The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-04-10
WIDOW HOPED TO
land OLD DEAR
Mrs. McNabb, in Heart Balm
Trial, Explains What Land
I'M" a Husband Means.
DIDN'T FEAR DETECTIVES
Letters Expresses Confidence Her
Character Gould Not Be
Dragged Into Court."

| Miss Harriet Freebey, attorney, scored
rapid-fire Of telling points for John s.
Kinney. reputed millionaire. in a raklng
REPRESENTATION yesterday Of Mrs. Ida
McNabb. widow. in the District Supreme
Court. Mrs. McNabb looked worn and
discouraged when Justice Stafford Or
dered a recess in the $4,000 breach Of
promise suit until 10 o'clock Monday
morning.
Miss Freebey brought out that Mrs.
McNabb wrote: II think I'll land the
old dear" This was written by Mrs. Nc
Nabb in a letter to her housekeeper just
eleven days after Mrs. McNabb met the
B-year-old Michigan mine owner.
Mrs. McNabb was asked what was meant
by the expression that she might "land
the old dear" The complainant replied
that 1t was a common expression in the
mining country OF Michigan to speak OF
an approaching marriage as landing" .
husband.
The widow was confronted with an
other letter. In which she wrote that
Kinney had "a peach Of an automobile"
She explained that "a peach" was one
way Of describing an auto.
Believed She Was Swallowed.
Mrs. McNabb's belief that she was be-
ing Swallowed by detectives and an init
nation that she felt relief in an assur-
anoe that her character would not be
dragged into court were expressed In an
other letter. in which the widow said:
'They are securing the earth trying
to dig up all the old bones Of evidence
they can get against me, but my lawyers
assure me they cannot introduce any
character evidence" The dull tedium Of
testimony was broken when the menu
of dinner Mrs. McNabb wanted pre-
pared for Mr.. Kinney was introduced.
1A AL l.
a letter that Mrs. McNabb wrote in
Crystal Falls. Mich. on May .. 1872 to
her housekeeper. Miss Ida Leidfeld. The
letter read, In part:
IT am bringing the rich old man home
with me. He will spend Sunday with
me and have dinner, so prepare for
nice. big dinner. Have a roast and straw
berries and cream and get a nice cucum-
Der for the potato salad for supper and
have nice fresh bread and anything else
you want
IT think TIL land the old dear. I
am tired working, and I think you'd
like to work for me better II I had
lots Of money. I wouldn't be jealous
Of you because you wouldn't want
him. OF course, he is coming home to
see the children. SO tell the girls he
is coming: Pump them a little. SO
you can tell me what they say.
HE wants to go East in his car the
first of July, and wants me to go
along. He has peach Of a car. Il
think that would please Marcella.
Now, have everything ready. There Is
one thing about me he doesn't like.
He says 7 am too young. First time
I ever regretted my good looks. Love
TO ALL IDA NJ McNABB."
al. Always Ride the Tide"
Mrs. McNabb revealed more of her
thoughts In Milwaukee February ISL
last. when she wrote the following
letter to Mrs. G. NJ. Walker, Of La
Sale, n. Y:
Il think I am more content and
more comfortable and less worried |
than ever in my life. think when |
this coming trial is over will be |
quite happy. OF course. things are
always happening to me, but always
seem to ride the tide.
81 must get a becoming spring suit. |
Somehow my mind turns to brown. I |
don't want black and I most always have
blue. and i suppose I'll have to have |
Tipperary hat. IDA NJ McNABB"
Mrs. McNabb has been a the trial only
in black with a rather plain but becom-
Ing black straw sailor hat.
Under cross-examination Mrs. McNabb |
was asked by Miss Freebey to Identify !
Mac" mentioned in one of the letters |
Mrs. McNabb almost grew angry, but
retained her composure and replied that
he was "Mr. Mcmillan, an old friend of
my deceased husband, and a friend of
my family. He is the man with whom
you have been trying to connect my name
In way derogatory to mo-"