The morning call., 1893-04-20
HUDSON EXPLAINS
His PeaCemaking Role in
the Hastings Case.
An Incident In Court Revealing How
Domestic Troubles Are Some
times Quickly Arranged.

When the numerous attorneys and It'll
giants in the Hastings estate muddie turned
up in Judge Coffey's court yesterday morn
ing to continue the hearing of Mrs. Lillian
Hastings application for a family allow
ance of $50, who should stalk into the
solemn chamber Of justice but ex-Judge
Rodney J. Hudson of Lake County.
He spoke up quite bravely, saying that he
had read in the Sunday papers Il report of
the proceedings in the estate case had the
day before, in which some reference was
made TO his alleged unlawful practices In
connection with the divorce proceedings,
pending in 1890, between Lillian X. and her
husband 5. C. Hastings
He said he would like to be enlightened
as to the particular nature of the charges
made so that he might prove the candid
Lillian a perjurer.
The shorthand reporter was Immediately
set in motion by the court, and he soon read
the Saturdays proceedings with the speed
and deXteTity Of a photograph.
The statement of Mrs. Hastings that
caused all the trouble was that Judge Hud-
son, while acting in his official capacity in
the matter Of the pending divorce, had
arranged" all the affairs of the couple TO
the satisfaction of all parties.
Judge Hudson, who is a rather Young
lidus AOcL no AllilC III CldIdCEtIlLHR MIS-
Hastings remarks as perjury.
be then asked to be sworn and examined
as TO the transactions.
C. j. Heegerty of knight & HeggArty,
attorneys for Mrs. Lillian K. Hastings.
undertook the labor of giving Hudson a
chance to defend himself, and the first
question asked was as follows:
MT. hudson, l have q contract in your
| handwriting, in which Mrs Hastings agrees
to compromise her property rights with
Ind Ila.ef fs,frc
ana half oil the community property, which
contract is dated April 10. | have also Il
complaint in a suit for divorce between the
two parties, which suit was brought in your
court on the 18th, which is the day alter the
contract was signed"
II will explain" said the jurist of Lake
port. Early in April, 1890, Mr.. and Mrs.
! Hastings came TO me- with their troubles
| and said they wanted to arrange their affairs
without any scandal. l told them if they
would sign contract agreeing TO submit
| their differences to a referee, whose report
would be final, | would help them. | pro-
posed that contract The divorce suit was
commenced the following dav. continued
to help them out OF their difficulties for four
months.
After they were divorced she came 10
| me, said she still loved the Judge and sked
me to help her TO get married to him again.
| "Sne promised If could get her stipend
| Tor lie she would reward me handsomely"
Judge Hudson here admitted having writ
] ten certain letters which Heggerty pro
! duced, In which the witness encouraged
! Mrs. Hastings and conveyed news 10 her
! from time to time concerning the search for
! community property, pursuant TO the con-
tract.
| When 1t was found that there was no
| such property Mrs. Hastings felt very blue.
| Then she found that she still had lots of
love remaining for the dear old man, and il
| was then she conceived the idea of remarry-
Ing him.
| They all met In nv office one day." con-
! tinued the witness. Judge Hastings said
that II We thought he ought to remarry the
| girl he would of course do SO.
| Then the ante-marriage contract was
| drawn up in which S300a month and S3O-
| 600 worth of stock in the Bank of Lake was
| agreed TO be paid TO Mrs. Hastings. Two
minutes afterward l remarked them"
| Dldnt you know that that bank stock
| might become wOrthless?"
les. and so told sMrs. Hastings, but she
| had sentimental idea that she ought to
trust the Judge, so didn't insist"
| Il will admit. however, that when the
| divorce business was spoken of the parties
used 10 converse in my presence.
Il wrote and told Mrs. Hastings that the
| Judge had said he would fight her to the
! bitter end ii she alleged extreme cruelty.
| but on the ground of desertion he would not
| object
After few more questions Judge Hudson
| departed apparently well satisfied with the
! impression he had made.
Mrs. Viola Hastings has withdrawn her
| opposition to the petition of the widow for
! family allowance, reserYiDg, however, all
| right TO contest the will in future
The case goes on next Wednesday