The famous breach of promise case of Rhoda GEIGER, of Newark, Ohio, v. A. C. PAYNE, of Mount Ayr, Iowa, came to a close Saturday at the latter place by the jury returning a verdict of $16,000 for the plaintiff. PAYNE is an old man, being nearly 60, worth nearly $200,000, and a widower. He met Miss GEIGER in Mount Ayr, where she taught music, and immediately began to make love to her. She went back to Ohio and he followed her. He visited her several times and was very intimate. At last he began to get cold, after it was generally understood that they were to be married. She sued for $50,000 for breach of promise, and afterwards amended her petition to include seduction, with the result mentioned.

NOTE: Addison C. PAYNE, born February 29, 1844, died on January 24, 1909. His wife, Sarah E. (GUYMAN) PAYNE, was born in Illinois on December 27, 1850, and died January 9, 1894. Addison and Sarah were interred at Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr, Iowa.

SOURCE: LANING, Jay Ford, editor. Ohio Legal News Vol. II. p. 474. Laning Printing Co. Norwalk, Ohio. 1895.

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, May of 2009