The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-12-29
SHE W0ULDN'TTELLHE AGE
MRS. ISABELLE HICKS FEMININELY
TENDER ON THE SUBJECT.

ed by Opposing Lawyers,
hearing on the motion to dismiss
the suit for divorce brought by Mrs.
Isabelle Hicks against the Hon. Rat
cliffe Hicks of Tolland was held before
Judge Shumway in the superior court
yesterday afternoon. The dismissal is
asked on the grounds of non-residence
and improper service. Judge Lynde
Harrison appeared for Mrs Hicks and
judge Goodwin Stoddard of Bridgeport
and State Attorney Egleston of Hart
ford for the defendant.
The secreSy concerning the allega-
tions against Mrs. Hicks that pre-
vailed when the complaint was filed is
still maintained and nothing definite
can be learned as to their nature.
During the hearing every precaution
was taken by the attorneys to avoid
bringing out the slightest evidence that
might throw any light on the charges.
Mrs. Hicks was called to the stand
by the defence and a searching inquiry
made as to her residence before and
after her marriage. An effort was
made to ascertain the writing by which
furniture was shipped from Chicago to
Washington, D. c., by order of the
plaintiff, the object being to establish
her residence by the location of her
personal effects. Mrs. Hicks is a TALL
handsome woman of about thirty-fiVe
years. She is a decided blonde and
yesterday was attired in blue serge cos
tune and a rather large hat that sat
She married Radcliffe Hicks at Madi-
son, Wis, on May 10, 1895. They went
Immediately to Chicago. Before May
49, 1895, she lived in her own house
on Calumet street in Chicago. Mr..
Hicks did not furnish any articles for
this residence. He bought a house in
Chicago after their wedding, but after
ward closed it and placed the furniture
in storage. When they left Chicago on
their honeymoon her house was closed
and put in the care of an agent to
rent. While abroad the furniture was
taken to Washington, where MIR. Hicks
had bought another house, but later it
was again moved to Chicago.
The last communication she received
from her husband was in April. Here
the attorneys argued a direct point as
to the residence of the defendant. At
torney Harrison contended that Mr..
Hicks was a resident of Connecticut at
the time of his marriage, was we'll
known in business circles and was the
representative from Tolland in the gen.
eral assembly. On her marriage Mrs
Hicks became a resident Of Connecti-
cut, the residence of husband being
that of the wife. On resuming the ex-
animation Mrs. Hicks was asked why
she came to New Haven. This lead to
testimony to the effect that she did not
come here for the sole purpose of prose-
cutting suit for divorce against her
husband. She had business interests in
Bridgeport New Haven was lovely
place to live and there were good
schools here to which to send her
daughter
Did you intend to bring a divorce
before you came here?" was asked This
question was put to Mrs. Hicks three
times and she evaded it each time by
talking about her interests in Bridge
port. 1t was dropped finally and she
testified that she did not bring any fur
niture with her She brought a great
many trunks. She intends to live here
permanently, indefinitely. Her mother
is living. Witness had daughter by
her first husband. She refused to state
how long it was before she married
Mr.. Hicks that she obtained a divorce
and also how old her daughter is Mrs
Hicks was pressed for an answer and
looked appealfngly at the judge. Fin
ally she said: my daughter is over
eleven and I'm over twenty-one. Is
not that enough for you, Judge Stod-
dard?"
Then Mrs. Hicks was asked her own
age. She could not see that it had
anything to do with the case and de-
ciined to answer. Judge Shumway said
she might and then Mrs. Hicks, turn
ing appealingly toward her counsel,
said: But, Judge Harrison, I don't
like to tell my age" The attorneys for
the defence courteously dropped the
matter after Judge Harrison called
their attention to the fact that it was
a delicate question to ask any lady,
and after the witness impatiently eX-
claimed: 'Supposing I don't know my
age" While Mr.. and Mrs. Hicks were
abroad her daughter was at a convent
at Georgetown, Md.
Mrs. Hicks was then examined by
her own attorney and told of her mar
riage, honeymoon through the south
and to Europe, from which they re-
turned late in February of 1896. They
went to Washington and stayed at the
Arlington, where on March of the
present year Mr.. Hicks abandoned her.
Charles F. Holcomb, secretary and
treasurer of the Garfield Rubber COM
pany of Bridgeport and confidential
clerk for Radcliffe Hicks for the past
six years, was the next witness. He
said that Mr. Hicks was in Paris when
the papers were served at the Tolland
house the Hicks homestead in Tolland
belonged to the Charles l. Hicks es-
tate and had never been divided. He
paid taxes, for Mr.. Hicks on personal
property in Tolland. This was in 1898,
1894 and 1895. He admitted that Mr.
Hicks was at present in Arizona. He
saw him about three weeks ago in Chi
cago. At O'Clock the hearing was
adjourned and it will come up for re-
assignment next Thursday.
A Proposition Involving MANY Things.
RpSto1 Tao ba ID Of oil