An Infatuated Millionaire.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXI, Issue 1895, 17 March 1905, Page 2

An Infatuated Millionaire.

A NEW YOKK ROMANCE. A cable message published on Friday stated that in an action brought by John Piatt, an aged millionaire, against a negress named Hannah Elias to recover 37,000 dollars, which iie alleged was obtained by blackmailing, the New York Supremo Court held that Piatt, being infatuated with the negress, gave her property worth 200,000 dollars. Tho facts in this peculiar case are thus related in exchangee to hand by the 'Frisco mail:— A remarkable suit began in New York on January 17, when Mr John Piatt, an octogenarian, who is one of the best, known men in New Y'ork, brought an action to recover £140,'•00 from Mrs Hannah F.lias, a mid-dle-aged negress, who, in her defence, said that, the money was given her as an absolutely free gift, without duress of any kind. The case was the more interesting because Cornelius Williams, a negro, had confessed that he murdered, through motives of jealousy, the late Andrew Green, of New York, whom he mistook for the aged John l'latt. Silver-haired John Piatt tottered towards the witness box and told the tale of his relations with the negress, which began apparently when she was a mere girl dancing the can-can in a place of low entertainment. He next met her when she advertised as masseuse, and, according to the negress, "remained faithful to her" until just before the present action was brought. "1 am," said Piatt, "without money, and own only the clothes on my back. T was forced to sue this woman by the trustees of my dead brother. I did not want to bring this action." Evidence showed that Klias had fascinated many other men besides Piatt. She is a short, rather slender woman, with unmistakable negro features. Despite Ihe "straightening treatment" practised by American negresses, her hair remains of the usual coarse, kinky, negro type. She, was fashionably dressed in a black costume, with black ostrich feathers in her hat, and expensive white furs. She sat calmly beside her counsel, while the aged, decrepit Piatt (mailed before her glance. ller evidence went, to show that, the CIIO,OOO was given to her within nine years, also expensive Jewellery. She had threatened to sue him, and her negro friends, knowing the Irut.h of Andrew Green's murder, bli'i-kmailod Piatt, threatening toreveal all the circumstances unless he paid handsomely. Klins represented that she had had a child by Piatt, charging him hundreds of pounds for thi' doctor's bill. In the crowded court on Wednesday were Mr Piatt's two married daughters. Two acquaintances of Klias testified that 10 years ago sho was living in the slums, then took a situation as cook at Kss weekly, which was low wages for New York.' In 1895 Piatt was completely in the woman's toils. She lived in great style in a private mansion with a retinue of servants, including a Japanese butler. She vailed Piatt "Daddy," and he called her "Dolly." A negro druggist, who knew Klias in Philadelphia said she accused him of heing the father or a child after a row he had with her, and the negress was sentenced, he believed, to 30 days' imprisonment. He had not seen her since. Hannah Klias gave evidence, saying that, she was 10 when she first met Piatt, who said that she was a very nice girl, and gave her £IOOf 0 buy clothes. Their relations continued until recently, Piatt making her a monthly allo.wance 0 f sometimes as much as £2OO. H,, pave her lots of cash, and told her to invest in real estate. He also gave her a house costing .(MOOO. It was, she declared, a genuine love affair.