The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-08-31

Testify to His Kind Treatment of the
Children and to the Intimacy of the
Petitioner With John o. Patten,
ESPECIAL TO THE PREss.I
Bath, August 3O.-The hearing on the
custody of the Roberts twins was resumed
at ten O'Clock this morning, the first wit
ness who was called being Joseph NJ
Everett, brother of Mrs. Irene Roberts
Patten. He testified as to his visits at
DIR. Robsrts' home here as well as in
Dorchester and said that he had seen the
doctor use his children harshly. Once he
sent them away from the table for talking
too much. He knew Mr.. Patten was in
innate with his sister and that he often
called upon her while she was in Boston
this spring; also knew that Mr.. Patten
had contributed to her support. He went
with his sister to DR.. Roberts house to
take out her belongings.
Later Mrs. Irene Patten was recalled to
the stand and said that she had been
obliged to correct her children occasional
ly but never to scold them. She brought
them to court Saturday because she was
told that the judge would like to see
them. She had made up her mind to
keep the children's attention away from
the testimony. When they were old
enough to understand she should tell
them all and she hoped that at present
they would not know how bad their
father is.
For your own good shouldn't advise
you to tell all" remarked Lawyer
Newell
II demand protection for my wife from
that bruGal man," called out John o.
Patten to the judge at this stage of the
proceedings.
. Mrs. Roberts gave little testimony in
regard to some of her meetings with Mr..
Patten, and stated that she never
promised to marry him until last May.
Here Lawyer Newell made an opening
argument, briefly summing up the case
and outlining the rebuttal
DR.. Percy W. Roberts was then called
and told of his coming to Bath, his ao-
quaintance with Patten and his family.
How matters proceeded until affairs got
so far along that he several times talked
with his wife regarding the impropriety
of Patterns frequent calls and each time
she promised to do better, and at various
times declared "Patten was blank to
her.
Told of her leaving for Massachusetts
and her return to this city; her stay at
Hotel Phoenix and other matters now
we'll known in connection with the case.
The court opened again this afternoon
at 2.30 O'Clock with DR.. Roberts still on
the stand. He was cross examined but
his testimony was not shaken in the
least. He made a cool, careful witness
and the efforts of the opposing lawyers to
tangle him was useless.
Later Bertha L. Drew, the doctors
housekeeper was called and she told of
Mr.. Patterns frequent visits, of seeing
Mr.. Patten and Mrs Roberts lying on
the sofa, and his getting up and rear
ranging his clothing. She testified that
Mrs. Roberts had always been most
affectionate mother and always taken the
best of care of her children. There were
several letters introduced in this case
which concerned the doings of the chill
dren. Miss L. Drew testified that besides
herself there is at present occupying the
Roberts house another servant, Ernest
R. Hunter, friend of the doctors as
well as DR.. Roberts himself.
DR.. Roberts gave as his reason for not
keeping his agreement in regard to allow
ing his wife partial custody of the chill
dren that she had promised to have moth
ing further to do with Mr.. Patten when
he made the agreement. Yet he admitted
that he knew his wife's actions at the
time he agreed to it.
Hiram I. Woodman, former hostler
at DR.. Roberts, testified to seeing John
o. Patten there frequently and often
carried notes to Mr.. Patten from Mrs.
Roberts. He said he saw them in a ham
mock several times, had also seen the m
III the parlor. Said DIR. Roberts was al
ways very kind to the children and to
those about him.
John A. Duggan, a constable of Boston,
testified to seeing Mr.. Patten and Mrs.
Roberts come out of house 139 West
Newton street, and go to the Victoria
hotel to supper. Later they returned to
the house and went up stairs, pulled
down the curtains and turned up the gas.
At six O'Clock the court adjourned until
Tuesday morning.