Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 February 1916 — BREACH OF PROMISE SUIT CAUSES DEATH [ARTICLE]

BREACH OF PROMISE SUIT CAUSES DEATH

Defendant Shot Himself In Side and Died After Girl Sought Damages Amounting to $20,000. James Whipple, 23 years of age, of Romney, died in the Home hospital in Lafayette Sunday morning as a result of a gunshot wound in his left side, said to have been inflicted with suicidal intent. . “ ~ " On Sept. 10 an action was brought in the Tippecanoe circuit court by Miss Helen Berry, of Brazil, who aleged that Whipple was guilty of a jreach of promise and who demanded >20,000 damages. She had as her attorneys Justin J. Maloney, of Crawfordsville, and Bernard Robinson, of Brazil. Whipple had employed McAdams & Jones, of Lafayette, to deend him. The original complaint set out that Whipple had courted the plaintiff during the year 1914 and that they had become engaged but that he then ceased to call on her or to write to her. Monday of last week an additional complaint was filed, setting forth the allegations .more specifically and asking that an order be made requiring the defendant to answer the amended complaint. It is presumed that the suit weighed on the young man’s mind and caused him to commit the rash act. The deed was committed at Romney Saturday afternoon and the young man was rushed to the hospital where Drs. Throckmorton and Van Reed performed an operation in an unsuccessful effort to save his life. He was regarded as a fine young man ancwas held in the highest esteem at Romney, where the body was taken Sunday to the home of his mother, Mrs. Anna Whipple.