Evening journal., 1897-05-05

OtudlOI L yit > lIltuuS llOn lQt OIutl- I
JAMES H. HOFFECKER's STORY.
James II. Hoffecker, Jr, was called
and sworn. After giving his name and
residence the examination proceeded.
Mr.. Hazell-"Will you please state
to this committee what you know in
reference to this article purporting to
be report emanating from you? Is il
correct"
In substance, barring a few details
at the close of what purports to be my
interview, the statement is in the main
correc."
"Will you tell to this committee what
you know about the facts in the case?"
Mr.. Hoffecker arranged his notes and
consulted them. Some time in January
last | was retained by Mr.. White, who
is her brother, as counsel for Mrs. II.
Victor Cause who sought to obtain a
divorce from her husband. The notice
was put in the Daily Republican, in
compliance with the statute. Some
time after that notice had been running
in the paper, it having been decided be-
tween Mr.. White Mrs. Cause and my
self that she would apply to the Legis-
lature for that divorce, / came to Dover
for the purpose of ascertaining what
method of procedure had been adopted
by the Divorce Committee, what would
be the time for the hearing, the matter
of priority, If any, in regard to divorce
suits, and such other details of infor-
nation as might be necessary in order
TO properly conduct the suit Several
of my clients witnesses residing at dis
tant points, | naturally did not care to
bring them here unless they could have
hearing and not be kept waiting
had decided upon the Legislature, and
had so advised Mr.. White aRd Mrs
| Cause, because it afforded a speedier
! tribunal, and in that respect Il was de-
sirable to apply to that tribunal in
view of the facts that she expected to
go to Europe for the Summer in the late
Winter or early Spring months.
Il came here in the evening saw
all the senators l could and talked with
them that night informally on the pro-
cedure that would attend the case. Two
of the senator's / saw were Senators
Pyle and FenimOre. We had a discus
sion in the Senate chamber in refer
ence to the matter, in which / stated
briefly the cause of the divorce, with
the grounds and other matters pertain
ing and relevent to the business in
| manu. nat was Ou lut ulEHl bl llt
2Sth of January. The next Monday be-
ing the opening day of the February
term of court, and being engaged in
the trial of causes and having business
before that court, l deemed It advisable
not to bring the case up until the busi-
ness / had in the February term OF
court was disposed Of / let the matter
run along until some time in February
I hn ~
ner, that John T. Dickey wanted to Sc,
me. / made it my business to see hin
and see what he wanted to see m,
about, for he had said to Francis tha
; we were interested in the Cause di
vorce suit, and that there was likely t
be opposition to 1t. l met him on Mar
{ ket street, below my office on the morn
ing Of February II. / said: You wante,
to see me about the Cause divorce suit
He said he did. / asked him what III
had to say about ii. He said that wha
he had to say he wanted me to take al
the information of a friend. He hal
been at Dover a great deal and didn'
know whether ! knew it or not, bu
there was going to be strong opposition
- to the graning of that divorce"
Mr.. Lyman objected to the witnes
I making such statements in the absenc
! of Mr.. Dickey.
z MR.. DICKEY'S SUGGESTION.
r Mr.. Hoffecker continued, as follows
We'll, we had our interview, he mad
D that statement, and ! urged my reason
g and objections Mr. Dickey suggeste
d that had better look after the matter
e for he had reason to know that the bi
= was going to be met with oppOsitio
n and would run up against a snag. II
also said that If he could be of any sci
S vice to me he would be glad to rende
d any such service, and that l would nC
a find him expensive. Thanking him fC
r his information and suggestions, / wer
: to my office. l had obtained previousl
d copy of the rules of the House an
d Senate, and list of the members an
1t committees. l looked that list over an
o concluded that ] would write to tw
Is members l thought l could get at MOI
IS directly than anybody else. /. Their
n fore. dropped line to Senator Pyle an
g Robert Mccullough, asking them to ca
q, at my office the following Saturda
a February 20. On that day l received
d call, first from Senator Pyle. / state
n to him why had sent for him, but
Id didn't give the name of the man WI
he suggested that / had better look into Il
T. matter. l simply said he was a polit
4 clan whom we both knew quite we'll.
D. told him | was surprised to hear Of @
l. position to this case, for as matter
In fact, the bill had not been introduce
j. and, as far as ! knew, no one kne
ie what the causes were. except such as
id had given to Senator Fenimore al
Mt Senator Pyle. Therefore, ] was at
m loss to understand how opposite
ne could be developed to a cause that hi
~ net been declared. I told him / want
We to get the divorce, wanted to know q
s. difficulties, and wanted to talk wi
II him frankly. He said there was
/ doubt about it, there would be oppoi
VI ton to that bill; that there would be
OF certain influence against it, which cou
or only be overcome in one way. ! sa
re there was no use beating around {
to bush. What is it going to cost me
en- get that divorce? He parried the que
to tion for a while. and then said from s
ne 600 to 81 500. / repeated to him abo
OF the cause not being known. and l ask
n him the question on what possit
~ | oro,,pd it,-tfGoaffor, for oppocfffon ~