Los Angeles herald., 1892-01-07
NAUGHTY TOMMY.
How He Prosecuted Yda Ad-
dis StOrke.
Called Her Aunt an Old Hen
With Whiskers.
The Talented Plaintiff Gives Her
Testimony.
Tho Celebrated Divorce Case on Trial
In Santa Barbara-storke Charged
with Wearing His Under
clothing Too Long.

ceeded yesterday morning with closed
doors, and Judge Williams was called
to the witness stand, out of order by
the defense, says the Santa Barbara
Press of yesterday. He stated that he
did not know plaintiff until after her
marriage to Storke; she came to him
once for some historical records; in the
course of the conversation she said that
she and Storke had agreed not to have
any children. During the Lawrence
trial plaintiff complained that G. @.
Stephens, who was associate counsel
with her husband, had insulted her,
sand I advised her." continued Judge
Williams, ''to advise with her husband
in the matter" He said he did not
know her well enough to form any opin-
ion as to the condition OF her mind.
Here Yda Adds testimony was con-
tinued from yesterday. She said that
for four or five months prior to her mar
riage she had done great deal of
severe literary labor and was ordered to
Santa Barbara by her physicians for rest.
After she married Storke she continued
her literary work, to finish up what she
had in hand :her husband wanted her to
do the work ;the only exercise she had at
that time was the walks to and from her
meals, and as result she became very
i'll. ''The disrespectful treatment | re-
ceived from Tommy, the putative son of
StorBe, irritated me very much and [
could hardly endure it," She said she
insisted that Tommy should be sent
away that he referred to her aunt as
the old hen with whiskers. and to her
lady friends as old cats; Storke said he
would not send Tommy away but that I
might go if l wanted to- Tommy was
affectionate at times, but would often
shake her and pull her nose. II had
understood that he was twelve years old,
but from certain physical developments
I had observed, knew he must be at
least A." When out driving with her
Tommy would tell her to hold the reins
with her arms in her lap, and, if she did
not do 80, would strike her arms and
hurt her; he would also abuse the horse
and she told him his father would not
allow that, ''for Storke was kind to his
horses" She complained to Storke
about these things, but he only said he
knew Tommy would not do such things.
There was much more about Tommy.
Continuing, she said Storke would only
talk about three things: Andersonville,
horses and the Grand Army. "When I
was telling him about the social down
fall of Mrs. --, he said, good
God, little woman, you are out of your
mind, you are morbid on such Subjects
and often said was crazy" Plaintiff
said Storke did not provide well for
her there was plenty to eat, such as it
was, but it was not fit for her delicate
stomach F; he only allowed $75 per month
for household expenses, and there were
four in the house; they only took a pint
of milk day and she could not have
fish when che wanted it; he did not
provide her with sufficient clothing;
would not permit her to run any bills at
the stores; she did not even have money
enough for car fare. "On the 18th of
January, 1890, took morphine with sui
cidal intent, went to Lonergan's drug
store where / was treated for the poison
and had no other medical attendance
until April 10th, when got a certificate
from DIR. Knox, showing that it was nec-
essary for me to leave Santa Barbara for
change OF air"
She said Storke did not bathe suffi-
.ciently he was very filthy in his habits !:
once he did not change his undercloth-
ing for three weeks; would come down
town with his old clothes on which NOR
titled her very much.
She was in San Francisco with her
husband from June 18th to Goth, and
the whole time was spent in arguing
about coming back; he wanted her to
come, but she did not want to come the
boy was not the bone of contention, it
was Storke's treatment of her; she knew
she owed duty to the boy she ad-
mitted that her temper was at times
diabolical. Storke finally promised to
send the boy away, and started for
home; they parted af1ectionately; she
came down on the next steamer and be
met her at the wharf; he got her
baggage and they started up town in a
bus; when he got to his office he stopped
the bus and went in, and she told the
driver to take her to the Arlington hotel.
'sHe did not come to see me next
day, SO I sent for Rev. Mr.. Thatcher
to mediate between u.s." Ten days
later she went to Storke's Office and
asked him what he intended to do with
her; he said nothing" HE asked me
if would come home and l asked him
where he was living, and he said at
Pratt's; said would go and occupy
the rooms and take my meals with him
and he said if did SO he would run me
in" he refused to pay her bill at the
hotel. "He promised to give me $5 to
go to Los Angeles on and I left his of
fee, but when l returned in the evening
he refused to give me the money" She
stated that she then tried to borrow
enough money from Mr.. Breslaner and
others to go to Los Angeles on but could
not get it; got on the train with 81 in
her pocket and gentleman on the train
let her have enough to pay her fare /;
lived in Los Angeles since that time,
partly by the help from the supervisors.
During the Lawrence trial her clothes
caught fire and Storke picked her up and
violently set her on the floor.
"He told me when was at his office
the last time was no wife to him, and
i laid my hands soothingly on his shoul-
ders, and he said, Go away from me; l
would rather have snake touch me; it
is all over with us; you may sue for a
divorce if you want to- He said he
would provide for me, and again he said
he wouldn't. He also told me the
courts could make him support me, but
that he would starve me to death in the
meantime. He then put me on the car,
and went to the hotel"
She said he had frequently told her of
his wealth, which he represented 10 be
about $4,000.
Just as the witness was about to be
cross examined the court adjourned for