay at the Hilbert home was
all too long to suit the fancy of the
wife on the Douglas county farm and
last summer the Topeka grass widow
was sued for damages.
Leaves Wife Alone in Winter.
On the witness stand today, Mrs.
Gage was sure that it was Mrs. Fill
bert's smiles and endearing expressions
and not the white way that lured Gage
from his happy home 1t is charged
that in Topeka Gage lived under the
same roof with his new soul mate. Out
on the lonely farm that winter, Mrs
Gage cut the wood, MIXED the COWS
and gathered the eggs with no one 10
aid her in the support of the family.
amored with his new surroundings and
failed to return to the quiet. routine life
on the farm. In July the action for
damages was filed.
More than 40 witnesses from the com
munity in which Gage and his wife
lived, have been summoned to tell Of
the love affairs of the farmer and the
grass widow. Many of these witnesses
are women. For nearly 20 years the
Hilbert and Gage families had lived in
the same neighborhood and Cages am
bition to find occasional employment m
the widows farm is said to have been
matters of common gossip.
Gage Wouldn't "Shoo' Away.
Against this testimony, is the story
of Susan Hilbert and her IS year old
daughter. The widow is mortified" be-
cause of the embarrassment and hui
initiation of the sensational suit. She is
emphatic in her denial that she was
ever Cages affinity. Time after time.
she says, she made persistent efforts to
shoe Gage from the premises. But Gage
was quite well suited and always found
some new job that required his atten-
ton.
In a statement made last summer
Mrs. Filbert heralded her disdain for
Dan Cupid and his quaint pursuits. She
fell for the palpitations of a nervous
heart once. she said, but that one time
was enough for her.
There's nothing in it-Ieastwise not
for me-" Mrs. Filbert stated in an in
terview given several months ago. so
I got a divorce. That was Is years ago.
I haven't tried any of this sentimental
nonsense since that time" continued
the widow, land I don't propose to
start all over again now. At least. not
with some other woman's husband"
Employed Him as Charity.
Just at the present time Mrs. Fill
bert is nearing her ADD summer. Any
heart thrills or love lore she might have
possessed in days gone by, Mrs. Hilbert
declares, has been forgotten and she
has resigned herself to more prac-
teal existence. She owns a farm val
ued at $4,000 and other property valued
at about Sc, 000 So. why marry?
1t was just charity for the Gage
family, she vows, that persuaded her to
give the farmer frequent employment
Anyway, Gage is 81 years old. He was
married to Mrs. Gage in 1885 and is at
tending the present trial It is probable
that he will be called as a witness by
the defense. Gage is expected to sub
stantiate the defendants testimony
that no love dreams were developed in
his employment by the wealthy widow
The trial of the case will occupy the
attention of the court a couple of DAYS
Most of the witnesses will remain |
throughout the entire trial