The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-10-05
INTERESTING DIVORCE CASE.
The Harris Versus Harris Case
at New London.
GIimpscs Into Fashionable Life I'm tho
"Nutmeg State"
a Former Mayor and Connecticut Senator
Asking for Divorce.
&c. &c. &c.
Our Now London Correspendenee.

Our New London Correspondenee.
New LONDON, Conn, Oct 3. 1895.
This city Is in . high state OF excitement over the
anticipated developments in the celebrated Harris
divorce case, which commenced this afternoon before
Judge James Phelps, Of the Supreme Court. It is .
double case-both husband and wife suing for divorce.
There are double Get Of petitions and nnumerabe wit
Tnesses
The husbands petition is based allegations 10 the
eject that he prove that his wife has kept up and
cultivated improper intimacies with Major William
Williams United States Army, lately in command at
Fort Trumbu; Allen P. Miner, Of New York city, and
with other parties not necessary to mention.
Mrs Harris in her petition which very long, sets forth
and promises prove that her husband accused her.
while on their wedding tour, Of mpurty before mar
age and beat her and that he had persstenty abused
her for years Some Of the specifications too vulgar
TO be repeated, and the promises many disgusting
Developments
PARTIES
Jonathan N Harris the husband is partner of Perry
Davis, the celebrated spain kilern man, and having
made fortune by the drug he has spain Killer the
brain to such extent that he has called his splendid
residence this city "Pan-killer Villa" He has
been Connecticut Legislator, and in the State Sem
Mayor Of New London and man of much influence
He is burning light in the Second Congregational
church OF this city and an oracle among the republicans
OF this district In appearance he is low Of stature but
rather good looking and of gentemany demeanor and
sanctmonous aspect He seemed to feel in court the
decacy OF his position, and his eye frequently wan
dered to the place where his wife sat- surrounded by her
friends and children
Mrs HARRIS
Is very prepossessng lady OF forty two but she looks
young enough to pass for thirtyve She entered the
court room accompanied by TWO lady friends and her
daughter Jennie. She did not feel in the least embar
rassed, and looked around the with air Of
perfect and confidence She atred quite fash
ionably in black with jcwery adornments, fan and smell
ling bottle She Of medium size and rather stout She
has 0rid complexion clear blue eyes and very grace
full figure. Miss Jennie is beautiful young lady Of
twenty-one She was engaged TO be married to Samuel
Thompson ESQ., formerly President Of the First National
Bank Of New York, but this trouble appears to have
THE LEGAL TALENT EMPLOYED
The most eminent counsel in this section have been
engaged on both sides Their names are as foowsFor
Mrs Harris, John T. Walt, Abiel Converse, Jeremiah
Brandegec.
COMMENCEMENT TRIAL.
Long before the hour announced for the trial to CON-
two o'clock in the aternoon) the large
was crowded Each OF the parties is known to almost
every citizen in this place, and hence the anxiety to be
present at the proceedings
Judge Phelps took his seat at few minutes past two
and the case commenced
Mr.. A. C. Lipptt on the part OF Mr.. Harris, opened
the case by reading the petition Of his client He
followed by M. Abel Converse who read the petition
of Mrs. Harris
Mr.. Lippt next rose and said he did not know how tho
case could proceed in any other way than to hear hath
Mr. Harris forward and then let the other side intro
duce any evidence they saw 1T to contradict that already
given.
OPENING SPEECH MR. HARRIS CouNssk
The Judge having signed his assent to this course
Mr.. Lipptt contnued-He never entered upon the dis,
charge OF professional duty under painful crcu,n.
stances Both he and Mr. Harris had oonc to live in tho
city of New London together. They thrown to-
gether from boyhood They had boarded together
City Hotel He (Mr. Lippt) knew both parties Init
rmaseiy Mr. Harris had commenced life poor boy and
hs6 steadily risen from one position TO another all the
wtne upwards. Down TO late period all had gone well
With tho family He understood that they had lived
happily together as families in general lived and
free from chickering's until down TO the period Of the
birth OF their last child Edith. Mrs Harris being youp
was fond Of company; children born and chill re,
we're Embellishments and pleasures; at that tim a Mr.
Harris being much engrossed in business his wi
TO seek the company OF young men; this rele don cem
menced with Mr. Miner; he was happy to $40 that Gen
Mr. Ipptt thcn went on to state the ar,,c,,r MONT.
on whic he intended to advocate the ouse OF his Client
Mrs Harris intimacy with Mess.ra Miner scnvi
Kekettson, Major Williams and o.heys as SET forth in
rnE DEFENDANTS cou.ssr MAKES SPEECH
Mr. Converse, on behEf OF Mrs. Harris, followed.
connected with the trial in showing forth events NOT
essentially necessary in the Moving In sphere of
sndor and wealth which very few could attain or hope
s ATTAIN all parties apparently happy In the centre Of
relatives and Of all the affections that clustered around
nome and iircside, 1t was pleasure withdraw tn
vel ana exhibit to the world the actual wretchedns
tnat naa been gong on during these long years. n
answer to the gentleman who had preceded h. he
hoped to be able TO prove that these charges against his
scnent were without the slightest foundation finpruden
Ms Harris might have been but she OF poaded on
70 II by the misconduct and harsh tream N Of him
bad taken a solemn before Heave., H. ha hnr NO
tcctor and defender Thcy would stnr that ,he po
not stain upon her character Ater some allusions a.
to the evidence which to be Introduced Mr.
concluded NsN
TESTIMONY or MRS MARY HOMES SISTER or Nm Mann,
MIA Mary Abbey Holmes was the first witness called
ana Testified as fo9ws-l am the sister of the petition
'er; i've at salem; am teacher at Music Vale: fre
gueny visited at my brothers. during his residence IN
Golden Green and often present house. ijrt
Of ~ IN Ne N family in iss3 heard
"A Anrl Gao
aon h a,o muso vae was at the house Of INV brother
~ tnat lme about Two weeks heard Mrs Harris sneak
" razor winiame, at Fort Trumbul expressed wish
TO 80 TO the FORT my husband went down being ntra
duced 70 Major Williams by Mr. Harris: Major Williams
scrt s 10 the ladies TO go down TO the
lott nefs nay to dress parade being fast day we dd
NOT go Major Williams up next evening he asked
Ssnno 70 play the piano. and while Major Williams was
MIA and asked him to 60 into the reception room the
Major went; the gas was not lit no other member OF
the family went into the reception with them the
gasgnt from the ball reflected into the cepon room
as the doors were open for time did hear them
takng as they spoke very low, Ia Of the
TINS lasted about an hour then Major Williams and
MS harris promenading the ROOM his arm around her
neck and hers around his waist Major Williams left
between nine and ten o'clock Mr. Harris out at the
Time the Major visited again Saturday evening; Mrs
Harris asked him to call again during that evening he
spent ms time In the reception room there was no gas
the other members OF the family were in the hall and
parlor; them sittng on the sofa thew
In the same way-hs around her neck ami her arm
around ms waist Mr. Harris not home this nrt,
wares curing CUT, the two weeks Of my stay; had CONVEX
70 what had witnesscd Hr c;Se.s ,rea ~
1How couId vo VIVA. sRe Was doing and remarked
are setting before Jennie, with The example you
no use for her ~ Mrs. Harris said that II was OF
Major Wilam Sk, and that she loved every inch Of
conversato ion isr, I'VE would 60 where was sent this
Harris that 1 place on Sunday morning; I told Mrs
me very .as very sorry she told me so, as It made
house tbs unhappy MAJOR Williams came 10 the
BIN " same evening; on arriving Mrs Harris invited
90 y; they promcnaded az before with the excepton
Eat they TOOK hold Of each others hands occa sionaly
Jennie ana went into the library; tho Major stayed
went out before Mr. Harris home az she came out
Of tho reception room Mrs Harris took up the Major
bat and remarked. John Harris will soon be home
Jennie had expressed wish the night before that Mr.
Holmes should speak TO the Major when Major Will
ams went out OF the back door Mr. Holmes went 81
lpiomed had invited US TO the fort Mrs Har.