New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-15
PREACHER AGAIN UNDER FIRE
THE REV. DIR. CUNNING SAYS HIS WIFE
PINCHED HIM.
HE ALSO CHARGES HER WITH TURNING HIS
CtIILDRENs CLOTHING. But HE THINKS
THAT HE LOVES HER STILL, ALTHOUGH
HIS BRAIN Is WEIRL
on THAT POINT.

HIS BRAIN IN WIIRL
ON THAT POINT.
Cross-examination of the Rev. Dr. Cunning. de-
PENDANT in the suit for separation brought by Mrs
Mary C. Cunning occupied the entire session Of the
court yesterday. and at O'Clock in the afternoon
Justice Van Wyck adjourned the case to Monday
morning next
II appears that counsel for the wife Is ABOUT
through with the Doctors cross-examnation ana
that there are not many more days OF the hearing
10 come.
So great had become the pressure Of those anxious
IN hear the details OF the that the small Special
Term room given up and Adjournment taken
TO the larger jury trial part. The same contingent
Of women members OF the Bedford Avenue Baptist
Church. of which the defendant was pastor, was
on hand as on every day Of the trial so far.
Or Cunning testified that his wife was In ,he
habit Of following him to the door of his study
where she would stand and abuse him for hours by
calling him an old fool The Doctor said he never
became intoxicated and drank liquor for medicinal
purposes only" and when he needed H.
SHE WAS NOT CULTURED.
The witnes said he had known his wife about six
months before their marriage
..sshe was an intelligent woman" asked ex-Judgc
Tenney
"Of fair average intelligence. ! would not call
her a woman of superior intelligence. She has a
fair education but scholars would not regard her
as cultured"
DR.. Cunning denied that he had ever been dis
missed from his church In Boston lie was asked
to resign and did so.
.you were engaged 10 a young woman named
Kitty Davis Of Rosedale, n. J., weren't your
asked counsel
Mr. Jenks objected but not before the witness had
answered No"
The witness said the first dispute he had with his
wife was about his Harry. Il think she said she
md rpyh
said she would leave me and create scandal
"a SORT OF TYPICAL MINISTER'S sON?'
"you have had a good deal OF trouble with
Harry" suggested counse''
Yes"
.He has been sort of typical minister's son.
ooh | object" cried Mr.. jerks, and the Court
ruled IT out.
DIR Cunning said he loved his wife dearly when
he married her and loved her STILL he guessed. al
,bom"h his brain was in something OF a whirl on
that point. He said his wife had burned Harry :
shoes In BOSTON and that the boy complained that
sho hurned his trousers and was constantly making
trouble for him. She often sent the younger chi-
dren. by the Doctors former wives to bed without
DIR DR.. Cunning declared that Miss Way must have
been mistaken when she said he had called his wife
a "heliish woman" THAT is not word Of mine
at all / use it and never said Mrs Cunning
was a hellish woman in my life. 49,
"You have said your wife was ful OF deviitry!
You have said she a very wicked woman.
yes / think / have made that remark to all OF
my children"
SHE PINCHED HIM. HE SAID.
Mr. Tenney then produced letter dated October
% 1894 written by DR.. Cunning to his daughter
Gussie in relation to an invitation by Mrs. Tyler
for Gusse to sing in the Tompkins Avenue Congre-
gationaI Church. In that he wrote referring 20
Mrs Tyler She is on my side in the matter Of
my wife and her devtry." Later. in the same let
Ter and referring to his wife, he Her hate
ful spirit continues to shake up. Oh. God. how
long shall we have to bear this wicked woman $
ways?"
DR. Cunning said that, after three four tria s,
he never allowed his wife to accompany him his
walks as she pinched his arm and kept calling
him "Old fool.' ''Old foOl.'
AT s o'clock adjournment was taken.