The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-07-24
THBODORA'S BROTHER
He Is the Central Figure in
the O1Cott Divorce
Litigation.
HIS WIFE'S BRAVE BATTLE
She Wants the Care and Custody Of
Her Lovely Children--Mother-
in-Law to Blame.

Chancellor McGill took testimony this
4norning IN the matter Of the application
of Fannie K Olcott for writ of habeas
corpus for the custody of her two chill
dren, whom she claims are withheld from
her by her husband, DR.. Charles Angus
tus Olcott. DR.. Olcott is brother of the
late Lillian Olcott, the actress, and was
accompanied by his mother. who
bears remarkable resemblance to
that unfortunate artistic. The parties
to the suit, accompanied by their
relatives were early in Court and the two
pretty children over whom the contro-
versy is, played In and about the court
room.
Mr.. Willard Fisk appeared for Mrs.
Olcott and DR.. Olcott was represented by
Prosecutor Steele, of Somerville, arrayed
in light suit with a rose in his button
hole, which however did not improve his
temper.
Mr.. Fisk read the answer of Mrs. Olcott
to the return to the writ, in which she de-
MED the allegations in the return that
her habits are such as to render her an
unfit person for the custody of her chill
dren. On the contrary, she charges that
the children should not be under the in
fuence of her husband, and she alleges
that although he is wealthy he has not of
late provided support for herself or her
children, and that she has been obliged to
support them herself.
The answer further says that her hus-
band left her in sparsely settled coun-
try Without any company or protection
but that of O female servant. On July z
her husband, she alleges, removed the
children's dresses and crib from the
house, and on July II she left his house
because she was ordered by her husband
to leave. Mrs. Olcott declares that she
does not want a separation from her hus-
band and is willing to fulfil her duties as
wife and mother
MRS. oLcoTT's EVIDENCE.
Mrs. Olcott was then placed upon the
stand. She is handsome woman with
large. expressive eyes, and gave her tes-
timony In o manner which impressed
everyone who heard her in her favor.
She said that she was married November
IL, 1885. at Montclair, and has three chill
dren-C cornelius, aged three years; Mar
garet Bruce. aged two years, and four
months'-old boy as yet unnamed.
After her marriage she first lived at
New Milford for about nineteen
months and then went to live
at Greenwood Lake. The house in which
they lived was the property Of her hus-
bands parents. The elder Alcotts lived
in another house In the neighborhood. In
the last week in April her husband went
to take his meals at his mothers house
and frequently slept there.
After Ufe birth OF her last chiia, while
she was ill, her husband took the two
older children to his mothers home She
went over to get them and was assaulted
by her husbands father. Soon after this
her father-in-law's man came TO her home
and took away the children'S crib,
at the. same time her husband
took away their clothes in basket.
Not long after that she received mes
sage from her father-in-law to the effect
that that was his house, and It he did
not obtain possession of it in few days
there would be an officer of the law in
possession. After the witness had taken
mai maid to to- her husbands house one
day to obtain some clothing for the chill
dren. When the girl fell back she said
that Mr.. Olcott had asked her TO tell his
wife that his home was ready for her and
her children, provided she would consent
not to see her mother. The message was
accompanied by a sort OF threat to the
effect that her cross-examination at the
hands of Mr. Steele on these proceedings
would be very severe. She also testlned
$10975 was all the money which she mad
received from her husband since last
September.
TOO MUCH MOTHER -IN-LAw THE TROUBLE.
The cross-examinatton OF Mrs. Olcott
by Mr. Steele revealed the fact that the
whole trouble grew ous of conflict Pc
tween the two mothers-in-law. Mrs. Oh
her during her illness and was ordered
out of the house by her husband. She
also admitted that it was
necessary to use force before she
She had been elected. Mrs. Oloott was
very weak and unable to walk any dis
tance. still in order not to give her hus-
band ofsense she would walk to an empty
house near her home where she would
meet her mother. She visited her mothes
ha ny.lU 3ripnd Qha had
there. On redirect examination Mrs.
Olcott smoke of the occasion when she
went to get her child at her father-in-
laws home, and DR.. Olcott choked her
and told her maid that she was insane;
to take her away quietly.
.iohn x. Kirby. the brother of Mrs.
Olcott, was the next witness. He testi-
fled that he had a conversation at the
house of DIR. Cornelius Olcott, at which
DR.. Cornelius Olcott, his wife. DR.. Charles
Olcott and his wife were present. Dur
ing the conversation Mrs. Cornelius Oh
colt said that her son should never live
with Mr. Kirby's sister again, and at
the same time Dir. Charles Olcott said he
would never live with his wife again and
asked Mr.. Kirby if he would leave the
the law.
Kate A. Vesey, Mrs. Olcott's maid. cor
roborated the testimony concerning DE-.
OlcOttsS aDSeut1uR himself tfoll LIS Wlte
and taking the children and theiI
clothing to the residence of his
father She also detailed the cir.
cumstances of the assault by
DR.. Cornelius Olcott upon Mrs. Olcott
Mrs Olcott went to get the boy after hei
husbands family had refused her repeat
ed requests to send the boy back to her
She was in the hallway when Ur Corne
lius Olcott caught her by the throat and
ran her out to the porch. He then told
the maid that Fannie was insane and
asked the maid to take her home quietly
Mrs. Olcott was then released. A recess
was then taken.
DR.. Cornelius Olcott had an examina
tion Yesterday at Paterson before Judge
Hopper upon the charge OF assault pre-
ferred against him by Mrs Fannie Olcott
and he was recalled and testified thai
during the conversation at her father-in
laws house when her husband declared
that he would not live with her again
his mother said that she had 500 00l
which she would give her son to light The
Kirbys. Bailea to await the action o.
the Grand Jury.
Striker with Brick.
Julius Gatliebzar, a striking cloak