Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-01-16
OSTEN TEST|F|ES
IN OWN BEHALF
Defendant in Breach of Promise
Case on the Stand in Superior
Court Today.

The iurv went out at l2.45 today in the
case Of Anna Schilling, New York Music
teacher. against " illiam III. Osten Tor
$4,000 for alleged breach of promise OF
marriage, before Judges Heiscl and Con-
rad in Superior Court.
William I'll. Osten, the defendant took
the stand In his own behalf. lie SAID ne
was born in Germany and came TO the
United States in 1912. He told OF his
meeting Miss Schilling, the plaintiff, IN
New York clearinghouse, Tie came to
Wilmington TO work rs craftsman at the
Harlan shipyard. Defendant said he had
loved Miss Schilling more than year
before he had the courage TO ask her TO
marry him.
On the plaintiffs return from Europe
in the spring of 1917, defendant testified
be realized for the first time that she
loved him Then he struck out boldly, ana
they became engaged.
The plaintiff went to defendant S father,
IN Germany. according tn the latter tcstl-
mouy. and asked for defendant S divorce
paners, as directed by the defendant. i he
parent refused 20 give the papers to Miss
Schilling. because she was stranger.
Defendant testified that he wished tie
papers for use in becoming naturailzed In
this country.
Osten was in the United States Nav
Intelligence Bureau during the war.
"Mv honest intention was TO marry her,
but ii was sometime after that | dis
covered that she was quarrelsome and
cratic" went on the with IS. Il asked
her to release me because | had changed
my mind about marrying her. But she
would not listen to 1t. ! asked her IN
restaurant one day if she really loved me
still She snapped her finger and sad;
Not that much.
Osten's employment in the naval IN
teIligence work at the Brooklyn office,
he said, was approved by Secretary OF the
Navy Josephus Daniels. Attorney at
torniIs, counsel for defendant, then read
to the Jury letter from plaintiff TO de
fendant written after the alleged break
between them. 'NNhy don you write
resd one letter. Shall turn you over
TO the Government and let them find out
whst's WHAT"
Osten testified that he gave Miss Schill-
ing her letters back and she called him
gentleman for it. Il then asked her for
NINE said the defendant, but she re-
fused
'.She threatened to break my spirit,
went on Ostcn. and was once on the
verge of q serious breakdown rs the result
A witness from New York Yesterday
testified that she heard plaintiff and de-
fendant quarreling loudly in hcT boarding
house, that she went into the parlor and
found Osten in 2 swoon and that she had
10 resort to aromatic spirits Of ammonia
to get lin on his feet and on ..s way out.
Defendant said ne was discharged from
the navsl intelligence office ami that his
superior officer told him he had been dis
charged because Of charges made by Miss
Schilling, the plaintiff Then, ne SAID,
be came back to Wilmington to work
because he Was better known here
4 former naval intelligence officer testi-
ned, when called on Ostens behalf, that
be was asked to sit with Osten and Mss
Schilling one evening and that then Miss
Schilling said she did not love Osten, and
would not marry him, but that she insisted
they were still engaged.