The Stark County Democrat

SHE WAS
CREDULOUS
And the Insurance Man is Said to Have Taken an Advantage.

WIDOW'S INSURANCE MONEY
Handled by a Local Insurance Man, Which Leads to a Sensation.

A LAWSUIT WAS WITHDRAWN
After the Parties Got Together and Made a Settlement—Some of the Claims Made by the Widow in Her Petition That Was on File.

A sensational law suit was started in common pleas court Friday afternoon and withdrawn Saturday morning involving a well known young man of Canton as defendant. The young man is Mr. William J. Mills, and the plaintiff is Mrs. Clara E. Barker, widow of the late Joseph Barker. Mrs. Barker's husband died a few months ago and she was left alone. Mills is an insurance man. By the death of her husband Mrs. Barker came into the possession of $2,850 of life insurance. According to her petition Mills by making representations to her and playing on her credulity and lack of business judgment got this away from her. The petition was filed by Attorneys McCarty Craine and McDowell. It stated that Mrs. Barker had the money in the Farmers' bank but that Mills told her that if she did not let him have it to care for her and put it in another bank some parties from whom she had purchased a piano would attach it and get the cash away from her. She said she believed this and to save the money gave it to Mills to deposit in the Savings Deposit bank. From time to time he had paid her little sums amounting to $190. The petition then went on to recite that he was using the money for his own use, that he had bought a fine horse and buggy and was making other rich expenditures. It further says that on August 10 she demanded the return of the money and he refused to give it up. She asked for an accounting and that the bank be asked to pay over to her all that was left and that she be given the horse and buggy and judgment against Mills.

Mills is very well known over the city. It has been observed by outsiders that he has been more or less attentive to the widow and this suit makes a rather sensational ending to the little romance. It is said that prior to the filing of the suit after Mrs. Barker had become convinced in her own mind that her funds were going she called at his home on Friday and demanded the return of the money. Report says that there was a stormy scene and it ended by his refusal to turn over the cash. Then the suit was filed in court and later Mills was seen again and with attorneys on both sides to assist a settlement was made by which he turned over the horse and buggy and about $2,000 with some other assets of value. The case was then withdrawn from the files of the court. Mills could not be seen Saturday by a News-Democrat man. It was stated at his office that he had gone to Alliance.