Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-12-21

Providence, r. |. Dec. 20.
The divorce case of Louela NJ. Goodell
against Rev. Chss L. Goodell was begun
here this forenoon and the proceedings which
were sensational in a high degree were at
tended by crowd OF women without prece-
dence in a case of this nature IN this State
The chief Justice in opening the court said
the testimony was likely TO be of a character
distasteiul 10 ladies aud intimsted that egress
from the room was As free as ingress had
been, but not women moved Tha testi-
mony for the petitioner practically the
same as introduced last Wednesday in the
divorce suit of Theo. w. Foster against his
wife and rendered TO implicate Rev. Goodell
In criminal relations with Mrs. Foster, At
| Fosters residence here aud at their summer
! hcme in Bristol. The testimony was sub
mitted IN detail 10 GoodelPs frequent calls at
Fosters house. where he was received in
| darkened parlor, the door of which was fire.
| quently locked, regarding Mrs. Foster. con-
duct PRIOR and subsequent to these meetings,
| TO her visits at his, Goodelrs, house during
Mrs GoodelPs absence and to a walk in the
woods and other proceedings of Questionable
character at Bristol. A determined effort
was made bv Counsellor Ripley for Goodell.
to shake the testimony of Chas Plat. a lad
OF Bristol. who testified to seeing Goodell
/ anu 4uis- rosteT III CTlulnal relations
| The interest in today's proceedings, how
ever, centered in the defense which begun
late this afternoon. Mr.. Ripley IN opening
the case said the defence intended to show
deliberate conspiracy between Foster and
Mrs. Goodell and that Goodell was at Bristol
but twice, once with the supt. of schools of
this city and once with his wife. We are
Obliged, said Ripley, TO 60 further in the
case and attack the character of his wife.
In self defence Mr.. Goodell must show the
relations between Mr.. Foster and Mrs. Good
ell and between her and others. We deny
the charges of any crime between Goodell
and Mrs. Foster. Rev Chas. l.. Goodell,
the detendent, then took the stand and EN-
phaticallv denied all charges of immortality,
and testified to alledged intideluy on the part
OF NV wife with Foster. The defence in as
sailing Mrs. Goodell's character, put in evi.
dence letter from Mrs Goodell, written
from Dudley, Mass. July, 1885, to Miss
Adie Phillips of this city. contained an alu-
sion to ''fheo." Mr.. Foster) coming to see
her. This was not read in full Another
letter postmarked Dudley, Mass, Jan. 81.
| 1886, was read in full. Beside references to
"Iheo." the letter detailed round of gaeties
in which the writer was induiging. Speci-
men extracts are: ION Tuesday took
ride wite Mr.. Potter and it made me sick
don't know why as it was my first firt With
Mr.. Potter, but it is nice. We came up
here Wednesday, Charlie and as DIR. Weeks
said | must. | am all right again. | went
for ride this forenoon, am going to the fair
this eve and tomorrow. | expect to 20 to
| Worcester with that fellow | told you of
! from Cuba.
| Now there goes my bell and guess it is
the new doctor who Is to be happy man
tonight Now, ives it is him), am going
to make big talk in the town tonight by
going with him he has been in town onry
two months or less but he is very nice look
ing indeed and is one OF the boys, guess. |
will write more after the fair"
pos'cript dated A. NJ says: Home
! from the fair. Had fine time and plenty of
it. The hall was full and didn't folks look
and stare. We stayed two hours or more
when he suggested that we go over to his
office and have fair all our own. We did
and there we found his brother and a friend
of his from Worcester To my surprise she
was one of my old schoolmstes, we were
quits, so mum was the word. We had some
wine and at r. 30 came home"
After the reading of the letter the court ad-
Journed till tomorrow forenoon.