While I hate to admit it, I believe my paternal great-grandmother, Mary “Minnie” MacEachern French, might be viewed as a gold digger. The evidence comes from a sensational series of articles that played out in Boston newspapers from 1916-1918. What is amazing is that a jury found in her favor, although it appears the judge felt greater sympathy for the defendant. Another perspective is that she was just a tough woman who immigrated to the U.S. from Canada and found a way to make life more bearable.
Mary MacEachern was born on April 25. 1877 in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada. In April 1897, she married Walter Abraham French, a carriage driver, in Boston, Massachusetts and from this union, my grandfather George Bradley French was born in 1898. Mary and Walter were separated in 1901. At the time of the court case, George was serving in France – Pvt. George B. French – WW1.
Previous Post – Hello Minnie
For the sake of brevity, below are excerpts from numerous stories in Boston newspapers that followed the case of Mary French v. John A. Emery:
Denies He Gave Promise to Wed – Boston Post · Aug 18, 1916 · Page 7
“I may have put my arm on her shoulder in a friendly way, but I have no memory of having done so.” John Alvin Emery, 70 years old, the man who built Boston’s first subway, to a question as to whether he ever hugged Mrs. Mary R. French, who has brought an $80,00 breach of promise suit against him.
Sympathy Kiss Figures in Suit – The Boston Globe · 18 Aug 1916 · Page 1
Subway builder remembers she called him a “dear thing.”
Calls His Relations Platonic – Boston Post · 24 Sep 1916 · Page 2
He admitted he had loaned her various sums and said she was continuously wanting money, he loaned it in some cases and declining in others.
Says Aged Builder Called Her “Sis” – The Boston Globe · 14 Feb 1918 · Page 5
Back Bay Woman Claims She Secured Divorce to Marry Him
Asks $800,000 in Love Lost Suit – The Boston Globe · 26 Mar 1918 · Page 8
Mrs. French was the first witness call. “I have been a dressmaker since 1906. April 13, 1897, I married Walter A. French. In 1901, he separated from me” she said. I first met Mr. Emery in 1906.
…In the latter part of 1906, I noticed a change in his attitude about me. He seemed to want to be in my company.
Engagement Party One Witness Says/Plaintiff Rest in the French-Emery Case – The Boston Globe · 26 Mar 1918 · Page 2
“O’ she does work, but that won’t be for long and when affairs are settled, I intend to marry her.”
“Never Saw Any Improper Conduct” – The Boston Globe – Mar 27, 1918 · Page 2
And you never kissed her, or put your arm around her, or maintained toward her the closest relations a man may maintain towards a woman?” “I did not.”
Love Letters in Suit for $80,000 – Boston Post · 27 March 1918 · Page 5
Letters from Mary French to John Emery
(April 11, 1911) My Dear – Just let me call you that just once. Don’ look cross. You must think I am a queer little monkey. Well. I suppose I am, to a certain degree. The Lord meant me for a good, sweet woman, and although fate has made it pretty hard, as much as I try to get away from my beginning, it is simply impossible.
(July 8, 1913) …Please see about my electric bill and send me that stove. I am still short that $10. Will you send me a letter with that amount like dear. I am anxious to get the stove to cook with.
…You won’t turn me out surely. Thanks ever so much, dear. Bless your dear old heart. Good night. MF
(March 5, 1915) How if I had sued you for breach of promise, and you know I would win in any court of justice. And really it is not too late, so maybe when you think it over you will feel different about things.
…I need a great deal of money to meet expenses with, and this time of year it comes slowly.
(September 11, 1915) Dear Friend – I have waited anxiously to hear from you. Now you gave me to understand that I would hear from you on Friday at the latest. Now I am awfully in need of money and you promised you would help me the Lord knows you are getting off easy with a few dollars once in a while which you can well afford and a great many more and not feel the loss of it. If I were like some women it would cost you thousands and a lot of notoriety, as I don’t think it is necessary for me to tell you where you stand, and instead you make promises you don’t intend to keep.
Didn’t Ask Mrs. French to Wed Him – Boston Post · 28 Mar 1918 · Page 4
Mr. Emery is now 73 and Mrs. French is 41. According to her contention the proposal of marriage was made 10 years ago.
Mrs. French Gets $17,000 Award – Wins breach of promise suit against J.A. Emery.
The Boston Globe · 29 Mar 1918, P. 16
She said she called frequently and on Nov 22, 1907, when she was at his home, 111 Boyston St., to consult him about buying dressmaking stock, he proposed marriage. At the time she was married to Walter A. French and he said it was easy to get a divorce.
Mrs. French Asks New Trial After Her $17,000 Verdict – The Boston Globe · 30 Mar 1918, P. 14
(Mrs. French) …has filed through her counsel, Fletcher Ramsey, a motion for a new trial on the ground that the verdict was not warranted based on the evidence.
Mrs. French’s Award Held Up – Boston Post · 2 Apr 1918 · Page 3
$17,000 Verdict Reduced to $5,000 – The Boston Globe · 3 Apr 1918 · Page 16
Judge White then set the sum at $5,000 and gave Mrs. French one week in which to accept that ruling.
Obituary – John Emery – The Boston Globe · 29 Mar 1919 · Page 12
Mrs. Mary R. French (Obituary) Hartford Courant (Hartford, Connecticut) · 22 Apr 1932, Fri · Page 4. Mrs. Mary R. French died Thursday at the home of her son. George B. French, 15 Euclid Street. She was born in Nova Scotia. Besides her son, she leaves behind a grandson, J. Spencer French of Hartford.
If you are interested in researching your family history, newspaper accounts can provide a wealth of information. The above referenced clippings were discovered through Newspapers.com by Ancestry.
Copyright © 2019. All Rights Reserved by David R. French.
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