, 1874-01-09
She Alleges that he Is Drunk and
Disorderly.
Witness Tcstifos to Ills Slumbers
OIL all hsfl-IIcap.
Another Says He Drank Every Six or
Seven Minutes.
Testimony for the Plaintiff Con-
tinuel To-Day.

Tho divorce suit Of Barbara Mosrahon Va. Pat
rick r. Mcmahon, which Inns gained considerable
notoiioty from the eooial prominence Of aomo of
the persons connected with 1t, came up for trial
yesterday, before Judge Moore, In tho Chanccry
sido Of tile Superior. Court. a crowd OF pralrl-
Ont vagrants throngoa tho courtroom from tho
opening to tho closing hour, consuming tho
limited supply Of mir which wtetchcd Bystom OF
ventilation provided, md occupying tho space
which was intended for tho officers Of the Court
and those having legitimate business to atsoud
to-,
PERSONAL.
Tho complainant iu tho caBe, Mrs. Barbara
McAlahon, is tho daughter Of Michael Diyorsoy,
deceased, who was man Of great wealth, being
partner In tho Lii Browory, and tho owuor OF
extensive tracts Of laud aud humorous buildings
in the North Division. She is also tho divorced
Nifo Of Orrin J. Rose, likewise deceased, who
was membor Of tho Board OF Public Works Of
this city some years ago, nnd subsequently rep
resented tho National Government as Il Consul
In Europe. She obtained divorce from him
while he was absent on tho latter mission, and
shortly nftervard married Patrick +. McMahon,
tile defendant in tho present divorce suit, who
WIS ut That timo engaged In D profitable busi-
neBs Us manufacturer OF stainel glass. The
ovidouco which follows will tell tho story Of their
married life, which appears to have boon unusu-
ally unhappy. sslo charges him with cruelty and
drunkenness, and llo has tllod crosa-bill. a1lcg-
ing adultery Oh her part with one Col. HareB,
who docs real estate b,1sinosa In Honore Block.
To make mattors more complicated, Mrs. HaleH.
wife of tho Colouol, has already commenced suit
against him for separate maintenance, alleging
adultery with Mrs. A1ca1allon aB hor reason. or
f1,n }af of jnrv In ft,no
trial will virtually aotto all the suits.
Airs. McAlahon IL handsome and dashing
blonde, and she enhances hor attractions by
dressing richly and III the height Of fashion.
She exhibits but little of tllat weaknoss which
sesa. Her attornoys arc blessrs. Z. d.
Asay mud w.. l.. Hirst, Jr. There IL
nothing specially rrepossesBiug about nlr.
McAlahon's appearance, tho more 80 as ho re-
comfy sustained some injurloB in tic lead, md
iH obliged in consequence to wenr landageH on
that Indispensable portion Of Ills body. Mr.
Hugh Cunning is his counsel. Judge Doo1ittle,
1t III aaid, will alao d.! defend Inn.
Tho following are the nameH Of the jurymen,
the minority of whom are young mon ". San
horn, ]. Kablogara, 4. J, Martin, ". j. Faull.
nor, 3. .. Laughlin, Ed: G. Bash, Stephen 9.
nsgss nss Gh g. ngs esaa md i w.e M neSnsn % N P
orENtEa ARGUMENTS.
The opening argument fur tlo complainant
recital Of tho wifoB woes, ns told by herself,
relieved nuw and then, however, by spicy
anecdoto from tho speakers choice collection,
1Tr. Cunning followed ina similar strain, an
ccdoto excepted, on behaif Of tho defendant,
and when ha had concluded tho taking Of tosti-
monY was begun.
THE TESTIMONY.
Tho first wtnoHs called for tho complainant
waH DR.. ". O.. Hunt who WIS anxious to rot
through and attend to urgent professional bust
ness elsewhere. Ho testified TINT when ho was
tbs attending physician at the Hospital OF
tho Sisters Of Mercy, lest june he prescribed for
Mchlahon, who waa then IN inmate Of the inst-
tuition and suffering acutoly from tho effects of
ltesHes' opinion that tho defendant was at that
time tho victim OF excessive drinking, bcing af-
tctod with extreme nervousness. His stomach
was too wcak to retain food, and. generally
speaking, AiB systom was in very depressed
condition. Witness did not attend to him long,
as hia orders were not obeyed by the patient, tho
latter becoming intoxicated while undergoing
treatment. From AlcAlaAon'a remarks, Witness
believed that his habits bad been incorporate for
konic timo previous to Ills admission to tho
hospital.
rhe croEa-exam!natton developed nothing Of
Importance, aud WIS a nero nlatior Of fo,m.
RECESS.
The dinner hour having arrived, tho Court
ordered M I'D djournnlent until p. ill., and the
assembled loniers temporarily took up their
quarters in tho hnlls outaido. where thoY were
yened bofora the roassenlbling OF Court.
Tho judge took lliH aeat at tho appointed
hour, aud tho caue WAS proceeded with.
NIc1IoLAB oLAHSER
WAS sworn. He tehl1iod that 1lo had boon eu,-
p!oyod BY AlcMallon I'D glass painter iu 1879,
AlcMahon vas drinking hoayily nt tho timo, and
did not attend to his business. Tho Bhop ap-
poared to havo no hoad while )lo was thero.
alrs. McMahon paid the mon of several times
with what witness supposed was her own
money.
The cross-oxamination developed nothing
worthy OF note.
DR.. TIMOTHY r. NEWT
WAS aworn. lIo testified tint alcAlahon called |
at NY Aolso on bnkinoss a fow dnys before tue |
October fro. IIo waH very drunk aud abusye.
anu witneBa felt very strongly impolled to kick
him out Of tho house. lIo had seen McAla4ou
once since Oil tic street, and le apnoarod to ha |
the worse for liquor.
On CROSS examination. tho Doctor stntcd Me- |
Alahon called ut hiH house to collect rent, ay tic
agent Of hiH wife.
CHARLES cAnsTERSs
was aworll. Flo testified that ho wnB omp]oyod |
by AlcAfnl.on montliB III 1871. Tho latter kont
whisky ~ tho Shop nnl did not attend to bust
ness we'll. llo was frequently drunk, and used |
very often to stay up stara ovor to shop. Mrs,
AlcAlahon sometimes drew money out of tue |
bank, and paid tho mon. Witness hoard lar ask |
Alealaon oncc where hnr mnney was going to, |
but d!d not hear tue reply Witness worked fol |
alcalalon whom hiH wife won't away, and did not |
got paid Tor s'x weeks thereafter.
Cross-oxamnaton was waived.
AUGUSTA PETERSON |
was HwoIn. she testified that she worked for
to McAtahona in 1863 and 1870, At tl1gt nho |
did not know that they weIe married. but In tho
spring Of 1870 bllo ascortainol that tAoy were,
alcMahon began to drink in tile spring of 1870,
AMI bocame very reckless aud violent. ua ,1sed
to atay ont late at night. and bolasod meu,lIy |
toward his wifo. The Iatter had to loci, herself |
UP once to escape from him. He was also 1nean |
to tho servants. WitncBa could not 1.-Two In &ho |
house with him, because ie spoke cross mud was |
tyrannical.
On croBs' examination, Witness aaid that size |
never lloatd A[rs. MoAiahon speai GROSSLY to hor
husband. Tho Inter frequently entered tho |
hotHo ut night through the window, when tie |
doorB woro locked, aud NIL tile inmates in bed |
aiil asloop.
:. In tho redirect examination, witnoss Btutcl |
that MnAlahon's bad treatment OF tho servants |
consisted OF speaking arshly to thom, a,,tl call
ing them bud lla,,ea,
nrEL1E HEMrLE
was awnrn. 6ho testified that sl,o worked for