The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-07
PRISONER ON THE STAND
MRS. MAUD GOoDIN ACCOUNTS FOR
HER MOVEMENTS.
Promised to BE Van Natta's Wife One
Moonlight Night - The
Park Scene.


inal Court. Attorneys Duncan and H. w.
Hornbrook. her counsel, were of the opinion
yesterday evening that she had been good
witness in her own defense. Prosecutor
Wiltsie, after he had taken the woman
through three hours and half of cross
examination, remarked that 'the State was
satisfied with the days work. During the
morning Mrs. Goodin related her experience
with Mrs. Kline and James Van Malta
while they lived in the Empire block, deny
ing nearly every assertion made by Mrs.
Kline while she was. on the witness stand
that related to her (Mrs. Goodin.) few
minutes before IL o'clock Mr.. Wiltsie began
the cross-examination continuing until
o'clock, when court was adjourned. The
cross-examination of the witness will be
concluded to-day.
The witness admitted to Attorney Duncan
that she had once entertained very tender
feeling for James Van Malta. She remem-
bered very well the occasion on which she
promised to become his wife. She said that
Van Malta had been an aggressive lover,
and had laid violent siege to her heart. He
had asked her on several different occasions
to marry him, and finally one moonlit night,
while they were riding in from the northern
part of the city, she capitulated. She broke
Off the engagement herself, she declared.
This was because he had appeared in her
presence under the influence of liquor.
Shortly after that she visited him at his
livery stable. She did not go there because
of her jealousy-she was not jealous. She
wanted TO see him about the $500 she had
loaned him. She stated that he has not yet
paid her the money.
Mrs. Goodin denied telling Mrs. Kline that
she was married to Van Malta. She also
denied the entire story related by Mrs.
Kline as to the plot to injure DR.. Haskin-
son. The witness declared she never knew
Dr. Haslxinson. She spoke of the afternoon
OF May IL testified to by Mrs. Kline. She
declared that instead of her lying in wait
for DR.. Haskinson in house on West New
York street, disguised as an old woman, she
was riding about the city with her daughter
watching the Knights of Pythias parade.
Mrs. Goodin corroborated the testimony of
all the witnesses for the defense as to her
whereabouts on the occasion named by the
states witnesses As to May q, when the
witness is alleged to have plotted with Mrs.
Kline against DR.. Haskinson, Mrs. Goodin
said she was i'll at the home of her daughter
on North Capitol avenue. This was the day
before the acid was thrown on DIR. Haskin-
son.
Mrs Goodin was asked about May Is,
when it is alleged she watched for Van
Malta in University Park, and when he
drove up to Dr.. Haskinson's at New York
and Pennsylvania streets, went out and
made a scene. The witness said that she
was in University Park that afternoon and
did talk to Van Malta; but she knew moth
ing about DR.. Haskinson, and talked to Van
al nT1f
Malta after she left the park. He drew up
his team and lifted his nat She stood az
the side of the buggy, with her hand on the
that were going away. Van Malta was a
member of the Twenty-seventh Battery, and
Mrs Goodin asked him why he was not
going with the organization, adding in a
ocular way, Couldn't you pass?" Van
Malta replied that he could not get away.
much if he did go WITH the battery 0 and was
killed. She replied that 1T wouldn't matter
much" She then asked him about the $500
he owned her. ~ts
oh, I'll fix that all right" he remarked.
just then the horses drew the vehicle for
ward slightly and the whip came out of the
asked Van Malta if he still thought she
wrote him the anonymous letters he had
received. He replied that he did not think
We'll, didn't know but what might use
the whip if you did" she said to him, and
he drove away.
HER PERSONAL HISTORY.
On cross-examinatien the witness said she
was first married to a man named Thomp-
son in Franklin KY. This was in 1868 Her
husband went to Lexington to attend the
races and during the week was found dead
with his skull crushed. She was i'll at the
time with brain fever. Her brother-in-law
told that her husband had been kicked by
horse. After her husbands death she
went to live at Gallatin, Tenn. and became
a teacher in Professor Woods school for
young ladies. She was connected with the
art department and taught painting. She
afterward moved to Nashville and from
there went to Kansas City. She
went to Covington, Ind in 1879 and in 1880
removed to Veedersburg She was married
to DR.. Goodin in that year. Mr.. Wiltsie
offered to introduce some anonymous letters
that Van Malta had received in which DR..
Haskinson's name was mentioned. The let
ters were not read The witness testified
that all she ever knew of DR.. Haskinson up
10 the time or the assault was once when
she saw the doctors sign on the door of her
office on North Pennsylvania street. She
said she just happened to notice that sign"
Dut could recall no others.
The witness testified that on the night of
May IL (when she is alleged to have been
out plotting" with Mrs. Kline she was at
home in her own room and that about 1880
o'clock Mrs. Kline came into her room with
Mrs. Davis. Mrs. Kline had on Mrs. Davis's
bonnet and wanted TO know if the Witness
the occasion on which it is alleged by the
defense that Mrs. Kline borrowed a bonnet
from Mrs. Davis to go out and hunt for her
"old man." Mr.. Witsie asked the witness
when it was she next saw Mrs. Kline.
IN tell you that later said the witness.
why can't you tell me now?'' asked the
prosecutor.
oh, can, but supposed you would come
to that point later on replied Mrs Goodin.
was ready for her to tell it at once. She,
then said she saw Mrs. Kline about o'clock
that evening as the latter was leaving the
block Some one asked where Mrs. Kline
was going and the witness replied that "she
was going out to hunt her husband.
Superior Court and Foreclosure.
The Superior Court yesterday decided a
novel point raised by an appellant, in which
the right of the Superior Court to enter
judgments in foreclosure proceedings on
mortgages was questioned, although the
court has been handing down this sort of