Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-03-06

ceptlOn OF one letter OF four or hye sneets,
which is the last one I got from him. It COM
mences On Monday 10th (Which was the 10th OF
April, 1870 and it runs through several days
1t was begun before Major Donaldson went to
the railroad meeting at Rochester and was tn-
lshed after his return. got the letter that
refer to, and which I have delivered with TINS
confession on Friday or Saturday morning OF
last week. got it in a tin can at the upper
end of our lot covered up with leaves. My
husband has not known of these matters
until Tuesday April Oath, SO far as know.
On the evening Of April Oath confessed my
guilt to my husband in the presence OF u. 3.
Beck and l have now made this state
ment, and it has been reduced to writing IN my
presence and that of my husband and mostly
in presence of Z. 8. Beck and has been care
fully read over to me by Mr.. Davidson before
signing. HENRIETTA SOMERvHLE.
Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 18th
day of April, A. D. 1877.
JAMES H. DAVIDSON,
Notary Public.
Col. Davidson, continuing his evidence, said
he had also in his possession the single letter
to which the confession alluded as unburnt.
The handwriting had been sworn to as that OF
Maj. Donaldson which defendants council adj
mitted. After being excepted to by the de-
Tense, the court admitted it in evidence, and it
was read. The letter having been previously
published it is not here reproduced.
EDMUND .. BECK IESIlf1ED:
Had known Mrs. Somerville about three years
and Mr.. somerville about four years; they had
lived for the last two years at the head of Can
ada street, 500 or 600 feet from house of wit
ness on the same street; their porch and door
were in full view of witness house. First
heard of the adultery in the fall Of 1876 per-
haps in October of that year; had interviewed
Mrs. Somerville on the subject at her house;
he and she were alone; it was in the day time;
had heard she had made confession, and he
went to advise her; told her she was stranger,
that is she had no particular friends in the
city: said it was none of his particular busi-
ness, but understood she had made some sort
of a confession; advised her to quit these ac-
actions. and told her that he would do his best
with the neighbors to keep the matter quiet;
tried to lead her to better life; she seemed to
be in great trouble about the matter, COM
planning that Maj. J. H. Donaldson would not
leave her alone; Donaldson kept following
her; she requested witness to see
Donaldson, which witness did, to request Dom
aldson to keep away; witness stated his bust
ness to Donaldson; witness saw Mrs. Somer-
Vile few days prior to the written confession
was not certain if any one was present: it had
been found out that Donaldson was again in
communication with Mrs. Somerville, and this
interview was after that discovery Mrs. Somer-
vile acknowledged that Donaldson had again
been at her house, and said she was in Donald
son power; she was warned by witness that
the matter would come out now that the rela-
tions were continued; never saw Donaldson at
the house of Somerville, but had seen him drive
up Canada street to Thirteenth, and turn down
to Jackson: had seen Mrs. Somerville standing
in her front porch when the bell was ringing
IL o'clock at noon; standing thus she could see
right down Canada street. Was present, per-
haps, for two or three hours altogether at the
time the confession reduced to writing; the
document was read over to her and subjected
to her correction; she signed it voluntarily,
but she might. perhaps, have rather not had to
make the confession; the idea of having the
confession made was to obtain grounds for a
criminal prosecution against Donaldson; there
was great deal Of talk at the time of the re-
ducing the matter to writing between Mr.. and
Mrs. Somerville; there were mutual crimina-
tions and recriminations; witness was not posi-
tive if the husband was present when the wife
signed the confession, but he was there part, of
the time.
Cross-examined-N1r Somervillc knew of the
facts in the confession, as his wife had admit
| ted them to him the previous evening.
VIM. H. PERRIER TESTIFIED.
His house overlooked the rear Of the Somer-
vile residence; the scandal was talked over in
the neighborhood for two or three months
prior to the confession. Witness had talked
to Mrs. Somerville at his own house, and &C
cused her of stopping with Donaldson. She
| said she would cease. On one occasion had
seen man.and woman standing talking about
twenty yards from the rear fence of the Somer-
vile lot; when they separated the woman went
through the bars into the lot, and the man de-
parted by unusual way. Witness conld not
swear to the identity of either of them.
The court here took a recess until 2 clock.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
CHARLES SMITH,
young boy, testified to having followed
Mrs. .Somerville on two separate occasions down
Aurora avenue to Robert street, where she was
joined by Donaldson in buggy, and both
drove off together p: it was about two DAYS be-
tween the two times never saw Donaldson 90
to Mrs. Somervilles house.
Cross-examined-His mother and a lady told
him to follow Mrs. Somerville; these stfairshar.
pened summer before last.
MRS. MARY WAGNER, TESTIFIED
Lived on the corner of Aurora avenue and
Canada street, about block and half from
| the Somerville residence had known Mr. and
Mrs. Somerville since four years ago this spring
was not certain if she knew Donaldson, but
| thought if she met him she would recognize
him, as she had once talked with him. Witness
had been on visiting terms with Mrs. Somer.
vile for several years first heard of the scan.
| dial three years ago /; two years ago last Sep.
| TENDER, had told Mrs. Somerville what the wit.
| ness had heard !; that was the fall before the
breakup between the Somervilles. Witness
said Mrs. Somerville would, at one time, deny
| her criminality and at another, would
acknowledge it, but Mrs. somerville promised
| to break off, and would never see Donaldson
again. Witness had not seen Mrs. Somerville
| since Dec. l, OF that year; could not say if the
familiarity had been continued between Mrs
Somerville and Donaldson after the former
promises to break it off. Having seen Mrs
Somerville passing down Aurora avenue towarc
Robert street, the witness and another lady haG
| instructed Charley Smith, the preceding wit
ness, to follow Mrs. Somerville on the two oc
| casions Re named. Witness would not have
| suspected Mrs. Sonerville, if she had not hear6
| Of the scandal; had never seen Donaldson enter
Mrs. Somerville's house.
MRS. MARY PERRIER TESTIFIED:
She knew the parties to the suit but did no,
know Donaldson. Witness was well acquainted
with Mrs. Somerville; visited back and forth
the house of witness, near the corner of VALLEY
| and Canada streets, near that
| Of the Somervilles. Witness heard
of the scandal two or three years ago
| remembered going to Mrs. Somerville's house
about the middle of March about half-past
eight in the evening; went in the side door
| heard the dog barking at the back door; there
| was one dog outside and one, witness thought
| inside. The door was not opened for three OF
four minutes after witness knocked. Mrs,
Somerville opened the door. Witness had
started to return when the door was opened.
| Mrs. Somerville called, who's there?'' and
! witness answered. when Mrs. Somerville said
Come in" Mrs. Somerville appeared excited
! asked witness to take seat, excused herself,
| and left the room. Witness was in the sitting
| room. Mrs. Somervillc went into the kitchen
| and closed the door. After the door was closed
witness heard the dogs barking. Mrs. So1ner-
vile was absent from the room about five min
| utes. and when she came back she said some.
| thing about her husband having gone to a
prayer-meeting. Witness remained about hall