The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1895-11-28
TOM THE PEEPER.
Sensational Testimony In q Duluth
Divorce CaAe

Divorce Case
Duluth, Mimi, Nov. 27.-The divorce
case OF Mrs Eleanor Mendenhall vs.
Luther Mendenhall, the millionaire.
president Of the First National bank
and Duluth Street Railway company,
came up for trial in the district court
this morning The complainant
charges her husband with committing
adultery with Miss Kate B. Hardy,
late principal Of the Hardy school,
fashionable boarding school for young
ladies' The drawing Of a jury only
occupied an hour or so, and the twelve
men selected are among the most
prominent business men Of Duluth.
The testimony was extremely sensa-
tlonal, the first witness being Thomas
Paget, formerly engineer at the school,
He testified to discovering Mendenhall
and Miss Hardy in compromising
position on two occasions.
Paget stated that he was an engi-
neer by trade and was formerly engi-
neer at the Hardy school. Had worked
in public buildings and elsewhere, and
had also worked as a locomotive engi-
neer. After delving into his personal
history the Hardy school experience
came up. He was employed at the
Hardy school from May, 1898, until
the following fall as engineer, and as
such, he had general charge of the
building, in which he was assisted by
one Fred Wood, second engineer His
duties took him throughout the build
ing at different times. Knew the de-
PENDANT, Mendenhall, and Miss Hardy.
Saw Mendenhall at the building fire.
quently, both day and night, in all the
rooms, including Kate Hardy's own
rooms and office. Saw Mendenhall in
Miss Hardy's private reception room
! and In her bed room. He was in the
reception room twice week, and he
was in these rooms many times with
Miss Hardy.
This was during the worlds fair
year, and during vacation Miss Hardy
went to the fair. About that time
Mendenhall was there with Miss
Hardy on the lounge. reclining N the
position usually occupied by man and
wife. Witness went to that room be-
cause he mistook the bell which some
| one had rung for the engineer. After
ward he ascertained that one of the
teachers had rung. He stepped back
Immediately. Later in the day he saw
| Mendenhall on the street at Woodland
Park, and Mendenhall appeared
| flushed. He wanted Paget to get 4
room nearer the school and said that
he would make it comfortable for him
if he would pick out lot.
| During the same year plumber was
making some alterations at the school
building, and the plumber, named
Alderman, and witness were doing
some work. This was during the va
cation, and the work was being done
in the engine room. Mendenhan came
and looked the work over and then
went up to Miss Hardy's room. Wit
ness followed him up stairs with Ack-
erman, to see where Mendenhall was
going. Mendenhall went into Miss
Hardy's room, and witness and Ack-
erman went out of another teachers
bed room window and got in front of
Miss Hardy's bed room window. They
stood on box and looked over the
Miss Hardy were on Miss Hardy's bed
In the same position occupied by them
on the lounge on the former occasion.
Witness memory was directed to re-
ception at the school about the close of
the vacation. Mendenhall was there.
and Miss Hardy met him at the foot
Of the stairs. Witness had been rung
up by Miss Hardy. and he was in the
hall with no one else in sight except
the fireman, Fred Wood. AS Mendeu-
hall came in the door he said: my
dear, you look lovely tonight" A kiss
followed. Witness stated that he knew
at this time that the thing was going
on, and he and his fireman made a
practice Of watching Mendenhall, who
was there morning, noon and night.