Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-01-31
Tells of Courtship
CONTINUED from Pace One)

This alleged courtship took place
in the fall of 1922, Miss Gerber said,
a year after another alleged attempt
at marriage with the defendant had
been abandoned because of the in
reference of his six children.
She said that in November of 1922,
Mr.. Schwartz called her on the tele-
phone at a millinery shop which she
claims to have later given up in hopes
of marriage and asked permission to
visit her.
IL suppose you thought have for
gotten you?" was his greeting. ac-
cording to the plaintiff. and l have
a confession to make. Women from
all over have l met, one especially,
but YOU are the. only one / care for.
l am sure, If you will be my wife, L
will make you happy
Miss Gerber declared she attempt
ed to learn more about the one VINO
was supposed to have been more IA
vored than the rest. and she SAID that
Mr.. Schwartz asserted this other Wo-
man came to his State street home
suggested that she he given this resi-
dcnce. and $4,000 or 100000 as Well
"Then I understood that she was
not the right person for me. ana that
she wanted my money and NOT me
Miss Gerber testified that Mr.. Sen
wartz explained Miss Gerber insisted
that she did not care whether MT.
Schwartz was rich or DOOR, ana that
she had 2 real affection for him our
ire his alleged courtship. The PAIN
tiff was on the stand for more thah
three hours.
note addressed to Miss Gerber
A1-h .Ipn-
tilted by her as accompanying some
flowers for her mother, sent in De
ccmber. 1922. just before the alleged
appearance of an engagement ring.
This read: "Veta. this is for your
loving mother in my appreciation for
her raising such q lovely maid for
mo. Yours, forever. y. Schwartz"
Frederick II. Hinckley in opening
the case for the 30-year- old milliner.
said Louis Averback. n cousin of the
defendant. acted in the capaCitv of
matchmaker and engineered" the al
legged engagement between her and
the wealthy real estate operator.
which was made the basis of the
suit.
Shwartz, n native of Kesinov in
Southern Russia. and nearly twice
the age of the plaintiff, came to this
country 40 years ago, almost n
pcnniless Immigrant boy. He laid
the foundation for his wealth, said to
amount to a million dollars, by pur
chasing a small notions store here
with money saved while employed in
n paper mill for S1.25 a day in West
brook.
Insinuations that ShwartZ had Of
fered to compensate Avcrback. the
plaintiffs first witness. who acted as
matchmaker" according to Jewish
pre- -nuptial arrangements. if he
would give testimony favorable to
him. were an unexpected develop
ment at the start of the trial.
Former State Attorney General
William Il. Pattangall, who is con-
Quoting the case for the defense, re-
peatedlv attempted during Cross-ex-
animation of Averback to force him
to admit that he and his son, Max.
had visited the defendants office
subsequent to the time he had testi-
fed that he had refused to accept
Mr. Shwartz's offer to compensate
him for testifying, and tried to get
Shwartz to buy back for S21 900 n
house which he had sold them for
$4,000. Averback repeatedly denied
this Again and again he asserted.
II told Mr.. ShwartZ Tn going to
say the truth, You can't buy me for
nothing. wouldn't do it--not if you
were to give me 100000"
Miss Gerber testified that she was
born in Russia and lived there until
II years ago, and that she was mar
ried in 1916 to Samuel Kronsberg,
now of New York, living with him
eight months and subsequently be-
ing divorced.
She testified Schwartz had des-