New Britain herald., 1915-01-08
FORMER LOCAL GIRL
 SUING FOR $5Q,o0o
Miss Elizabeth Ryan Seeks Heart Balm From Wealthy |nnkcepcr.

At present the attention of the Massachusetts superior court is being occupied with one of the largest civil suits ever brought before it, action ~fcr $50,000 having been brought against Harry K. Mansfield, the wealthy owner of the Frencroft Inn, by Miss Elizabeth M. Ryan, who is we'll known in this city, where she made her home for several yeears Years. Miss Ryan was born in Meri- den, but after leaving school came here to live for time and was we'll known. When living in this city the young woman was employed at a Hartford department store. She charges the Bostonian with breach of promise. --...
 Celebrates Yale's Victory.
 The evidence brought out at the trial is of a most sensational nature end the Boston papers are devoting columns to it. On the witness stand the girl told of attending the Yale Harvard football game in 1907 in company with two men and another girl. Her party left New York for Boston on the midnight train on the Eight before the game and when closely questioned by the lawyers Miss Ryan showed no embarrassment over the fact that it might be thought improper travelling in this way. At Boston her party stopped at the Hotel Lenox, she said. Yales brilliant victory over Harvard that year elated her very highly and after the game she and her friends went to the Watertown Riding and Driving club, where they celebrated freely. She admitted drinking but denied that she made so much noise that she was eJected from her hotel.
 It was on the day after the game that she stopped at the Ferncroft Inn and there met Mir. Mansfield for the first time. According to her testi- mony Mansfield was at once smitten with her and showered all sorts of attention on her. However, Miss Ryan denied being any too familiar with Mansfield at that time, but ad- naitted that he called her "grandma' and "toodles." She furthermore de- nied that Mansfield hugged and kissed her during their first meeting. Later, the former New Britain girl said, Mansfield gave her many presents in cqfdfng three rings and a brooch and uene in turn had given him an oil painting of his favorite aunt
 Accused Mansfield of Cheating.
 Intense interest was caused when Miss Ryan calmly informed the court that she had played with Mansfield with marked cards and had seen him fleece one man out of $9,000, after which she declined to be a party to such crooked deals and he had promised to give her half of all he 1 had.
 Received $1OO a Month.
 When the girl saw that Mansfield had no immediate intentions of marry ing her despite his oft repeated pro- tests that he would do so. she visited priest named Father O'Brien and told him of her relations with the innkeeper and his refusel to marry her. Mansfield also agreed to see this clergyman but later declined to do so and instead declared that Since she was not satisfied with the conditions of $500 down and the payment of S100 per month he would make her another offer. What the offer was she did not state but informed the court that she refused it and was told by Mansfield that she would be fixed" and he would clear out in fifteen minutes" At another time the girl declared that Mansfield, although Irofessing to be a Presbyterian, had consented to being married to her by a priest. ....s.