New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-19
MRS. GIBERTS TESTIMONY
CONFUSING DECLARATIONS IN TIE DIVORCE
CASE.
THE pr,1NT1rr DECLARES THAT HER INDIs-
GREET LETTERS WERE MERELY STUPID
AID SILLY" DRAMATIC
SCENES IN COURT

SCENES IN COURT
The Mot which has developed in the story Of the
domestic troubles Of Audinet Gilbert and his wiie'
Mrs Annie T. Gilbert, is complicated enough 'o
make a nrst-class novel play. These touoies
have been brewing for several years ana nave
finally resulted In divorce suit. which mas pee"
on trial for two days before Judge DscHo" 81" ~
Court OF Common Pleas.
Nben Mrs Gilbert had told her own plain story
without the side lights which cross-cxamination
brought out. the fault seemed to lie entirety VIII"
her husband. Later, when John E Parsons VIM
appears for the husband. had exercised his aDii'y
as n cross-examner. a cloud seemed TO rest over
Mrs Gilbert This cloud was made TO appear
darker and more ominous by damaging admissions
which Mrs. Gilbert had to acknowledge were III
her own handwriting. But again. in the light OF
her explanation of these admissions. on her re-ui-
rect examination by John ID. Townsend. her ihno-
cence seemed not only possible but probable al
though her story was strange one
THE WIFErS ALLOWANCE CUT DOWN
Mrs Gilbert was the daughter Of Edgar Reed be-
fore she was married to Gilbert. He is son OF
Frederic T. Gilbert. and Is a member OF the 'aiu-
met United Service and other clubs. 1hey were
married In September, 1875 Mt ST. FRANCIS Na'ief
Church. in West Sixteenth-st.
From the stories which have been tod in court
IL seems that they had trouble not long after their
marriage and quarrelled frequently Finally they
separated under agreement, and he paid sfV
wear to her for her support Two OF three years
AGO he reduced the sum to $500 year. and SAID
he might have to reduce ii each year sl,oV' uhtli
her allowance only amounted to $l,IOo. 1t was al
ter this that she brought suit IN the supreme
Court for a divorce and that suit was discontinued
because, as she now asserts, she had no money 10
continue IT, After that suit was stopped she
brouehts the present suit for limited divorce Her
husband answered by charging her with undue in
tmacy with Mason Carus. of Paris and Manuel
de Santa Maria of Colombia, South America she
denies these charges absolutely.
Between the times covered by this mere state
nent OF facts a good deal occurred, however.
Of an extremely dramatic nature. Mrs Gilbert on
the witncss-stand said she had brought the suit
because her husband had cut down her income 80
much that finally he gave her nothing. anl she had
TO support herself by writing for the newspapers
She also made references to lis "beastly habits
which made 1t impossible for her TO live with him.
WHAT SHE WROTE OF SANTA MARIA.
On the cross-exa nina ton by MIR. Parsons. several
Of her letters were identified by her and then
read In one Mrs Spencer Comper she said.
after speaking of her loneliness and the devotion
OF Santa Maria:
II have ten minds to one to march quietly OFF
to Colombia with him. and enjoy peace and rest
for the remainder Of my life.
Upon the redirect examination yesterday she
explained this passage by saying
1T was stupid thing which a woman Will some
times do. 1t was gushing letter with no sense
in it,"
Had Mr.. Santa Maria ever suggested such
thing as your going to Colombia with him. asked
Mr. Townsend
NO; he never suggested such a thing in any
way" was the reply, given with animation.
Had you any intention at that time or at any
other time Of going to Colombia with him."
she sailed for Paris in the steamer Canada in
September 1885, and in the same letter referred
Would be en- the same vessel Her mother was with
her. and she said in the letter thai her mother heT
pOt know VIII he
not explain yesterday why she had concealed Santa
Maria's identity fror, Der mother except by say
Stupidity We" 'N.'
on the trip over she declared however that Santa
Maria sat at table some distance from, her mother
he hp his aa a rs vas Situated santa
took walk on deck with herself and her mother
had with him on the voyage.
AFFECTIONATE LETTERS FROM THE
HUSBAND.
She spoke of the times her husband had charged
her with infdelity with Santa Maria These charges
made in 1885, Mr. Townsend produced letters.
written by Mr.. Gilbert TO his wife, months after
ters were anectiona;eiy worded In August 1856,
he wT n h that he should be delighted to dine h
he wrote again. tus as he was packing up 70 come
In the course of Mr. Townsends questioning
Mrs Gilbert asserted that their childess marriage
had been the great Of the unhappiness OF her
,ant and deco;e tonic when he referred TO- the
statement which she had signed and which was
lows:
A SEEMINGLY DAMAGING ADMISSION.
Il am entirely at yoiE disposal to take give
divorce as you will. l will not change my mind
We cannot so now You offer me
"A divorce. will take 1t. Thank you. You have been
very generous. all you had to do was to have me
followed and you could have obtained it from me
i swear that write this of my own free will
Mrs. Gilbert swore that this confession writer
q; the dctat!on of her husband. and was given tt
her husband absolutely for the purpose Of allowing
him 10 have an arm against her She went to SEE
her husband about their PROPOSED separation sh'
nulled All that necessary for MN 10 CiV'
her statement Of his refusal to remove the cans'
she said. But he wanted assurance that sh'
would never demand larger amount b from mn
something to show to his mother, 80 that 1t woalt
At first he wanted her to write in many words
that she had been unfahn to him TINS she s re
did write the part quoted In the nature Of letter
Her husband was afraid that II this document wcr
Influenced her in making ii. 30 at his request
she in another letter that he was in III
next room, while in fact ne was standing near an'
debating to her TO write that he was in anothe
room -. 49,. ,oo,ouo, .os o. J.. - q,
nature of n bond for her to keep her contract AM
never to demand more money from him. But Re-
the written Acknowledgement that she had good am
legal cause for annulns the marrSge This Who'll
AZ this. stage. Of the proceedings .e,sdo.; Mrs Ms
able to so on with the examination an
court days, lacking a half hour. 1t then S:S
O'Clock BY the consent of the counsel on both side
the case was adjourned until this morning. whe
her examination will be continued.
Mr.. Parsons was not present when the case wa
man who called TO see him and he did not return