The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-01-13
MRS. BRIGGS TESTlFIES.
She Denies In Detail Her Husbands
Story.
NO CRIMINALlTY COMMITTED.
The Respondent Recites Her Story Of
Her Married Life, Which Conflicts
Materially with Her Husbands ver-
sion-The Charges Against Her shaken

In the trial Of the Briggs divorce case
rested their case and Mr.. Anderson was
called by the defence. He contradicted
the statement made by Mr.. Briggs that
he said everything charged in Briggs let
ter to him was true. What he did say to
MIR. Briggs was that it was not as bad as
he supposed.
AT $50 o'clock this morning the case
was resumed in the Supreme Court.
Mrs. Briggs, the respondent, then took
the stand and was sworn. She said she
first met Mr.. Briggs at Detroit when
she was 10 years of age, and was married
at Is.
Mrs. Briggs then testified TO several in
stances OF her husband slapping her face.
she also testified that her husband habit
ually used profane language TO her anu
told her that he would drive her to the
devil yet"
kicked her out of bed and afterwards
Witness testified that she took French
lessons for some years before she ar
ranged to take OF Prof. Lair in 1887. She
took lessons of Lair until the summer OF
1889. Mrs. Charles Briggs took lessons
with her.
Lair had suite OF three rooms in the
Conrad building Witness said she never
noticed anything unbecoming in Prof.
Lair's conduct to her until the spring OF
1880
Mr. Greene then asked the wit ess in
regard to the assault, requesting her to
tell the matter to the court just as she
told IL to MIN.
She said it occurred in the latter part
OF May, 1850, in Prof. Lair's class room.
The room was never locked and was not
fNn ia ~ H. al n..I
her things were already on and she was
buttoning her glove.
Lair put his arms around the witness
and lifted her from the floor. He did
not criminally assault her. and she never
told her husband that he did.
Up to this time Lair had never at
tempted any liberties with the witness.
She did not go back to the school for two
weeks, and during that time she only
saw Lair once on the street.
She did not tell her husband about the
occurrence at the time because she did |
not dare to.
AS 20 the presents which 1t is claimed |
Mrs. Briggs gave to Lair witness says |
that AT Lars request she bought him a /
watch chain in payment for lessons in |
stead OF rendering him the money.
After Mr. Briggs went to the Vineyard |
in July, 1889, witness took "a short walk
one evening with Lair. Sue sent him no |
word, directly or indirectly, that she was
alone: She was walking In her yard and |
Lair Joined her and wanted her to walk |
with MIN. They walked down nearly to
the end of South Angel street and back,
when he left her. He did not come into
the house or attempt any familiarities.
Another evening she was sitting on the
piazza when Lair came along and wanted
her To take walk. They walked down
to Butler avenue and thence to Rich
mond's grove on Waterman street. Tney
aat down a for a fax mo
They we're but few feet from some
other persons who were sitting there
They returned home, where Lair left her
without coming in.
The next time he called while Mrs.
Briggs was upstairs This was before
witness went to the Vineyard She re-
ceived Lair In the reception room down
stairs. He stayed but short time aud |
made simply a formal call
Upon her return from the VINEYARD she |
met Lair on the street. She told him she
lid not want him TO walk with her. at
which he became angry. She told him
'he did not like his manner and he told
Ter she would never see him again This
was Tuesday. July 80
Thursday. August l, two days after
wards. Lair called at the house i'm the
evening. Mrs. Briggs had left the lights
Upstairs burning, and said she would 90
up and finish translation, turn out the
lights. and give him the translation to |
'orrect. He followed her upstairs, and
Expressed desire 20 inspect the plan of
he house, aud the two then went
brough the rooms on that floor. They
hen went down stairs where Lair sat
lown on sofa in the parlor and took
lrs. Briggs by the hand in an endeayor
o persuade her to sit down beside him.
The said No, we will go into the recep- ,
lon room," which they did.
Mr.. Briggs returned the next Sunday
vening between $50 and 10. Mrs.
1riggs was just retiring having no idea :
hat he was coming that night.
The next evening Mr.. Briggs accused
er OF having Prof. Lair at the house and
he told him the circumstances of Lair,s
isits and their walks She did not at
hat time tell him OF the performances i'm
be Conrad building. /,
Mr.. Briggs told her to write Lair a note .