The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-08-30
Former Wife Of DR.. Roberts Tells
Her Story.
HOW mr.. PATTEN STRUGGLED TO
DO RIGHT.
Another Chapter i'll tho Bath Sensation
Prominent Society People Testify in
Mrs. Patterns Behalf.
ESPECIAL TO THE PRESS.

LEE hNA<AA ~ Ihh GaI-sSe-
Bath, August 2S.-The hearing in the
case of Mrs. John o. Patten, asking that
she be granted the custody of her young
children, was continued today in the Su-
preme court here. Mrs. Patten, who was
married to her present husband a few
days ago, was formerly the wife of DR.
Percy Roberts, who procured divorce
from her. his action being the result of
her relations with Mr.. Patten. By the
decree of divorce each parent was given
the custody of the children for six months
in the year. Mrs. Patten now petitions
the court that she may be given the ex-
elusive custody of the children, and DR..
Roberts opposes the granting of the petit
ion.
When court came in today, Mrs. Patten
took the stand and her cross examination
begun yesterday by Mr.. Newell, coun-
sell for DR.. Roberts, was continued She
testified that during the outing at Small
Point in May she was alone with Mr..
Patten much of the time and they planned
that on their return home they would
make a clean breast of the whole affair
to the parties concerned and then have q
final parting. Mrs. Patten said This
outing was after the evening when Mr..
Patten and l had said goodbye at my
home. I expected things would. be differ
ent after that parting, but they were not
much different at Small Point In re.
ply to the question as to whether what
chn did of
with her duty towards her children, she
replied that 1t was not; that she simply
lost sight of her duty for the time being
l did not anticipate pleasure in the trip
to Small Point and did not wish to 60
While there I was having the fight of my
life to remember my duty toward my
children and the memory of them always
stood between me and wrong doing. She
had agreed to marry Mr.. Patten mostly
before he was divorced, with the approval
of Mrs. Lucy Patten. Mr.. Patten was
still a married man at this time. She
retraoted her statement made yesterday
that she was not at the Boston public
library with Mr.. Patten one evening last
summer, and said she now remembered
being there with him for short time
AS to her personal knowledge of DR..
Percy Roberts's financial condition, she
knew that on coming to Bath he was
four or five thousand dollars in debt and
though he had good practice was con-
stantiy falling behind financially. He
wrote her that this was the reason for his
not paying her the balance of the amount
due her by their agreement.
The following letters were introduced
in the case by Mr.. Newell, the counsel for
DR.. Roberts:
My Own Dear Sweetheart-How ex-
asperatingly short a time we had together
last night, and how unhappy am today
l think | am desperate and wretched
enough to afford you no small amount of
satisfaction, could you be with me now,
for somehow l have lost all hope of ever
experiencing another moment of happi-
ness. More than this, begin to fear that
my capacity for being Of any use to the
world is gone completely.
I have tried my best to accomplish
something this morning, but can't do
it. Jack, I can only think of you every
instant, and love you with every breath I
draw. And, oh beloved, how long to do
sotnething-to make you happy again; to
take away that desparing look from your
dear eyes. But J am sure you must be
feeling better today, for know I have
misery enough for both Of us. Please take
care Of yourself, Jack, at least until after
Small Point
There is faint possibility that Percy
may take the afternoon train or the boat
for Boston, and in that case / wish we
might see each other this evening. I can t
telephone about it, but if 1 should send
the guitar home early in the evening, that
would be my way of telling you to come
Good-by, now, my dearest l must dress
to go down town, SO l must leave you,
darling.
letter written by Mr. Patten to Mrs.
Roberts was also introduced and identi-
fed. 1t follows
My Darling--I have locked the door of
my Office and am going to take a few
minutes to write you, no matter who
wants to see me. This noon Ihad talk
with Florence, and she admits that she
tod DIR. r. to ask you to be careful
that's the way she puts it. After finding
what l wanted to know, 1 had an hours
talk with Lucy. She was terribly dis