, 1881-02-13
Testimony Given Yesterday in
the Divorce Case at Grand
Rapids, Mich.
The Witness Mrs. Sophia r..
White, Second Daughter Of
Adds.
She Asserts Her Belief in the Purity
and Innocence Of Her
Mother,
Insists that Her Father Is Villain,
for Whom the GallpWs Is Too
Good,
And Wonders that He Does Not Kill Him
self Rather than Face Public
ecorn.
Further Futile Efforts of the Only
Son to Stop the Trial.


GRAND RAPIDS, Mich, Feb. 12.-In tn
| Adds case to-day the only witness has bee
Mrs. Sophia r. White, Of San Francisco
second daughter Of the parties. In the con
| cluslon of the direct examination she ident
fed second letter sent by her to her un
| married sisters here.-Anna and MarIa,-il
answer to their eirlettermentloned yesterday. II
| 1t she repeats her sympathy for her mother
her belief in her virtue, and her hatred Of lie
father, insisting that the gallows is too gout
for him, that he is a villain, and that she i
glad they have found friends who espous
her mothers cause, and wonders il he
father will not kill himself rather than facs
the public after
SUCH A VIILAINous ACT.
She assures them that she and her HUSBAND
will help vindicate her mothers character
and secure a big slice Of the property. SHE
swore, too, that neither she nor her sister:
would speak to their father because Of this
trouble; that they all believe their mother 3
virtuous. wronged woman, and would moi
believe Their father under oath in this case
She alsu said that she had understood thai
her brother viii had aided his father in the
case-rather sided with him. But, however,
viii had told her that he believed
lis MOTHER INNOCENT
OF the crime Of adultery alleged against her
by his father.
The cross-exanlination, lasting about five
hours, developed these salient features. She
had seen three acts Of cruelty towards her
mother by her father. Once he was choking
her mother, but left no marks. Another
time she was sent away by her father. Her
mother told her she had been pounded until
size was ln1ne all over. The mother swore
that at that time he had used stick Of
stovewood4 and she saw three scratches on
the right side Of her mothers neck, the larg-
est perhaps quarter Of an inch long, as the
result Of it; md the third time
HE Had PUSHED HER MOTHER OUT OF
DOORS.
Her mother had told her Of other acts. many,
but she did not know of them of her per-
sona1 knowledge, nor did she see the effects.
She was examined at length as to tho treat
1nent she and the other children had re-
ceived. Her father had moved from a
farm to Newayeo to give the children
q better education and give the family
more privileges. There he gave them fine
Steinway piano, horse and carriage for
their use, and kept them all In school four
still further privileges. He kept them all in
school here, or sent them away to school,
and only ceased that because Of
THEIR MoTHER's OPPOSITION.
He had given them all music lessons, horses
and carriages, valuable presents of gold
watches, and chains, and iewelry; allowed
them 5000 q year for household ex-
penses, and frequently more; gave
them unlimited credit at some of
The finest shops; took them and their
mother on frequent trips to New. Orleans,
around the lakes, down the St. Lawrence, to
Kansas and Nebraska, down the Mississippi
y boat, and all the time; still she swore he
vas cruel, and they feared and did not love
lin. He gave the daughters. as they mar
led, fine outfits Of clothing and furniture,
costing several hundred dollars, and each
lbout 81 600 apiece besides. Three OF the
daughters have been married, and one came
JACK nome, her father taking her part when
SIZE SEPARATED FROM HER HUSBAND.
He even went to IeadvilIe in 1879 to get a
l9me ho and Turkish It for enc married daugh
'ance to prepare the way. He offered to |
each the Witness' husband his business and |
give him an interest after time. He had !
tayed at home from business seven weeks |
. one TIN TINE to help care for her through
eyete Illness, and had paid. fol. her over
ear after she was married and while her |
iild was born. Never since she could re-
member had he refused to grant request or
aVor IN his power to her or her sister. He |
opnon ne1er had Used fqf 2oepae tass
oward one OF them after they were u years
Id, though
he HAD 4 hot AND HAsTY TEMPER.
Ali this time her mother told her and them