The Washington times., 1920-02-29

F1rSt sn0 6W0re the innings were IOr
her husband. Herbert z. Thomas. who
instead Of the defendant (Amanda) is
legally responsible"-thos pretty things
we're for Mr.. Thomas, those altered waists
and lace and chiffon and psrasols, ETC..
were for hubby.
the sworn reply that every item had been
ordered by Mrs. Thomas and that the item
lied bill had been duly rendered Mrs.
Thomas. and, moreover. Mrs, Thomas had
acknowledged the receipt of the articles
and had agreed to pay for them.
Trying to Escape Paying.
On second thought Mrs. Thomas changed
her stand, and admitted that she had or
dered the stun. had received the articles.
and dropped the pretence that the things
were for her husband-but, nevertheless,
she stuck to the claim that anyhow her
husband, Herbert F. Thomas, is liable for
the payment" She wouldn't pay; let
them get the money out of Mr.. Thomas.
In her sworn answer she asserts that
things furnished as alleged were neces-
saries Of lne"-all those gowns. and furs
and lRces, etc, were "necessaries" OF life
for the former chorus girl. R
And then she throws on all BLUM and ad-
mits the debts and agrees to pay them in
instruments. "The defendant MRS.
Thomas) win pay the amount claimed In
instalment payments"
But~when the date came for the first
instalment to be paid Mrs. Thomas did not
come across with, the money. So Judg.
ment was entered against her for the full
amount claimed.
But how were the French tradesmen to
get their money? Amanda had the goods;
that she had admitted at last. She agreed
to pay, but she didn't keep her promise.
Mr.. Thomas couldn't pay; and Of course
Mrs Thomas hadn't any money-she swore
to that. And then suddenly miracle hap
pened! Mrs. Thomas turned up with big
fat check in 1911 and paid up! And the
history of all this will be a very interest
ing bit of evidence at the trial.
And these four Paris shopkeepers were
by no means the only ones who outntted
Amanda and couldn't get their pay
Pauuin sued, the Callot sisters sued and
others.
Mrs. Thomas always loved clothes. She
has been in and out of the courts on ac-
count of her fondness for clothes many
and many times for the last twenty years.
In fact, on almost the first meeting OF
MRS. Thomas on board ship with the
Shonts girls she discoursed affectionately
about lingerie, corsets, gowns, etc. On
this trip. across from New York to the
other side Mrs Shonts was seasick all the
way and did not leave her stateroom dur
ing the voyage
But the daukhters were about the ship
and on deck and Mrs Thomas took a con-
siderable interest In them and asked
good many very intimate questions.
Among other things Mrs. Thomas wanted
to know the amount Of the Shonts's letter
of credit She was curious to know
whether Mr.. Shonts was coming over to
Join them In Europe.
What on earth Mrs. Thomas needed
with such q princely wardrobe the Shonts
girls were unable to imagine. They had
good social position and many invitations
in all directions and ample opportunity for
wearing many changes Of costume.
But Mrs. Thomas had no conspicuous
social position. She was not on the stage
and, therefore, could not need all these
clothes in professional way. Her hus-
band at this time was in no situation to
pay for such elaborate costumes.
This was before Mrs. Thomas had come
into Shontss life. AS the years rolled by
the Shonts girls got less and less money
and indulgences ana clothes from MT
Shonts And Mrs. Thomas was better
dressed than ever!
When Mr.. Shonts fed from Paris to
London with Mrs. Thomas at the outbreak
of the war in 1914, there to take the Olym-
pic back to America, he had on his hands
on the ship not only his friend Amanda"
but his own daughters.
Mrs. Thomas had purchased many beau
tiful gowns and hats and shoes while she
and Shonts were in Europe. In London
the girls asked their father for enough
money with which to purchase sweaters,
steamer robes and their own steamer rugs
and heavy shoes for deck in stormy
weather. They had no clothing suffi-
GENTLY warm for deck wear.
Mr.. Shont refused, saying he would need
every bit Of gold he had to get them back
to the States. However, Mrs. Thomas
purchased a number OF handwoven silk
sweaters OF various hues, beautiful and
expensive steamer rugs, all OF Identical
pattern, for herself and Shonts, and two
handsome steamer robes.
On the steamer the two daughters were
kept almost wholly TO their staterooms be-