The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-04-26
WILMINGTON DELAWARE, THURSDAY.
MRS. CLARKE
ON THE STAND.
A Gaping Crowd in Court
Listens to the Con-
tents of Letters.

! Pittsburg, Pa, April 25.-Family
secrets told confdentially in love
letters which passed between James
King Clarke and Esther Bartlett
before and after their marriage were
laid bare to gaping multitude
during The progress of,heir divorce
t.ial to-day.
Before any of the letters we're
read there was a consultation of
counsel and certain sentences, it
was agreed, should be marked and
stricken out. These were ofninor
Importance, and their elmiration
made little difference.
The most important letter was
the one in VIII ch Mrs. Clarke
wrote LET me come to the ranch
and we will bum together"
This and others were read to
Mrs. Clarke. who was on the stand
almost all day. The torture she
underwent was a repetition OF that
ofycsterday, and was depicted on
her countenance Attorney Goeh-
ring, while forced to occupy the
position of prosecutor, pitied the
fair respondent and Intentionally
overlooked several matters that he
might have brought out. Dur
ing the reading OF the letters Mrs.
Clarke broke down several times
and wept.
Mrs. Clarke, after their separa-
tion, may have had a notion that
ner husband would apply for a
divorce. In one of her letters she
scores a telling point to the effect
that she had not been untrue to her
marriage vow and that her husband
could not prove that she was at
any time guilty of inide|lty.
When DR.. r. S. Sutton. of
Pittsburg, was called. Mrs. Clarke
and her father, Colonel J. D. Bart
lett, left the room. DR.. Sutton
carried with him large package
which it was stated, contained
charts or drawings intended to be
used to illustrate his testimony.
DR.. Sutton was called by the
defense as an expert.
Mir. Goehring said he would
object to that testimony. because
no physician had been present for
the plaintiffand no notice had been
given, There was a long wrangle
over the point of law raised which
Judge Kennedy could not decide.
To give himself chance to
think it over, he adjourned court
until tomorrow.
One of the letters read was as
follows: "MyDarling Old Jim: l
do feel 4 lite bit alone and when
l came up here tonight | remind
myself Of Lots in the Streets of
London When arc you coming
back2 | fear people will be- in to
think my husband is myth; but
aside from that | miss you, Jim.
really do, and | am not lying either. |
! realize that | have pretty good
husband, and | care more for you
than thought. Come back and
I'll prove it | had a telegram !
from Bess (her sister, to day and |
size may come Thursday. but l do
hope you will be here by then. I
hope you got the telesrams all
right, also that your father is much
better. Give him my best love.
Ifthey think it odd that l did not !!
come l hope you have not let them
see you were out Of sorts. Now
hustle back and we'll have jolly
good time. Give my love to every
one and keep lots for yourself
With best OF love and kisses and a
wish to see you very soon, l am
your loving wife. ESTHER"
+ Ono of Mr.. Clarke's letters 10
his nancee read.
"Thc announcement OF our
engagement has caused a derned
lot Of surprise here in Pittsburg
the older set, who had
never suspected the occurrence.
But | expect, dearest. to hear of a
good many people being surprised.
By all means, darling, have Mac
;ome down. l don't know how
lnyone could be so mean as to
suspect him of standing in ny
way. Mac, | tell you, is a mighty
rood fellow, and Iknow that you
10 not think he loves you any
norc than I do. You deserve all
he attention that you Can get. l
want you to have good time
Turing the briet period Of our ro-
nantic engagement. Here in Pitts
'urg | see lots ofgirls, but I rarely
nal e any call"
NOTED HEALER IN TOWN.