Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-23
CARUSO IN MAD
FIT At LOSING
GIRL SSUIT
Italian Court Orders New Trial
to Fix Damages due Rejected
Sweetheart.

ROME, June 23.-That the legal
troubles OF Enrico Caruso. the world
famous tenor. are anything but over
is shown to-day in the decree of the
Milan Court of Appeals which has
Just handed down a decision re-
versing the lower court which last
year denied Elisa Ganelli, the Milan
shop girl. who sued him for failure
to marry her, damages in a breach
of promise suit
Caruso is in London preparing to
spend the summer at his bedutltul
villa near Florence, and, dispatches
say. when shown the decision of the
court, he allowed his temper to be-
come greatly ruffled and let off con-
siderable superfuous energy In the
form Of epithets and adjectives, be-
tween which he stated he did not
believe the report.
The court, in handing down its de-
cision holds that the decision Of the
lower court is correct In not pro-
viding damages for the injury to the
fair name Of the plaintiff. The court
then goes on to state that. although
the relations existing between the
singer and the shop girl were rep
rehensible. It is of the opinion that
the girl is entitled to recover the
money she spent in fitting herself to
become Mrs. Caruso.
Entitled to Expenses.
The decision orders that a new trial
be held for the purpose Of ascertain
ing how much the young woman is
entitled to for her pre- nuptial" ex-
penses. and orders that 1t be held as
soon as Caruso returns to Italy.
The suit in question was started
over a year ago and at the time
greatly stirred opera going circles in
this country and elsewhere. Testi-
mony developed at the trial that one
week after seeing the girl in a Milan
shop Caruso secured an introduction
to her from her employer and on that
same occasion used these words
Come, now Signorlna, put on
your hat and we will start to-
morrow. for have decided TO take
you away with me If ! had been
so fortunate as to make your
acquaintance Is or 90 years ago
you would have been my wife by
this time Unfortunately, owing
to my professional engagements,
I must leave now"
After his departure Caruso bonn
barded the girl with letters written
from Paris and London, in which he
renewed his protestations and in one
letter ordered the girl to leave the
shop to break with the common
people"
His "LlttIe Sugar DOLL"
He sent her many photographs of
himself and his children and in
writings always addressed her by
such endearing names as Dear Sweet
Thing" Little Sugar Doll" and my
Little Treasure"
One Of his most characteristic let
ters contained the following pas
sages:
you will see what I will do
when you are my wife. How
beautiful il viii be. You shall
be my little queen, and I your
faithful and devoted slave. Have
you ever accepted some other ad-
mirer? Can anybody speak III Of
you? Have you always done as
your mother instructed you? You
assure me that you have, and now
can think only of this-tO make
you mine as soon as possible"
After the betrothal the shop girl
studied French and tried to fit herself
to be the wife of the greatest tenor
Of his time. Caruso at times was
chivalrous and generous TO her. She
had a chaperone whenever she met
| him and he shOWered her with pres
ents, including the most costly gowns
and much actual money, which she
accepted although reluctant to do
so, the trial developed.