Telegram-herald., 1888-01-13
QUEER CASE!.
Sam Clay sSuitAgainst
Putnam.
The Superior Court Room
Crowded Yesterday.
The Defense Makes Clay Ridic-
ulous.
Mrs. Clay Refused 70 Room
With Him
Mayor Dikeman Testifies 20 a
Cry OF Murder.
Clay Chastises His Children
and Annoys His Wife.
Mrs Clay Gould Keep Only
Colored Servants.
Mn. Enos Putnam, wife OF the De-
fssdxat, Tesiifies that u Mas She.
and Not Mr. Putnam. Who lnylt-

Il vas sharp 10 o'clock by the dial on the
Tower when the Sheriff's gayel fell
ia the Superior Court room yesterday
mOrning. The proscenium boxes were
filed, the psrquette was crowded. and
standing room only" vas At premium
outside the rail-. Prosecuting Attorney
Clsy-.hose name will 90 down 10 history
- q celebrated plalntif-looked a little
Tsls. and consequently was more handsome
than usual EnOs Putnam. the defendant,
wore the AR OF q man who was disgusted
with the whole proceedings. His attorneys,
Smiley & Earle, looked bright and
thoroughly confident. Judge Buriingame
took bis seat Ia brisk manner and nod
dlng to several friends. began tie days
grind Augusta Malin took the stand in
behalf Of the defense. and said.
Il worked for Mr.. Clay three years ago:
Was IN the family about nine months. did
the cooking. waite1 upon the table. etc,
don't think Mr.. Clay was sober all the time
because he talked loud and rough; heard
him scold bis daughter sometimes, but
6ida't hear what he said; no, didn't hear
him scold Mrs. Clay. when Mr.. Clay talked
loud 10 Was az the dining room table and
when | Was in the kitchen, there Was q
door between the dining room and the
kitchen and | could hear Mr.. Clays voice
when The door was closed, know Mr.. Clay
mad red face sometimes, but saw nothing
else 10 make me think he lad been drink
ing. have heard Mr.. Clay strike the table
with bis hsnd--hsard this from the kitchen,
have beard Mr. Clay chsstiss his daughter
Anna"
Hers Attorney Mitchell interposed an
objection % this class OF evidence.
Ar. Earle said it was merely 20 contra
diet ~. ClAYs story that be Was Obliged 10
send ais da0ghtsr Anna from home on bis
vifes account, t0at be intended to show
Anna lelt home because OF her father ,
cruelty. and would try and prove that BE-
punished bis daughter IN a brutal name,
choking and beating her un-1 the witness
on the stand interiered.
Another long and closely contested argu-
ment followed on tho sdvissbiity OF the
evidence, out the Court overruied the OBJ
iscuon aud the witness proceeded.
Il saw Mr. Clay chastising Anna in the
dining room he had Anna up IN the corner
against soc wall. bad bis knees against
Anna BREAST and Was choking her, / went
IN and took hold Of Mr. Gays arms and
told him be should not DO so; Anna was
crying hard, Jest before this 1 heard Mr..
Clay sco,diag Anna, AZ this time Mrs. Clay
was In the room. but she left before the en-
counter | speak Of. When Mr.. Clay stopped
choking Anna he Nent up stairs and
heard aim talking loud % Mrs. Clay"
A motioa 10 strike it al out was denied
for the present. and Mr. Clay conducted tAs
eross-exsminanon-
The witness said. Il had been in this
country four years before gOinxs 20 Gays:
dOa & know what time it Was den / saw
Mr. Clay CHOKING Anna. | know Anna was
AZ Nswsvg0 two or three montcs when
vas af Mr.. Cisy's I have talked with NJ.
Earle about this case. Vas at his Office. he
cad several questions written down and
ssxsi me X [ could answer then. a man
came snd ssked ms Il l would 90 70 Mr..
Esrls's office. Ms. Clsv w0Didnt speak TO
Anna or Naif upon her st tne table, Mrs
Gay woald nos SPEAK 10 Anna for SIT weeks
prior - The tine. Mrs. Clay would pour the
tsx sod eodss Tor others at the table. and
wouid band the tot 10 Anna % Let her pour
her own tea az sofes Mr. Clay used 70 come
every morning % ask what was wanted for
the house and took the fisf. I heard anna
ssT sae hated 10 10 away from home hated
10 iesTe Maud don know what Mr. Cay
was correcting Anna for st me time I speak
OF nsvsr remember any other time when
lie vas punisbing or scoiding Anna, or cor
recting either OF ,hs girls
hsve heard Mrs.. Clay seold Anna. tax kind
OF bsd 20 Der. he-rd her say shs couidn't
make ANA mind or DO snything
Ms. Martha Bsckwifh Ess The next
witness called. she testiiieli - follows
kaow Nr. and Mrs Clay. xnsw Of
their marr;aEe. their keeping house and OF
their sepafation, while thev were living in
ths SAaS house visited tie family freely.
was tbers % 1ss 8pon enc particular coca
sion, a. t8e - able Mr. Ciay would not
srsusr his vie when she spoke 20 him.
think NJ. Cay aad been arinkinz. Tor I
smelied bis oreafh. 4r. ClaY's conduct
seeued - nor1fY Hrs. Clay could ses
t8is IN her counsensBer. Ms. Car va
pleasant - ner huscsod fn.s wss tae last
rne vas there 10 A ulsai. 1sve heard Mrs.
Clsg complain of her husband e. oar nome
h wss darnE sse Summer of 1853 she ssid
Nr Clay aocusesi her 0f criminal ennnectioa
With d!iersnr persoas. said ae aecused he-
Of tnis cond1ct before his daughters. that
as tesfment VS. oreaking do~n ner
health. shs complained OF NJ. Gays being
snt aightSf
Cross examined K have s~srd Mrs
Cav sresx ~ Ar Ciavs fsvor several
cfus~. Wien they wsrs frst married, csn 8
reseer,ter any cf toe questions Mrs. Cisv
xskea NJ Cay at the tshls when I vss
there. il wss n tA@ summer q $50 when
she nads cegnp sints of ~ GAYS candact
sad charges dou tasak she mentioned
snv aames o. men ~ho ~. Clay scrnsed
aeF 81 ssEfng crimsrsl relation< eita.
kocv M Lay comp &iBes ire3aeeslv of
Ar. Slsg disturbing ser 81 colnins a isls
a. siEhss, Hrs. Clay = le1v physciaa sBd
kna- ne us~a % be sat asxhss. M. clA~
- s~>ss <>~<~a Ia - . spp~->~.s