Evening star., 1915-04-07
ASKS HALF MILLION
OF JOHN S. KINNEY
Mrs. Ida NJ. McNabb Charges
Breach of Marriage
Contract.
LARGEST DAMAGES SOUGHT
IN ANY SIMILAR D. C. SUIT
Plaintiff Tells q Story Of Whirlwind
Courtship Of Milwaukee Million
aire-Latter Not in Court.

Mrs. Ida M. McNabb. forty years old
Of Escanaba, Mich, in a clear but pa
thetic voice told a jury in Circuit Di-
vision 2 of the District Supreme Court
Justice Stafford presiding, OF the whirl-
wind courtship Of John 8. Kinney,
seventy-eight years old, of Milwaukee
Wis, which led to the execution of q
contract to marry and Of the failure OF
tho ardent lover later to keep his
promise Mr.. Kinney was not in
court during the morning session.
The alleged breach of tho contract OF
marriage is made the basis of suit
to recover 100000 damages. brought
by Mrs. McNabb, now a widow, but
then a dfvorcee.
Defendant Rich Mine Owner.
Tho defendant is said to be the own
or in fee or Of royalties from the
state of Michigan and is reputed a mil
lionaire. He is represented as counsel
by Miss Harriet Freebey, a member OF
the bar and professor at local SEM
mary. The widow Is represented by
Attorney Charles Poe Of the local bar
and Henry c. Cochems Of Milwaukee.
The contract sued on. as set out in
the declaration, was executed June II,
1912. at Escanaba, Mich, before a no
tary public. The contracting parties
agreed to marry. and in consideration
the defendant was to erect q residence
for his bride at a cost of $4,000, was
to support her three children. then
t. H~tr feht nj
fourteen years, until their marriage.
and to insure his life for $4,000 for
their benefit. The suitor also agreed.
according to the contract, to accept in
to-be die first. a one-sixth interest in
his estate instead Of the lawful dover
under the laws of Michigan.
Mrs. McNabb's Testifes.
Mrs. McNabb was the first witness
examined. She is a decided brunette.
and was demurely dressed in a black
coat suit with black string tie over q
white shirt waist and wore a black
sailor hat. Her voice was fairly we'll
modulated. but inclined at times to be
too low to reach her auditors. who
were compelled to strain their ears to
catch all her testimony
Attorney Charles Poe first outlined
the case to the Jurors. telling them Of
the contract and Of the engagement
defendant to his client with cash, also
to the purchase Of trousseau for the
wedding scheduled for August 5, 1912
The groom-to-b be did not keep his
Ave days later wrote Mrs. McNabb de-
claring he had never intended to marry
her and requested that she agree to
the cancellation of the contract. This
refusal. the lawyer stated. came after
Mr.. Kinney had requested the mother
Of Mrs. McNabb for the latter's hand
and had introduced the plaintiff to his
children and grandchildren as his in
tended bride.
Was Soliciting for Poor.
Mrs. McNabb said she was emploved
as a solicitor for Good VIII farm for
the care Of poor children and solicited
aid from wealthy persons and others
for its support. being paid SIS per week
and her travelling expenses She had
divorced her husband in November
l9lo. Tor drunkenness. she said, and he
has since died. She was caring for her
three babies when she first met Mr.
Kinney, witness said, May II. 1912.
about five weeks before the signing OF
the contract in suit
Mr.. Kinney. she said. was reputed q
millionaire, but had no Office. so she
sought an interview at his home ir
Palatka, Mich, where he then resided
She secured contribution for the
charitable home, she said, and then en-.
gagged in a general conversation with
the millionaire. awaiting the return of
a woman friend who had introduced
her to him and was to call for her.
Mr.. Kinney inquired into her persona
affairs, she testified, and became ex
ceedingly sympathetic when he learned
she was striving alone to support her
self and children.
Questioned as to Marriage.
He then inquired why she did not
marry again. Mrs. McNabb said. and
also asked her. Would you marry ar
old man like me?" She told him II she
wished to do so she would not allow
public opinion to deter her.
A week later she met him at a church
sociable. witness declared. and he took
her home in his car. Then he visited
her at her home in Escanaba, where
he met her mother and children, and
insisted on her consent to the mar.
riage.
The witness also told of his visit tc
her attorney and the preparation Of the
contract, which she alleges he ha.
broken and by his refusal to marry
her has injured her to the extent OF
100000.
A number Of letters from the defend.
ant to the plaintiff are to be shown the
jury during the course of the trial
The amount OF damages 3 the larges,