The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-01-25
Says She Was Happy Until Mrs,
Brown Stole Her Husband.
BIG DAMAGE CASE ON TRIAL,
Waiter N. beach. II Is Allie ged. Was
Good Husband Before He Met Mrs.
Abbfe Brosn-Thcn He Left Home.
Hife and Hnbies-Mrs. Beach Had
Rrown Have a Different story.

Tie trial CT re damage sait brought i'y
annie f. Beach against Abbse D. Brown
for alternating tbs affections OF her hus-
hand. Walter H Peach. was commenced
yesterday morning before Judge Jacobs, OF
the Superior court, and promises to be one
Of the most sensational tried III this county
for some time. 1t will take two days more
to hear the testimany.
Mrs. Beach sues for $3.50 damages She
brought the suit shortly after she was d.
vorced from Beaca. She alleges that she
lived happily with her husband from
March g, ISIS uutii short time before she
secured a divorce. She asserts that she
was In possession OF the affections and
confidence OF her husband until May Il,
1855. when Mrs Brown appeared on the
scene aud ..wrongfufiy intending 10 inJure
her and 20 deprive her OF the support, So
ciety and affection Of her husband, mali
cl0usly entIced him away and alienafed his
affection from her.
Col Robert Lindsay made the opening
statement 20 the jury for Mrs. Beach, in
which he asserted that they would prove
every allegation in the complaint, and
would show how Mrs. Brown had wrecked
the happiness Of the Beach family. Judge
Humphries in reply for Mrs. Brown stated
Mrs.. Beach was a perjureT and that Mrs.
Brown was the wr0nged woman. lie said
that the Beaches had not lived happily to-
gether for Il long time before Beach knew
Mrs. Brown, and that IL WAS through
Reach's friendship for Contractor Brown.
now deceased, that he became acquainted
with the defendent Attorney iiumphries
said that Beach aud his wife had BORROWED
money from Mrs Brown in large sums and
i'm such Il reckless manner that the court
had declared her incompetent TO admins
ter her husbands estate He further said
that Mrs Beach secured her divorce from
her husband 10 turn suspicion away from
them for having robbed Mrs. Brown. lie
said that the suit. while not actually a con-
spiracy was one as far as ii concerned
Mrs. Brown.
The defense first attempted 20 have the
case non-suited On the ground that the
marriage certificate II the minister who
married the Beaches was not enough to
prove a legal marriage. Judge jacobs held
with the plaintiff on this point. and Mrs.
Beach was called TO the stand. With tears
IN her eyes she told the story OF her matri-
,nonlal unhappness as far as Mrs. Brown
had anything 10 do with II. She said that
Mrs Brown had followed her husband
around from place 10 place, and tinally Sc
cured an influence over him which caused
him To leave home wife and children. She
said that IL was Mrs. Brown who drove her
TO getting a divorce from her husband.
She had tried for three years to win back
his love and affection. She said that at
times she partly succeeded, hut ihat Mrs.
Brown always appeared To spoil matters.
Judge HUMPHREYS conducted a severe
eross-examina ton and brought out facts
which drove Mrs Beaeh's pretty l0-year-
OLD daughter from the court room in tears.
During the recital Mrs Brown kept her
gaze directed 10 the floor except when
talking 10 her lawyers.
W. H. Christoff. who was In charge OF
the pumping station at the time Beach was
employed there. corrohoTated Mrs. Beach's
statement regarding the meetings between
Mrs. Brown and Beach az the station. He
was the only ether witness cailcsi during
the day The examination of witnesses
viii take the greater part of today aud to
morrow.
The husband who is the cause OF the
trouble sat In the rear OF the court room
and held ono OF hs Younger children. He
is a wei-buiit. gond-looking man, with
very dark hair and eyes and a heavy
black Iuustache. he ala not miss any OF
the evidence. and appeared 10 BE- very
rauch interested IN all that was SAID and
,1AnFs