The sun. (Wilmington, Del.) 1897-19??, 1898-03-01
READY FOR TIE JURY
Testimony All Given in Prett. :
man vs.. Williamson.
JURY WILL GET CASE TO-DAY

JURY WILL GET CASE TO-DAY
The Attorneys Dissect the Evidence
and Make Impassioned Ap-
! peals to the Jury.
The case of Prettyman VS.. Williamson
was again taken up this morning. Much
interest was shown by the public, but
gray hairs and bald heads predominated
in the body of the court room. Fre-
quent bursts Of laughter and applause
occurred. The ludicrous side Of the
case was shown by the convulsive
laughter which broke out at intervals
owing to the saIlies attorneys on both
sides made when certain points of evil
dcnce were brought out.
The first witness was john Pyle, who
testified to the fact of his being chair
OF the State Legislature.
lie testified that the divorce was
granted at the last session of the Legis-
laiure; that he sent for Williamson to
appear before the committee when it
was considering the Prettyman W. WI
hanson case; That Williamson came on
! but one occasion.
/ Edwin B. Williamson then took the
stand again and testified that the deed
which had been handed him, was one
which contained the lease OF all the
property he owned; that in addition to
this he has life equity in Il farm from
which he derives the sum OF 500 per
year; he denied having ever given Mrs.
Ppttylnan ring; that he offered her
the use OF the house for the simple rea.
son that the constable was about to levy
upon her furniture for unpaid rent; he
had done the same with other tenants.
Horace Il. Rcttew receiver of taxes,
and Courtandt &. Montgomery, recorder
Of deeds, bo.h testified in behalf of the
! defendant
Larin l.. Prettyn,an, oldest son Of the
plaintiff testified that Williamson had
never attempted to c:lress or make love
to his mother.
Madeline prettyman was next sworn,
and testified that the actions of Mr..
Williamson toward her mother were al.
ways Of pure character.
Marguerite Prettyman, the sixteen
year-old daughter OF the plaintiff, was
next sworn and timidly related the
story Of her parents discord; she testi-
fled that her father had received 1925
from Williamson for his work, and
that her mother asked for 81 to pay a
store bill, which he refused to hand
over, and that her mother then declared
SHE would throw him from the house;
her earliest recollections of home life
were of discard; that once she had done
had punished her, and that her father
became cnraged and pushed her mother
into corner f'r it and choked her; she
never saw anything to criticise in the
actions Of Williamson toward her
mother.
Upon cross examination witness Il, .
MED that she had ever told Williamson
to get out of the house because of his
attentions toward her mother; she had
once quarrl|ed with Williamson, but
this had occurred after the divorce.
At the afternoon session the attorneys
made short argument in behalf OF the
plaintiff and defendants.
! Attorney Ponder made the opening
argument for the plaintiff during which
Mrs. PpttynIan sat and looked sarvaSt-
cally toward the attorneys and many
times during his address to the jury she
found it necessary to use a newspaper
! with which to fan herself and frequently
shood her head when disparing remarks
were made by him, while at mention Of
the domestic trouble Mr.. Prpttyrnan was
moved to tears and frequently used his
handkerchief to wipe the moisture from
his ewes.
! Mr.. Ponder laid great stress upon the
fact that Williamson had found it neces-
sary to call ut the house ten or twelve
times day to ,llect his rent; that first
he acted in the capacity Of landlord
and after ward became an intimate friend
of the family; that any man who was
intent upon making a friend Of the hus-
band of his intended victim would have
pursued the IA ne course Williams N
did; that u man Of Wiliainson's cnarac-
ter, as portrayed in this case, was worse
than snake, for snak" always warned
Its victim before it struck at HIM.
I'D, you believe George Plettyman
the front door when his father would
enter by the back? 1t is said friendship
is love without the flowers" hut the
dcfcn IL 1t alnitS ohly tn, ftlan l.
ship while the plaintiff has proven
the flowers: If the friendship
existing needed repairing, he surely
had the opportunity 70 repair it, tor he
visited the house as many as ten or