The New York herald., 1865-12-09
THE STRONG DIVORCE CASE.
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OPENING OF THE EVIDENCE FOR THE WIFE
.FNN Mrs E -~~~~~>~~~~->~~--~-- ID
THE AGED FATHER on THE STAND.
Thrilling Interviews with the
NJ Plaintiff.
->>~~--~~~>~~~~S~~~~~.
"Ehe Issues Of Life and Death Are
h& With God"
Confession OF the Daughter to
Her Parent.
&c. &c. &c.
Superior Court-Trial Term.
nafnra Iudpa (4arviu


Before Judge Csarvin.
The courtroom was again denseay crowded yesterday
morning at the opening Of the court The proceedings
were Of deeply interesting character and absorbed the
attention Of the spectators throughout the day.
CONCLUSION OF MR.. M'KEoN's ADDRESS.
Mr. McKeon resumed his opening for the defence He
referred again to the matter Of the confession, and in
stanced the of Lord Audey who hired two Of his
servants commit rape his wife while no stood by.
Lord Aucy and the servants were convicted and hung
The Lord and OF the men died protesting their in
nocence while the other confessed the whole affair
dcposed to by Lady Andey What good, then, were
fcssonk? Passing from the charge OF adultery the de-
fence intended next 10 put in and provo the
plea OF forgiveness. The adultery Of tho plain
tiG would also be shown. The elder Mrs Strong
owned the house 124 wayerley place. Mn. Potter
had lived at lOi wavcrley place whore she had
q sign out with the words "Female Physician. y
The defence would show that the nt got Instruments
and letter or instruction from her and had them
vcyed 70 his wife for purposes of the abortion Mrs
Hecser would prove that Mr. Strong had said he made
his wife do IT, Mrs Potter May 1862 after being the
means OF placing these Instruments in Mr StTpngs hands,
moved the house 12l Hc was as she had expressed
it, under her thumb From the character OF tho leases
made with Mrs. Potter Of them being without any
surety at ALL II was evident she had some mysterious in
lucnoe him Mrs. Potter was notorious abortion
ISL 40 uuch so that the house 124 waverlcy place
dcS gnated IN that connection in one OF tho criminal
Journals. This paragraph was published on the 9Th OF
September lsC3 yet the plaintiff did not know the cha
raccr OF his tenants Mrs.. Adams was taken TO tho
house. according TO this newspaper statement whore an
abortion produced from the effects Of which She died
and buried under false certificate. Mrs Potter was
now under indictment charge OF abortion and what
that tho knew her business
cally he had her sign at the previous houseg
Their las, defence would be the adultery or This same
plaintiff Mr. Strong, and with this very woman, Mrs
Potter They would show that at Mra Hecksera he
offered compensation for board Cor himself ad family
for six months the of two hundred doarsandther
proof Of that avaricc of his character which led him
seek to gt rid Of his wife As to the adultery. they
would show that no was IN tho habit Of visiting az
Mrs Po.,cr's after ton O'Clock in tho morning,
when Mr. Potter was at business thai he visited
her in the ofaco of her house, where she was in the
habit Of dspoSing of the articles Of her trade that
fanillarties passed between them. and that no sub
sequentiy visited her al the house in Sixth avenue.
II was true detectives had been uscd but such practice
was common in these cases. They used by both
sides The defence had put such detective 10 follow
Mr. Strong; and the jury would believe tho witnesses
be shown between Mr. Strong and Mrs. Potter.
/, true, agan the defence was not
Of this adultery until late in 1864 but IL dis
covcrcd during Tho investigation which the defence wa
making INTO the affair of the abortion. Mr Mckeon con
clndea with an appeal 70 the jury n & which m he lkensa
his client 10 dove " their hands We're they going TO
tammcl or wound H. or let IL go freeY
THE TESTIMONY FOR THE DEFENCE.
Mr. McKeon now commenced to develop the tcsti.
mony ior the defence Tho first witness called was the
Rev. John Cotton Smith, pastor Of the Church Of Assem-
sion on Fifth avenue, who dcposcd as follows
TESTIMONY OF REV. jobs COTTON SMITH.
am CLERGY man. and oiciate at the Church OF Asccn
sion in Fifth avenue; succeeded Mr. Bcdell. In
January 1s60 have continued in charge Of that church
ever since; knew Peter r. Strong previous TO be-
coming connected with tho church: 1 don't know
whether he attended my church before 1850; sub
sequent to tho tne OF my connection with the church
no was hardly what could be called rarshoncr OF
my church; hls wife and daughter used to attend the
church; never received present from Mr. strong;
my wife received one from Mrs Strong; think It was
cd's blanket; II about the spring Of 1862 II was
accompanied BY letter; have not the letter now IL
sent 10 me, hut 10 my wife, lWitness shown
letter by counsel and reads ID think have received
from Mrs Strong; have none OF her notes IN my
possession now; did not give any OF them TO Judge
Hoffman; don't think ever showed him any Of them.
family Of Mr. Stevens; my wife; the family have
been parshoncre Of mine Mrs. Strong became my pa
rshoncr in 1862; had communeaons WITH her then;
had that knowledge Of the difficulties which was acccs-
sble 20 the public.
Mr.. Cram-Have you any other knowledge oil The DIM
wi,ness--I should IKE to know whether am Obliged
TO that question before answer and ask the
Court 10 instruct me.
The Court-You are not bound to divulge any commu.
nications which made to you In your professional
character.
Witncss-Then refuse to answer.
Mr. Crnm--I don't ask you as to any communications
Of professional character Did you get Information
through any other sourcey
Witness--No, sir
Mr. Cram-You addressed letter to Mr. Strong in
1869 marked private. Will you look at II and read ~
Witness looked at the letter and read II to himself
Mr. Cram-I now give you another lctor addressed 70
Murray Hoffman, and ask II you have any objection TO
witness--I am entirely willing you should read IT,
Mr. Gcry-I object to both letters because thoy have
nothing TO do with the case.
Mr. Cran-I offer the letter as expressing sympathy
with my client in reference to the subject matter Of this
trial
The conrt-I don't see its materially or pertinency.
(Qucstion ruled out
Ni,ncss--I knew Mrs. Bedoll intimately,
Mr.. Cranl--what u her character Tor truthY
Mr. t;~rry-r object TO IL.
M. Cram-She has been accused or being . clerical
detective aud other infamous things and want 70 show
hy this witness that she woman OF the purest char
Re.drect-I don't recollccs that sdminstsfed the
sacrament To Mr. and Mrs Strong together; may have
administered it 70 Mrs. Strong, but never did % 70
Mr. Strong; administered repeatedly IN iSo2 70 MIS-
''''rn The DEFENDANTS rArnxs ON rHs STAND.
Mr.. John Austin Stevens ST., father OF Ma Peter
syons the defendant in the suit was the nexs witness
average height with hair slightly tnged with gray, and
complexion Of rather q sallow hue He gave his evi
deuce standing in collected tanusr eu. u sonss q
reside at No. IL East Twenty second strcss ana nave
lived in this city since the time Of my birth; ~ born
crcpsncy or doubt as 70 the year but think was in
the year t794; my father came TO this city on Evscua
tIon DAY. with the troops OF General Wssninon ON snc
25th Of November, 17s3
Mr. crsmI object 70 tho witness going into tho pedi.
gree OF the family.
wtness-My occupation a. present v that Of PRESIDENT
Of tho Hank OF Commerce in New YORK; hsve been In
tha. position for six and twenty years p.svors @
commission business was % engaged mnco the year
1ss am the father OF the defendans nave nsd egnt
daughters and four sons all Of them born peect ans
living have only one son living now; that y my only
son pontng to John Austin Stevens, IT, who ses Pc
the SON. the first died when be wns only nve years
old; my daughters ali living nrst became acqusns
cd with tho plaintiff short time bcforo MS marriage
with my daughter on his return from Europe he was
then visitor In the family my daughter was married
In 1853; knew him for about year ocsore tnat
became that no suit0r for tne nano OF my
daughter about two three months before the mar
riage: he announced 10 n the Bank OF commerce
in the back room he stated TO me that be mad peen
accepted by my daughter, and that bis income was
about four thousand dollars per year o. e over .na'
don't think he sad anything about MS expcctanoni
from his fheYs esate there was nothing ead about