The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1922-11-24
Action Of Gladys
Nenno For $4,000
Breach Of Promise is Alleged BY
Plaintiff Against DR.. w.
T. Decoster

Plaintiff Against Or. w.
7. pecoster
Asserting that she had repeatedly
pleaded and begged for marriage as
a relief from. her embarrassing posi-
ton, Gladys Nenno, age twenty
three, broke down twice under ex-
animation ON the witness stand in
district court today in the action
she brought against Dr.. w. T. De-
Coster. local physician, for $4,000
as q balm for alleged breach OF
promise. Miss Nenno was the first
witness called by her attorneys fol-
lowing the selection of the jury.
The court room was fairly well
filed, a~large share being women,
with spectators who manifested
keen interest in the progress of the
case.
Under direct examination. Miss
Memo outlined her acquaintance
with the defendant.
In answer to the question OF what
DR.. DeCoster had said when she
pleaded with him for marriage, the
plaintiff said: He told me he han
too much work at the time TO get
married. In answer to q question
when | told him | felt humiliat-
ed at the condition was in, and at
the way people treated me, he said:
1T was nobody's d. business"
For a year and a half, Miss Mem
no stated that she had begged Dr.
DeCoster to marry her, she said
that she felt very bad and cried for
long periods at time. On one &C.
casion she said that she had begged
the doctor to marry her when they
went on a drive to a nearby town.
She said the doctor answered: THE
next time we go for drive We will
be married at county seat" This
occurred several times; the witness
said.
Attorney Moonap, in directing
the cross examination OF the wit
ness had her outline again of how
She had first met the defendant and
when he had first asked her to
marry him.
Miss Nenno stated she had first
become acquainted with the de-
PENDANT when she visited his offices
accompanied by her mother, to be
examined for appendicitis. Later
she was operated on for the illness,
and the doctor had called at her
home on various occasions. admin
istering treatment. She said he had
given her medicine to lower her
temperature and also for stomach
trouble.
Q. "Is it not true that DR.. DeCos-
ter treated you for tuberculosis, and
that's what caused your high tenn
perature?"
A. "He told me So" -s
Attorneys for the defense ques-
toned her regarding the time the
doctor ceased visiting her as her
witness answered that she could
not draw the line between the
visits.
Attorney Moonan questioned her
regarding the rides that the. de-
PENDANT had taken her on, when
called on the visits to her home.
She stated that they had made trips
on these occasions to st. Peter,
New Ulm, st. James, Kasota and
other nearby cities.
She was questioned closely, fol-
lowing her testimony that on one
of the early rides the doctor had
attempted to put his arm about her
and she had objected. She stated
that she did not believe in affection
of that kind before an interest in
marriage had been shown. When
asked to explain what she meant,
Miss Memo answered:
"a meant that it cheapens ones
affection to allow a man to handle
a woman before a manifestation of
marriage has been made"
@. Attorney Moonan- who was
1t first spoke of marriage?"
A. Miss Nenno-"He did"
Q. "Where?" ts.
A. Il don't know"
@. did you manifest any love"
A.T'Not for him."
Q. when he asked you to marry
him, what did you say"
A. Yes" ~
Shortly before the court was ad-
journed for the noon hour, the at
torney for the defendant questioned
the witness regarding her acquain-
lance with a Mr.. Obrich. She stated
she had never been engaged to him,
and that the letters she wrote to
the man during his service in the
army was done because his sisters
had asked her to do so. She stated
and had proposed marriage but that
she had refused him. Miss Nenno
was still on the witness stand when
court took a recess at noon. -
Attorneys S. B. Wilson and Hen
ry N. Somsen represented the
plaintiff and the law firm of Moonan
and Moonan Yand c. o. Daley con-
Quoted the defense. -
The jurors are Peter Carlson,
Mankato; E. o. Healy, Mapleton
township: Richard Jones. South
Bend; John Johnston, Mapleton;
Edward Keller, Decoria : Mrs. Mary
Latin. Amboy; Csmeila Mellor,
Mankato; Eda w. Steel, Mankato
township: Ed Splinter. Shelby; Ber-
tina Spaulding, Mankato township;
Ray Thompson. Shelby; Richard T.
Thomas Lake Crystal