The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-02-10
HAD gWO NAMES.
Central Railroad Man Mix
ed Up in a Queer Dl-
YOrCe Suit.
MRS. HARDEN GOES A FISHING
DR.. Armstrong Of Union Hill Plays
Paul Pry with His Brother
I in-Law's Letters.


Ora Harden, of Deckertown, agent of
the New York, Susquehanna and West
ern Railroad, is orator. in suit for di-
vorce from his wife, Mrs. Ida May Hard
en-, and the hearing took place before Vice
chancellor Stevens this morning, when
Mr. Harden told his domestic tale of
woe.
In the prayer Ora said that he mar
ried Ida May Decker in Deckertown on
december z, 1881, and the children of the
marriage are:-Harry D. Harden, aetat
IL years; Rena Harden, 10 years; Clara
Harden, years, and Matte, a small
young lady of 6 years.
towards the year 1895 he discovered. he
said, that his wife had been unfaithful
to him and the partner of her guilt was.
ne alleges, Charles Hope Stoddard who
calls himself Charles A. Williams, an en-
ploye of the Central Railroad in the Com
munipaw freight yards
This story Mrs. Harden denies in her
answer and turns the tables on her hus-
pand by filing cross bill, in which she
accuses him Of improper conduct with a
glddy young creature named Kitty Beck
ing of Deckertown.
Carefully steered by Counsellor Chas.
J. Roe, of Jersey City, Mr.. Harden this
morning went over the main facts al
ready stated. He added that during 1895
ms spouse was gallivanting over the
state from it's extreme north to the will
oernesses and fastnesses of Bayonne. She
wrote letters to her husband from vari-
Gus places, and in one of these she said
that she had been fishing all the time.
AS fisherwoman she was not a success.
The fish were not to be fooled, for, ac-
cording to her own statements, in three
months she only caught one fish. a
skinny little thing, and just as she
was leaving the country, In disgust, the
provoking things began to bite"
AS Mrs Harden was not present in
court her husband identified a photo
graph OF singularly pretty young wom-
an as his wife. He had not seen her for
a long time and had no idea where she
was.
The husband also identified a letter writ
ten to him by his wife, but the envelope,
he said, was addressed by Charles Hope
Stoddard. He first learned he said. of his
Wife's infideltty from Druggist Pinkel, of
-~SSHs-i
seen in Stoddard's possession letters writ
ten to him by Mrs. Harden, which proved
conclusively the Illicit relationship be-
tween Stoddard and Mrs Harden On
learning this the Complainant said he re-
fused to permit his wife, on her return
from the country in August, 1896 to enter
his home. She broke i'm through window
and he with a neighbor elected her.
Simeon M. Stoddard, father of the core
spondent, Charles Hope Stoddard, said
that his son was in the employ of the New
Jersey Central Railroad at Communipaw,
and he was known to the officials as
Charles A. Williams. Mr.. Stoddard said
that he went to see Mrs. Harden in Deck
ertown, and demanded the return of gold
pin which his son had given to Mrs Har-
den. AT first she refused, but finally gave
it, saying:-''If am to be dragged into
the ditch I'll drag him in too.'
Continuing, the father identified two
very loving letters which Dr. Armstrong,
OF Union Hill, his son-in-law, had handed
to him.
Pr. Edward c. Armstrong was then
called to tell something about the letters
which were she cause OF the present suit.
The doctor said that young Stoddard his
brother-in-law, boarded with him in 1896,
sti and often, received letters which he left
And read them" proudly replied the
doctor; and l knew they were from
and 1 knew that my brother-in-law kept
them"
Ex-Judge Howard Hayes Of Newark,
counsel Ior OF, Mrs Harden, interrupted the
reading letters not addressed to himself
win an objection which was overruled.
Dr rms trong continuing, said that
q ;1N.zt \
removed to St. Francis Hospital in Jer-
Sey y71.,yy, G1l5y, where ne was entered as "Chas
giving & his mssstmMonhRi Mhis the dOns doctor was
with red cheeks. black hair glistening
with some. kind of grease, curled nous
taches tsc and a coarse face, took seat in
Hope Stoddard, alias Charles *. Willianas ne
whose ,,,fae Sc conduct showed that he was rather
ant notoriety heaped on him by his
brother-in-law. -
Where did you find these damaging let
ters?' the doctor was asked
In the pocket of my brother-in-Iaw,s
coat, which hung in a Closet replied
Dr. Armstrong, delighted to have an on
p!.oGrtulnity !.Gs..ly to snow how smart he was
decline to say who made them,
Hayes. 'e1eo
Counsellor Roe then brought out that
Mrs. Harden, and they breathed love in
every. line. "Dears,p "darlings,' 'sny
owns were strewn as thick as vallom
same dates .son which these letters were
written to stoddard the wife's letters to
her husband began simply Ora and
ended without even a superscrfption
May; not a word Of love, not even a
dear" to bless her husband with. That
individual grinned when her letters were
being read.
Simeon Stoddard, father of the core
spondent, explained why his son was cali
ed Williams. He. the father, wished to
break up the Intimacy between him and
Mrs. Harden, and the only way they could
think of wsss to tell her he had gone to
st. Louis, and he changed his name SO
that she wouldn't find him.
The hearing was adjourned at one
o'clock
BATTALION DRILL In TIE ARMORY