The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1914-09-24
SECRET MARRIAGE IS ADMITTED
Miss Augustine in Her Complaint AL
leges That She Became Engaged to
Marry Doctor Spaulding in March Of
1912-Learned of Marriage, in July.

DR.. John B. Spaulding, former city
physician of Kenosha, and man
prominent in the political and profess
siona1 life of the city for many years,
has been named as defendant in a suit
brought in the circuit court by Miss
Karla Augustine, a Kenosha dressmak-
er, in which she demands damages to
the amount of $4,000 for beach of
promise. The complaint in the suit is
signed by Attorney John H. Leighler Of
Racine, and the summons and complaint
has been served on DR.. Spaulding. He
made no answer to the complaint, but
it is understood that the suit will be
contested. In connection with the suit
the fact is brought out that DR.. Spauld.
ing was secretly married to Miss Clara
Hergert, former Kenosha high school
girl, nearly a year ago. This fact is
mentioned in the summons and com
plant Of Miss Augustine as the reason
for the bringing of the suit.
In her complaint Miss Augustine al
leges that an old friendship had ex-
listed between herself and DR.. Spauld
ing and that in March of 1912 DIR.
Spaulding proposed marriage to her and
that he was accepted. She alleges that
the engagement had existed between
them since that time and that she had
been ready to carry out her part of
the contract. She declares that she
hod rocop+Iry 1oornod of ~ : ,,o,.,,.s- -.
of DR.. Spaulding and Miss Hergert. 1t
is said that Miss Augustine, who is a
striking blonde, had known nothing of
the marriage of DR.. Spaulding until
early of July of this year. After this
time DR.. Spaulding left Kenosha and
went to the Hawaiian Islands where
he spent some time, returning to Keno
sha on August 9th. The papers in the
case are said to have been in prepara-
ton at the time of the return of the
physician after his long trip to the
islands of the Pacific
II can not say how sorry I am that
this matter has come into the courts, -
said DR.. Spaulding when seen in regard
to the suit. "Miss Augustine has been
one of my best friends and / have
genuine regard for her, but it has been
wholly a relation of friendship-noth-
ing me. There never existed any agree
ment of marriage between us and Miss
Augustine knew at all times that / was
engaged to marry Miss Hergert as soon
as her education was completed. The
relations between Miss Augustine and
myself have been of the most kindly
nature and, the fling Of the suit came
as great surprise to me. | told her
of my marriage to Miss Hergert on the
third day of July and at that time I
learned for the first time that she had
misunderstood the friendship that had
existed between us. The engagement
between Miss Hergert and myself ex-
listed for many months before our mar
riage and the fact that we were en-
gagged was known to many of our
mutual friends, including Miss Angus
tine. She has never personally laid
this matter before me. "
The marriage of Dr. Spaulding and
Miss Hergert came as result of an
unusual romance. When Miss Hergert
was a high school girl she went to work
in the Office of DIR. Spaulding and he
attended to her education. She has
been attending medical college in
Chicago and since her marriage to DR..
Spaulding they have maintained
home in that city in order that the
wife might be better able to pursue
her studies for the profession.
The announcement that the suit for
breach of promise had been. filed caus-
ed considerable of sensation in Ke-
nosha today.
The materimonial affairs of DIR.
Spaulding have furnished interesting
chapters to the records of the circuit
court here. His divorce from a former
wife was one of the most sensational
cases ever tried in the courts of Keno
sha county. The divorce was granted
years ago and since that time the doc
tor has been paying alimony set by
the court at $4,000 monthly.
DR.. Spaulding declared that he cared
nothing for the notoriety which he
might gain by the trial of breach of
promise suit, but that he would be
willing to go long ways in set
Ting the case rather than to force
this publicity on Miss Augustine, the
plaintiff in the case. It is understood
that the case will come up for trial at
the October term of the circuit court.