Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-09-18
SENSATION IN THE BELT CASE.
A Witness for Complainant Declares
That He SwOre Falsely ON q Promise
of Fifty DOllarN

Yesterday afternoon in the divorce case OF
Mr.. Belt against Mrs. Belt formerly Mrs. God
frey), before Examiner Browning, at the Colum
bian law building, quite sensational scene oc
CURED, and it is reported that the counsel fol
Mr.. Belt (ex-Gov. Whyte) was very much dis
gusted. There had been taken previously testl
mony as to the scene at Welcker's, in which
Congressman Acklin figured, and testimony
was given against Mrs. Belt, in which certain
reputable houses were classed as disreputable
and it was said that while Mrs. Belt (then Mrs
Godfrey was an inmate OF q certain house she
had been seen intoxicated, and riding out at
unreasonable hours of the night with an officer
OF the navy.
One of the witnesses was man named B. Col.
ley, who testified that he was at Welckers at
s s1e. time OF the occurrence there During the
nrst Few days three witnesses have testified
that Cooley was not there at the time and other
witnesses also testified contradicting the testi-
mony as to the alleged orgies in which Mrs.
Godfrey is said to have taken part.
The testimony was quietly proceeding about
1ouf o'clock yesterday afternoon, when q
man, appeared and asked Permission to
make statement. Permission was given,
and Jackson then said that what he had
carried whisky to a house on l. street, where he
saw men and women, including Mrs Godfrey,
drinking, and had seen her riding out with AN
officer of the army at late hours, was all lie,
and that he had been induced to swear as he
mad done by Cooley, who told the witness that
NC "ouiu De pald SoO Tor II. The officer OF the
navy also testified that he had never seen Mrs
Godfrey but three times in his life.
1t is reported now that there are other wit
nesses who testified on the side of Mr.. Belt who
finding that the testimony now being given
contradicts their own, are ready to follow jack
sons example.
While this testimony was being given Detec-
tive carter arrested party who, it is thought,
was to be brought into the case. It appears that
Cunningham's detective agency had been
working up the case on the side Of Mr.. Belt, and
that among those employed by that agency
there has been falling out 1t is alleged that
one OF these parties had some letters, which
would be very valuable to Mr.. Belts side and
that Cunningham was anxious to get them,
ago approached by stranger, and soon became
satisfied that his object was to work out of him
all he had, with the letters. Yesterday after
noon he notified Detective Carter that the
stranger was suspicious character, and
the otncer going out arrested him, and
TOOK him to police headquarters. Here he gave
the name of John Miller, but on b. Alg searched
Penn hotel, Philadelphia, Pa, signed by Nj.
Cunningham, in which the latter, after speaking
of q bet, invites him here. There was also found
on his person q valuable garnet cross, worth
about 500, which he claimed to have found
on New York avenue and 7th street. There
was In the letter one of the cards of B. Cooley
18th and l. streets northwest This man was
locked up suspicious character
1he detective agency OF Mr.. McDevitt Is en-
gagged on the side of Mrs. Belt, whose interests
are in the hands of Mr.. H. Wise Garnett of this
city, and Mr.. Wallis, of Baltimore.
The police authorities sent Miller, alias
Fortes out OF the city on the noon train as a
suspicious character. There was a woman with
him night before last, but it is not known who