The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-12-18
Mrs. Coney Crys in Court
How They Prayed for
Divine Guidance--A
Little Watch as
Gold Cure.

Counsellor Collins 10 take the stand az
ter recess. She did so, and gave her tes-
timony in self-possessed manner,
which even the blusnes brought to her
cheek by some questions did not shake,
After testifying to her marriage and
that she was eleven years younger than
Coney, she began her history from her
Acquaintance with Harney. Il was when
she hired a house from Harney that she
first met him. After that she saw him
frequently, because she was having some
repairs done to her house.
1T has been stated, said Mr.. Collins,
''that you cried when on one occasion Mr.
Harnev called on you; why was thiss"
"Because / was miserable; was friend
less. Mr.. Harnev told me | mad a pleas
ant home, and ] did have a nice home,
but had no friends. IL ladies called on
pure women after they were gone and
uisapprove of them"
Now tell the jury why you began pro-
ceedings for q divorce from Mr.. ConeyY
1T was because he had deceived me;
had always told him that If he deceived
me would leave him"
At this point Mrs. Coney suspended her
testimony TO enable Druggist Hartnett
and DIR. Charles Cropper TO testify as TO
the medicine Mr.. Coney had purchased,
what the prescriptions were and III what
soft Of Illness such prescriptions were
given. This done Mrs. Coney- Holmes re-
sumed her testimony.
why did you suspect Mr.. Coney had
deceived yOus"
There were several reasons. One was
letter from him To Gertie Mcdowell, my
servant and companion. found the let
ter in Gertie's trunk. IL was written
while ! was in Pennsylvania for the sum
mer. The letter was read by Mr.. Collins.
1t was an apology for breaking an ap-
-
for her TO meet him at his house"
"When You read tlis letter did you
speak to Gertie Mcdowell about itf"
II did; she told me that duripg my
visit to the country, while she Miss Me-
DowelD was living with her sister. Mrs.
Willis, Mr.. Coney wrote her several let
ters, aud that he made improper ad-
yances TO her."
WHY SHE TOOK MONEY FROM HARNEY.
why did You get money from Mr..
Harney?"
because wanted it to enable me TO
get divorce and 90 South to my parents.
l borrowed the money and gave my fur
niEure as security"
why did you seek advice from Mr..
Harneyf"
II regarded him as a gentleman; he
was much older than ard l thought he
would advise me; l should think Mr..
Harney was forty years old !"
"Now," said Mr.. Collins, did Mr..
Harvey have anything to do with your
determination to leave Mr.. Coney"
mo, sir"
Did he entice or persuade you to leave
your husband?''
mo. sir; ne did not know intended to
until l told him."
.What was 1t that alienated your affec-
ton from Mr.. Coneyp
''lt WAS because | had positive proof,
(here witness told the nature of the proof
that he had deceived me.
''M hen you left Mr.. Coney. why did
you remain in this city, or in easy dis
tance from itf
Because it was necessary for me to be
near by TO give testimony in my divorce
proceedings. As soon as they were I'M
ished l went South"
'Why did you accept further financial
help from Mr.. Harvey after he loaned you
the first SCOOP
because 1 needed it. 1t was my inten-
tion TO repay the loans, and when | was
South / sent him $50 l opened a dress
making establishment in the South aud
in that way earned the money"
Replying to further questions of Mr..
Collins Mrs. Coney-Holmes said that Mr..
Harney did not visit her except when
Mrs. Mcdowell was present. She denies
that she had ever had any improper rela-
tions with Harney. Harney always acted
as q gentleman. Sue sdlO. sue Qeulc4 ludt
Harvey was intoxicated at the dinner ne
gave her and Mrs. McKenns at the Fifth
Avenue Hotel. She also denied that
Mrs Mckenna ever said that she and Mr..
Harvey acted like lovers.
Counselor Linn began his cross-exam-
ination by asking the witness if she mad
married a second time, and the reply was
that she married +. j. Holmes September
1. 1890, and that she and her husband live
at No 200 West l02d street, New York.
She was married at Cleveland. o.. by the
Rev. DIR. Massey.
Have you certifcatei" asked Mr..
Linn,
Yes, sir, but not with me. l got nc
quainted with my husband in the South,
Just before / returned here to defend the
cross bill; was not in his society in New
York, but 1 met him several times. |
came from Cleveland TO the Catskills,
and from there 10 New York.
Mr.. Linn then questioned Mrs. Coney-
Holmes about ring which she had
shown Mr.. Harney aud asked him not TO
tell her husband. She said she bought
the ring herself. Counsel then read this
letter, dated Taylor's Hotel, March iSSS:--
DEAR Mrs. MERKIrT.-I had Gertie write you
In haste because Mrs. Hsrney has been to see
Mr. Coney and has told him a lot Of lies. He
has got a revolver and, | suppose, intends 20
shoot me- II le asks you If told you anything,
don t tell him Don't tell HIM about the ring
Tor my sake. lexpect 70 go South-
ALL ABOUT A RING.
The witness explained what she meant
by asking Mrs. Merritt not to tell that
her husband had given her Sl00 in gold TO
do with as she pleased, for with part of
it she bought the ring and she did not
want her husband to know it.
when you wrote that letter You had
left your husbands" MIR. Linn asked.
'Yes, sir"
And did not expect to see him again."
II did not"
eThen what difference could it make TO
you whether Mr.. Coney knew OF the ring
Jr not.n
This question was a pretty hard one
and witness merely sald:-"I did not
want MIN TO know"
Now. did not Mr.. Harvey give you this
ringr
NO sir.'
''Or the money TO buy itS"
mo SIR"
Mr.. Linn then read another letter
written by Mrs. Coney at Taylor's Hotel,
Of which this is an extraet:-
WARREN: You need not have bought that
revolver. l am going away. 50 You mead not be
ashamed of me, as you fear l hope Mrs Har-
ney is satisfied with her devilishness Warren,
SOUTH
This letter was also read:-
wARgxx:-Ha patience. must have time
o think it over. Iexpect word from mother.
send you two Of my pictures You know you
aave been untrue 10 me and that Is why am 50
ong making up my mind
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