Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-05-18
MISS JOHNSON SAYS
Mr.. WILSON LOVED
HER AND SAID So
Frequent Kisses and Embraces
Testified TO in $4,000
Breach of Promise
Case.


$4,000 breach of promise suit of Miss
Laura Louise johnson of Minneapolis
against the Rev Charles Chase Wilson,
rector of the Church of our saviour of
Roslindale. was begun to-day in the
federal district court before Judge
James NJ. Morton. Jr This is the first
breach of promise suit that has ever
been tried in the federal courts in Mass
achusetts.
The court room was crowded with
witnesses and spectators, large num-
her of the latter being made up of the
ROY. Mr.. Wilson's parshioners The
suit arose out of an alleged promise to
marry, said to have been made by the
Rev Mr. Wilson in July. 1913. when
he was assistant rector of st. Pauls
! Church at Burlington. Vt. and when
| Miss johnson was in Burlington prior
to her leaving for York Beach after
having left the University of Vermont.
/ M his opening remarks To the jury.
Attorney Willard told how Miss john
son of Minneapolis came to burlington
IN 1917 ana entered the University of
! Vermont rs special student. Snc took
rooms with a Miss Mabe at Mrs. Lanes
on college street. owing to the crowded
met the defendant at a New Years
party at Fort Ethan Allen on December
81, 1912 Mr.. willard said the defend
ant had invited Miss Johnson's room
mate to the party, but became quite at
tentive to Miss Johnson during the
course Of the evening
Mr. Wilson made frequent calls on
Miss Johnson and in January declared
J. NO. 1,, ftny, ~.
added Later in the same year. when
Mr. Wilson was in Arlington, Miss John
son called on him and he again told her
Of his love. Mr. Willard went on to tell
how Miss johnson could not understand
why the defendant Aid not write TO her.
Then she wrote her mother who came
East and with the plaintiff went to see
Mr. Wilson in Arlington. Miss Johnson
was left 'alone with the defendant
who. on Blended knees" again declared
his love for her. But Mr.. Wilson
added that he had had a higher call
that of celihacy she left him and next
heard Of him when she received a news
paper clipping from a friend announc-
ing the defendants engagement to an
other woman.
Miss johnson was the first witness
at Fort Ethan Allen at dance, hav.
ing nine or ten dances with him.
I'VE sat together on the way home
on our arrival. he picked mo right ur
in his arms and carried me to The
door"
| He asked permission to call and sh'
2 finally consented, the witness furthe
stated He also tried to embrace her
but she would not permit him to do so
"One evening we had long converse
tion and he declared his love for me,
said the witness
Miss Johnson then told of frcquen
visits and Of Mr.. Wilson's dining will
her and her mother often at the Nar
, Ness House
In March Miss Johnson moved to Mr.
and Mrs Guy r. Horizons on Buel
> street The defendant called on he
there and during the call. she said, sh
allowed Mr. Wilson to kiss her. ASKED
what they talked about, Miss johnson
said, turning to the jury:
II felt | loved him so that. a per
y haps some of You know we did no
need to talk We were so happy jus
. to be together. We sat on the couch
When he first came in he used to lis
me and embrace me and then we woul,
have tea. Then We would sit toGether.
V One day when Mr., Wilson called sh
5 happened to be in a Japanese iimonc
h for which she excused herself But
g She said, the defendant said it was al
II reht that she looked sweet" BE
e cause Of her appearance he called he
his little Jap"
y About the first of July, 1918 he rati
Y fed his love for her ON an afternoon
G when he called at her room in Mrs
Horizons house. Miss Johnson said:
j. He took me in his arms and kisse
9 nc and kissed me"
. Counsel for the defendant objected I
/, letters between her and her parents an
l. these were all excluded by Judgc Nor
It ton.
p. Miss johnson said she went to Yor
Vt Beach later in the summer and stage
ten days. seeing Mr. Wilson in Rosto
= when she returned. She further test
70 fled that after she returned West nc
e hearing from him, she wrote to him. br
he evadcd her questions. Because c
h this. she testified. she lost weight an
It could not eat or sleep.
It She returned to burlington i'm 1914 {
J. get spiritual consolation from Dr. Bills,
l. In the latter part Of October she re
y ceivcd letter from Miss Mabie in whic
e was enclosed newspaper clipping ar
D." nouncinG Mr., Wilson'S engagement
another woman.
Cross-examnation had Just bee
= started by w. +. G.. Stickney whe
h court adjourned
n nnnlil,rn III nnnrnN MAJ