The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-12-01
the STRONG DIVORCE SUIT.
The Alleged Penitent Letters
of the Wife.
--~>>~S-~~>~~~->>|~o~>~~~~
Reading OF Two ExtraOrilna-
ny Papers.
.-.~~>~-~~~~>~>>,~-~o>~~~
THE HUSBAND SHEDS TEARS IN COURT.
Conclusion Of Mrs. Benz. strong's
Testimony.
Church Attendance and Family Prayers Dur
ing the Alleged Criminality.
More About the Interview at the
st. Julian Hotel.
The Habeas Corpus and Its Service on
Mrs. Strong.
&c. &C. DC.

superior COurU-IrinA
Before Judge Garvin.
The examination Of the witnesses in this con-
snued yesterday at the appointed hour before crowded
attendance. The developments were rather interesting
~ will be seen by report below.
CONTINUATION OF MRS. BENJAMIN sTRoNG's TEs-
TIMoNY.
At opening of the court Mrs Frances Strong was
again called, and her examination continued by Mr..
Cram She testified follows:-I remember when
Mr. James Strong married; 1t was in the
june of 1858; I attended the wedding; Mr..
Peter Strong and his daughter Mary attended 1t;
when they left waverley don't remember where they
went to; Mary staying at her mothers, at Mrs.
Heckshers Mr.. Peter Strong then at waverley the
wedding took place New York; the defendant not
present it; know the handwriting Of the defendant
Mr. Cram handed the witness letter. and asked her
she could identify it the handwriting Of the defend
ant Mary E. Strong.
Counsel for the defence-I would like to that let
ter before the witness answers
Mr. Cram handed the letter his opponent, who, after
reading said he would object the witness giving an
opinion to the handwriting until he had opportu
nifty Of testing her knowledge OF it.
The Court-You have a right TO examine her for
that purpose
Counsel for defence-Have you seen the defendant
writer
Witness-I have cannot say how often; have seen
her write and writing by her; I don't remember
what 1t ] saw her write; l think it was
note her write; l her writing it in the
sitting room; did not look it to the char
acter Of the writing; don't remember how long ago IL
was; don't remember that her write any
thing ese have received three four notes from herr
home and she Waverley they signed by her
and in her handwriting
Counsel for defenceSHow do you know they in
witness-Beiore received them had seen her hand
writing.
Counsel for defence-Had you only seen her write
ence and do you think could swear positively to her
handwriting afterwards?
witness-Yes, sir do; had seen her In books;
did not see her write her in the books know
the notes came from her. and am willing to swear they
were in her handwriting although l did not see her
write them wrote letters to her myself received
replies from her don't remember how long 1t
put cannot be over I'VE years ago. as have not known
letters TO Mrs Peter Strong, Newtown Long Island
had never particularly examined her handwriting SO as
To Mr.. Cram-The books in which I her
were presents to her daughter Mary.
Counsel for defence objected to the last answer and
cited celebrated in the United States Supreme
Court at Washington where Judge Crawford refused TO
receive written confession Of guilt made by the wife in
the presence of her husband Whatev er transpre be-
tween husband and wife when else Is sent Is
be received evidence The letter proposed to be read
supposed confession, In which no ansion Is
made to the act OF adultery with Edward Strong His
name did not appear in the writing, and therefore II
could not be shown To have relation TO the II
the supposed confession made in the of
the husband IL clearly could not be received evidence
for IL well known how easy II to wiring from a
wife written document under compulson
The Court decided that the letter within the general
rule and should be received, although some or
sderations advanced by counsel were very proper To
submit 70 the jury in making up Their minds as to tho
degree OF CT dit 10 which the evidence was entitled
Mr.. Cram then said he would proceed 10 read the let
Ter, but interrupted by Sir. McKcon, who quoted
celebrated case from the parliamentary reports against
the reception Of the letters.
The Court overruled the objection and noted exception
After which Mr. Cram read, in avery distinct Tone the
following paper, purporting to be
A WRITTEN ACKNOWLEDGMENT wIFEs guilt.
The following freely given to nJaIed husband by
driven by the power wretchedness course OF
"sae e. acaP'h he @ f
the a e S r az e s
sver course 81 nearly two years -. :, ,,,,,,.
% him whom han wronssa, and relieve ny
naSf aaseana sinks beneath tho gov sa y@n .
Ss he ss g ssss % AMI Shielded
'.l.s .a me sincere a%hY < sTosG
THE HUSBAND snps rEARs
During the reading Of this touching prper Mr Peter
r. Strong, the plantr seemed TO be deeply affected.
With his two hands supporting his head, and h,s elbows
70 rspress deep emotion evoked by the letter Tears
wasered his eyes and coursed down his cheeks while
svery little while his handkerchief was called into play
70 wipe away tho traces OF suffering
The letters frnged with black and written fairly
MI Cram handed the witness another lctter, and
asked her she identified 1t as the handwriting Of Mary
The witness replied IN the Affirmative, and was put
through another cross examination to how she knew
y WAS the deisndants handwriting she acknowledged
fhat the writing OF the two letters seemed somewhat dir
fcrent looking IL written great haste aud the
sther as u with more care and elaboration.
Counsel for defence-Yes; call your Honor's atten
sion this How is possible for any witness to
that those letters were written by the same
psry- when the handwritng Is so dissmarS The arst
uua Ook n as ia tho hat
Blnebeard gave his wives.
After considerable discussion the letter was ad
mitted, and Mr.. Cram read II as ollows II bears
date Of January s. 1867
EDWARD " sTRoSG-A judgmen, OF God has arrested mo
In my career of sin and thrown down the barriers Of
NV husband knows alvhatever may the issue OF that
siissriy 's' ~ '"'''''" nv "e' MARY r. sraoN,'''
The direct examination Of the witness was then
Edward was a teacher in the Sunday school; he and
Mrs Strong both went TO Sunday school on Sundays at
nine o'clock IN the morning The Misses Varrck also went
there the family went 10 church at ten o'clock Edward
was officer IN the church, he was deacon; II was
Dutch Reformed church, Edward nrst left for the army in
December 1891 he returned furough the day before
Christmas, and went back the day after Christmas ro-
collect Mrs. Strong making present 70 Edward; tho
present q dressing gown she told she gave II to
him aud that she had made III she told me she had been
very busy making for Edward, and she excused her
cell io not being ready TO receive me for that reason
dned there that day he Edward dned there that day
also; saw them talking together in the hall rocolect
~ christening q Edith was present at IL y was on
'' "1at toWA hitliNp tslNtA peFtoFINu lut N1it
mOnyi was godmother and Edward strong was the god
father tue DEFENDANT called me 70 stand e0dmothor tho
place al Newt0wn perfectly healthy; the whole
place occupied about two hundred acres
now EDwAa9 gNJoYED HiA pAREN
Cross examined don't know where Edward Is now;
saw Edward two weeks ago Darien Connecticut: he
enjoying himself there fishing riding and driving;
he stopping az boarding house In Daren thc house
was kept by Mr. Bell; he passed by ha own name
while shere before went there knew he was there:
did not 70 there 10 meet him members OF his m.
nifty were there with him. went up there with nv
husband pass the day there at my husbands place IA
passed we met Edward at his boarding house; be-
heve be the lookout for us and that he knew
were coming the way think he knew we were coming
account OF my husband writing TO my father 60
that effect my fathers is Adair Edward had boon
si"nrns q Dsren for six months before ths from the