The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-03-01
WILLIAMSON DAMAGE CASE,
Attorney Hayes Began to Address the
Court at u.3o o'clock, and Spoke
Until Court Adjourned.

When court met yesterday afternoon at
$50 o'clock, Mr.. Hayes was still arguing
his side OF the Prettyman-Williamso
suit for damages for alternating his wife's
affections Nr. Hayes GAINED that owing
to vii iamS e,ping r. Prettyman to
gain her dlvure ana that .ur that reason
that the plaintiff should be able to recover
for his wife's affections.
He took the defendants lawyers prayer
why no damages should be given and
went over 1t and gave his sides reason why
the plaintiff should be given damages.
Mr.. Ponder be ran to address the jury
at o'clock. He said that he was no mind
reader, but he thought the jury had reason
ei it out Why did not the plaintiff take
up his defendant by the seat of his trousers
and the nape of the neck and throw him
out of the house, which would have served
him righ'?
III. plaintiff never had any such idea to
bring this sui until after he SAW an ad-
vortisement in Tine pa o. for a divorce by
his wifi then 1t sti.utrd his sui ,..as he
never iu,cnded to modest her until after he
had been divorced from her
We wish to show that this man had
married this women. There must have
been some love between them when they
were married, IA she had the money
and he (Prettyman) had none. We don't
believe what ,hs defendants lawyer has
tried to show. that she soon lost her love
for her husband. TIE trouble all began
after the Prettyman, moved into Will
liamson's house. He came at first once,
twice, then four and eight tiales aday to
collect rent The houses on Orange street
are not the kind of houses that u landlord
does Lot have to call every day to collect
rent.
The defendant says he was friend OF
the husband and family. That is what
In Il h,.f nff MI thnu
mans wife. He first makes fir end of the
husband He is worse than snake which
give warning to all mankind before it
stlike. Williamson invites the husband
after ne had been driven out of tho house
by his wife, to come back home and live
with his wife but did Prettyman accept
it? No, he said he was not that kind of
man. He refused because it was cheaper
to have Prettyman in his house, since he
kept up his friendly visits to the wife.
was sorry to cali George the second
Oldest son on the stand to testify. You all
know how fair he tried to be when he gave
his testimony between the father and
mother. Is it reasonable that man
should come ten or twelve times day to
see the wife. He takes his woman. who
he said he employed rs a ervant, to go out
waikiki 6 with her to pick violcts
There Is another emarkable fact; ass
bill gets into Georges hand to purchase Il
suit of clothes Then the family had to
go to Philadelphia to purchase the suit
Dr. John on said that u man should keep
his friendship repaired at least once a day.
Iid you notice how Williamson cast
amorous glauces at Mrs Prettyman
tifying He was all smiles. He has
treated this trial us huge joke. Well.
gentlemen of tho jury, We depend on you
to give us the last laugh. Williamson had
no goods stored at Eighth and King
streets, whichis worse than ever Dono.
van, one of the witnesses says that he saw
Williamson and Mrs. Prestyman in a
room together and out walking together,
arm in arm. and putting their wheels to-
gethar up on tho porch.
Then thare Is Ambrose McVoy, another
witnes' testified that he saw Williamson
there several times IN room alone with
Mrs. Prettyman. All we have got to
show you is that this man Ia responsible
for breaking up this mans homo A man
don't shoot in and out of % house II he
isn't there on business and wishes to let
But no, he Williamson, left by the front
door when Prct,yman went up the alley
way coming home from his work, He was
too mean to have wife of his own. lie
doDendod on other mems wives. We have
shown that this man gave MRS. Pretty
man ring The boy says yes.,, The mo-
ther and Williamson say no. The defend
ant said was always nice to the ladies.
He recit.d Annie Held song, which Iuns
something like this: Oh, won't you come
and play with me, have such i nice way
with me.
He went over to see Mrs. Prettyman to
watch the baking Of the pies and bread.
Did he have to go over to the house so
often? l don't think so. don't think any
nf my p.d fria dc t,,h
such q friend about the house with you.
My learned friend will got up iu his fight
Of ocatoricalQability and tell you thit t we
don't want to have such u suit trleu in
this Court But we want you to bring in
q verdict for us.
MR.. COOPER SPEAKS.
Mr.. Cooper-Gentlenen OF the Jury, it |
seems to me that this il hardly the kind of |
u case that should bring smile on the
face Of my colleagues or on the face OF those
who have been present from day to day eS-
pecting to hear some,h hing sensational or
smutty. There is nothing trivial In this
case. Do you want to send this woman
and her children hence branded as persons
with crime.
The whole charge Is q case Of black mail |
Think of State of over IL hundred years
old that counsel for the first time have
the ,emerity to bring such a case into our
courts Think OF 1t, gentlemen, well. |
This is only class of these damage suits
that have become n menace to commun.
lty. No man with property shall be safo,
trust the walls Of this building shall
crumble before a jury is drawn to try an
ether such case, which has already occu-
pied four days Of the courts time.
The case is clearly one of black mail.
The plaintiff Is charged with alternating
The wife's affections. Going off to Atlantic
City, and co-habiting together and do
ng other things that are too mean to
state. The plaintiff has nothing at stake,
40 has lost the respect of his wife and has
10 love for his children, and when lis wife
'efused to support him he then goes off
md tries to fllch from another man a few
lollars. Gentlemen, if you render any
lamageS in this case We shall say you
must render 1t on the evidences presented
before you. What kind Of u man was hep
Hedidn't know by ten years when he
was married. He stated that no was mar.
led ten years after his oldest child was 10
,ears Of age He said that he had been OK
mined for an Insane Asy ,um, but was not
fit patient and tells It without even
remor in his voice Ho then rcctcd how
w cnp6, ,ptal IN UrHnary atnrn In DbH,