The San Francisco call., 1897-11-09
1t Is Alleged That the Fickle
Colonel Was a Spendthrift
and Profligate.
SCHEMED TO SECURE HIS
SPOUSE'S WEALTH.
On the Other Hand Counsel for the
"Drummer Boy" Claims That
He Was Meanly Treated,
Special Dispatch to THE CALL

BOSTON, Nov 8.-The trial of the di-
Myron P. Walker was concluded in the
Superior Court at Northampton to-day.
Colonel Walker was not present.
Mrs. Walker was called for further
cross-examination and also gave some re-
direct testimony. She said in substance
that she had no knowledge of nfidelity on
the part of Colonel Walker prior to 1894
except mere rumors.
There was trouble in relation to the
Belchertown house. May IA, 1897, Colonel
Walker wrote to the witness that he de-
sired to protect himself, and he sent to
her copy Of the bill in equity that he
proposed to file and with it a letter sug-
gesting that compromise was prefera BILE to
fighting In the courts.
Proprietor Ham of the old Glendower
Hotel in Sprin gfield testified to seeing
Colonel Walker and Mrs. Skiff together
several times, and Richard ]. Griffin,
messe IN GER boy of that city, told of seeing
Mrs. Skiff in the colonePs rooms at the
Haynes about @ clock one morning.
This concluded the evidence, and Attor-
ney Bumpus made his argument. Some
of the more important points to which he
alluded are these: That this was the most
unfortunate case he had ever been called
on to conduct; that this case had caused
the colonel's friends to desert him, his
standing, which had been of the best,
b al been damaged, and only the assump-
tion of his old position could repair it.
Bumpus claim ed that he had been meanly
treated by this woman, that when he sue
ceeded in politics there was no better
man, but when he was defeated she cast
him off, took all his money, gave him a
mere pittance, and that he was treated
toad that could be pulled hither and
thither. She wished him to be depen-
dent, and wanted to deal out to him his
carfare. He reviewed the evidence to show
that she deserted him and in closing held
that she had no ground for divorce under
the circumstances.
closed with brilliant argument. He re-
futed the claims of the opposing counsel
as TO rights the court had to refuse to
grant the libel as sued for on the ground
of adultery if the libelee had been guilty
OF desertion, and maintained that no de-
sertion had been planned or attempted
He said:
my brother lawyer would have the
court believe that woman must of ne
cessity supply the funds for the man to do
as he pleased, if she happened to be his
wife and rich.
'In his bill of com plant Colonel Walker
made as nasty threat as was ever made
TO woman and in the poltest way and
most polite language. He would have
the court believe, as my brother has put
il, that she his wife, would make him but
the mere appendage OF rich woman.
There was no vulgar quarrel. The letters
show this, and the appearance of Mrs.
Walker on the stand has so disclosed her
nature as to make il apparent that this
would be impossible for her.
''it was terrible crucifxlon of her sensi-
bilitles, when in 1886 Colonel Walker com.
menced q career, without cause and
through caprice, which was unnatural
and unwarranted-a total refusal on the
part of Colonel Walker TO M aintain a mar.
rage relation as man and wife with Mrs.
Walker. From that year on Mrs. Walker
was consumed with apprehension. The
honesty and sincerity of the woman can
not be Questioned.
But through all the years. from the
time in 1886, when Colonel Walker first
saw the inevitable result OF his deeds, he
was attem mpting to fortify his position and
come out of the trouble with something
for himself, that something to be money.
There was a glowing symmetry and con-
sistency in all his acts as viewed from the
present.
The ingenuity of Colonel Walker
worked with the intention OF forcing de-
seruion. This conclusion must be arrived
at from the evidence. he desired eman-
cipation coupled with the money. Judge |
Bumpus cleverly wishdraws from any at
tempt to defend his client from the |
charges of adultery, and sets up the coun-
tercharge of desertion. Not single word |
in defense is offered. Colonel Walker evi- |
IDENTIFY mas remnant OF the gentlemanly |
nature which was formally his, tor he has |
reirained from appearing In court.
Colonel Walker, once a gentleman,
was in 1892. reeling from his cups to his |
concupnes, openly and before people he |
knew. He was a prohlgate. There is no |
refuge for him in the contention raised |
that mis- wife deserted him. No, not even |
if Mrs. Walker did accomplish dessrtion.
l do not consent to the granting of /
single prayer to the defense"
Judge Gaskill then took the cese under |
and decision will be given |
later.