The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-06-24
Answer TO Mr.. Edgerton's Charges,
and Counter Allegations
Against Him.
Admits They Did Not Live Pleas
antly Together, but Not
Her Fault.
Where They Lived in Helena-Says h
Did Not Leave Here to Avoid
Notoriety.

davlt IN reply to the ntndaVlb mhuo py MT.
Edgerton a snort time ago. Her story is as
follows: She arrived here June Ii. and
has for the past year been a resident OF
Merriam Park, Mimi. She came to Helena
for the reason that she saw published in
the Pioneer Press, of st. Paul, the sub
stance of the affidavit made by the defend
ant in this case filed on June 8. 1t is not
true that for nearly a year prior to May l,
1856, she and the defendant did not live to-
gether as husband and wife. In the spring
of 1886 she lived with tho defendant, Z.
ID. Edgerton, ut their home on Ben
ton avenue, Helena, AZ his his wife, occu-
pying the same room and led with him.
in the month of -, 1886, they rented
their house on Benton avenue to Alexander
Devine, also the furniture, and Mrs. Edger-
ton with her hoy Ralph went to live and
had rooms with Mrs. John NeiIl, on Ninth
avenue; then went to Mrs. Or. Waite's at
Beaver creek ranch and staid two or three
weeks. While there the defendant came
once to see her and stayed all night, occu-
plying the same room. In July. 1886, she
went with Ralph to Ovando, Montana, and
lived on what is known as the Mentally
ranch. That in September of the same
year, while at McNally's, the defendant
wrote to her and telegraphed her to join him
at a place called Avon; that she went there,
took a room, the defendant joined her and
STAYED two days, occupying the same room
and bed with her and at all times recognized
her as his wife and 80 introduced her to his
friends, paid her bills INT directed the
place of her stopping.
During the summer of 1886 they had
rooms at the Merchants hotel in Helena
81 ---.-- kL-.1 ~ -r,1 ASrr, ~, %h@
same floor with them were =. G. Childs
and family. The hotel was then run by
James O'Brien. and her presence in the
house was we'll known to a great many
living at Helena. During some month in
1885, which is i not given i in tn the sffidavit,
Breckenridge street and stayed there
until October, 1886. The reason of
making the change was because
there was a case of diptheria at the hotel
attended by DIR. Cole, and that for fear of
the health of their son, Ralph, Mr.. Edger-
ton made the change. She remembers these
dates we'll. and she did not leave Helena
until about October "a, 1886. and the de-
PENDANT went with her and their son as far
as Toston. On the same train were Maj.
Maeinnis and John Carter. Mrs. Edgerton
says she left Helena at the request and So
licitation of the defendant and for no other
cause. During November, December, IAN
uary and March she lived in New York City
and at Flurana. Chatauqua county, N. Y,
frequently communicating with the defend
md she did not live pleasantly
together, but it was from no cause of hers.
From a few months after her marriage he
exercised a course of cruel and nhuman
treatment toward her, frequently striking
and beating her, and in other ways that
were cruel, inhuman and criminal, made
her life miserable and unhappy. When she
went east he promised to send her regular
monthly allowances. That he failed from
the first and that to enable her and her son
to live respectfully she was obliged to seek
and perform daily labor.
Frequently the defendant would state to
her: "lf you were out of the way | would
marry Miss -" BY reason of this treat
ment she agreed to live separate from the
defendant. Early in September, 1887, or the
latter part of March, 1887, the defendants
father, then living at Oradel, N. j., died,
and the defendant went east to attend the
funeral and met Mrs. Edgerton at her
rooms in New York. About April 4, at 149
West Eleventh street she wrote at his die,
tation and through fear of bodily harm and
injury the letter of authority to E. ID.
Weed as stated in her former affidavit. For
a short time the defendant lived with her in
March. Early in April she vent with him
to Philadelphia and stopped at a hotel
ton and wife and son. The defendant re-
mained with her until the early part of
May, 1887, when he left her to come west.
He had taken her to his mothers home at
Oradel, N. D., and she vent to the
train with him when he left for Helena.
1889, although they frequently wrote to
each other. After leaving his home, Mis-.
Edgerton says she lived with her friends
until the fall and winter of 1887, when she
went to Napa, Cal, and remained there
until September, 1889, where the defend
ant wired her to meet him i'll Portland.
She travelled with him from Portland to
Helena, and then Travelled alone from here
to Merriam Park, where she has since re.
sided. 1t is not true, she says, that the de-
PENDANT purchased a home for her and had
it luxuriously furnished, the fact beine
that he has paid only 81, 100 on the house
which stands in his name, and that he
claims he can sell it over her head at any
time.
Mrs. Edgerton says it is not true that the
defendant has made her presents and par
of the time paid her 800 a month; that
most of the time she has only received $bl
II month, and for a short time $75. These
payments were irregular and uncertain
That she has been at numerous times in alb
solute want. To maintain herself she wa
obliged to take in roomers and boRrders il
the house she is living in. and during al
the time she and her son have slept in the
back attic on beds of straw. Since Septem.
Der, 1889, the defendant has lived with he1
Ab ner husband some Oh lle time aB 1OllOWb
In November, 1889, nearly n week; in Janu
AIRY, 1890. two or three days; in June ant
April, 1899. several days. In the year 1885,
she says she was forced by the defendant tt
submit to u very painful operation at tn
hands of ----- being the person re
ferred to in defendants affidavit, rs she i
, informed, a surgeon and doctor residing a
Helena: that il was against her wishes an,
desires that she did submit, and only whel
her husband, the defendant, stated tina
she should. if he had to bind her hand an,
foot and gag her, did she submit. Will
the operation was about to be performe,
the doctor made a criminal assault upol
her; that she repealed him. and he desiste,
from his efforts. After she recovered iron
the operation she told her husband of tn
conduct of the doctor and he paid no ut
%tention, but still compelled her and her Sol
to receive treatment from him.
She denies emphatically hat she wa
ever crlminally intimate with tn
doctor or any one else and denie
that she wrote the words, "and often Will
at his Office under treatment submitted (
his wishes and sexual intercourse" Sh
believes that that part of the letter il
forgery. She denies that she ever left Non
tana to avoid the notoriety of a divorc
proceeding on the ground of adultery, an,
foolish letters that may DO construed t
her detriment, but AYERS the fact to be tina
each and every net of hers during the eli
tire time since her marriage with the dc
PENDANT she is willing should be made pub