The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-11-09
HENRY IS ON THE STAND
AND IS SUBJECTED At TIMES III A
FIERCE CROss-ExsMINATION.
He Rehearses the story of HIS Mar
ried Life with the Present "fs'
Harris-Other Court Cases.

Oliver n. Henry, the plaintiff in the suit
against William Henry Harris for alternating
the affections of Henry's wife, was on the
witness stand in Room 2, Superior Court,
all of yesterday afternoon. He was put on
the stand to tell the story Of his ahegeo
wrongs, but the greater part OF his tesu-
mony was given to cross-examInatloh-
Henry related on direct examination how
ne and the woman whom he afterward mar
ried, and for the loss OF whose affections he
is now suing, grew up together at CaHi-
bridge City, and how the acquaintance or
their childhood ripened into love. Henry
told a simple and at times touching story
of how ne gradually lost his hold on his
wife's affection. He was travelling man
and was away from home much of the time.
He nearly always came home on Sundays
and frequently came home through the
week when not too far away. He said his
wife's love began to wane in 1889. Prior 10
that time their home was happy enough.
During the year 1896, he said, his wife, in
stead of spending her evenings at home.
would so out when he came in from his
trips. At this time, he said. they were liv-
ing in this city. His wife would tell him
she was going over to a friends house.
he knew of Harris's alleged conduct.
On cross-examination eX-Judge Mcbride
asked Henry some very personal questions.
seeking to show that it was not Harris
who destroyed the peace and happiness of
the Henry home, but instead was the plain
tiff himself, who mistreated his wife and
nearly broke her heart. Henry denied that
he ever struck his wife, but he admitted
hat he isDr IN har hyyt he hair
once. He denied having assaulted her at
Greenville, o.. so brutally that physician
mad to be called in. He also denied that
in 1854 his wife declined to live with him
for a period of FIVE weeks because he had
knocked her down.
My wife agreed with me on the gambling
question" declared the witness when asked
as to his habits in this particular. He said
that once it was necessary for him 70 make
an assignment, and he had no funds to give
his wife when she wanted TO make some
purchases. He borrowed $40 and gave his
wife $50. He suggested to her that it would
be good plan TO take the other $50 and try
to win more. He said she remarked:
All right; II you think you can win, go
ahead"
into a game and won. Henry reated an
instance when he met his wife Unexpectedly
at Toledo. She told him she had found a
letter which had been written to him by a
woman whom he was to meet In Toledo.
The witness said his wife failed to show
this letter. and ne was of opinion that she
had 'trumped up" the charge in order TO
have an excuse for making a trip. On an
other occasion, the witness said, his wife
sent him word while ne was on the road
that she wanted to meet him at Corners
Vile. They met there, he said and had a
quarrel in the dining room at the hotel.
is II not true" asked ex-Judge Mcbride
n a ms M nh craH pr1 IN
inal assault on his daughter?" The witness
said that man had once complained &c
him of his alleged attentions to his daugh-
ter. Witness said that this occurred al
Brownsville, Pa, when he was travelling
through the East. One day he met a young
woman and they struck up" converse
tion-a perfectly harmless little talk. He
declared that about the only thing the cir
said to him was to point across the river
with the remark, THAT old house across
the river was where James g. Blaine wa:
born. The young woman also indicated the
direction in which the camp OF George
Washington was once located during revo
lutionary days.
Then on this conversation" remarked
the attorney. was built the charge tina
you had made criminal assault on thi:
young woman"
Yes" remarked the witness; that wa:
all there was of It,"
Henry declared that he was the first t.
tell his wife about this experience. He saiC
that. every. time he came home his wifi,
would ask him for new story On hts ar
rival home after the Brownsville episode h,
was asked the same question and told hi:
wife about the charge that had been mad,
against him and explained to her all ther,
| was in 1t.