Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-12-07
FLORENCE SELLS ON THE
STAND As A WITNESS
AGAINST HER MOTHER.
FOR YEARS SHE HAS KNOWN WHAT
WAS GOING ON IN HER FAITH
ER'S ABSENCE.
HAS SUFFERED KEENLY
FOR HER MOTHERS SHAME.
HER ENGAGEMENT TO A POPULAR
AND WEALTHY YOUNG MAN
BROKEN OFF
BECAUSE OF DIVORCE TRIAL.
PUBLIC SYMPATHY AND LOVE FOX
THE UNFORTUNATE YOUNG
WOMAN.
Snecial TO the REGISTER.

Special to the Register.
COLUMBUS. O., December 6.-Flor-
ence McCune Sells, the only child OF
Peter and Mary Sells, was put on the
witness stand in chancery court to-day
and testified for her father and against
her mother.
Throughout this engrossing trial the
sympathy of the public has in the
main been withheld from both plain
tiff and defendant.
An outlet of that sympathy was
found in a general feeling of pity and
almost love for the pretty, popular
and high-minded daughter Of this lily
mated couple.
A supposed engagement to one of
the most popular and wealthy young
men of the city was brought TO an
end because of this suit, it is said.
1t was hoped that at least the girl
might not be herself dragged into the
case. There is a general criticism of
her fathers attorneys for having call
ed her as a witness in spite of the
claim that Harry Lyonss late testi-
mony could best be nullifed by what
Florence knew. For three years this
girl has known what was going on at
her mothers home in the absence OF
her father, and suffered with keen
ness with which only a pure-minded
and proud girl could feel a disgrace.
AT the separation she chung to her
father.
To-day the facts she related were
testimony for the father and against
the mother. Both parents listened to
the testimony. Florence told her story
in a clear girlish voice.
She knew Bert Johnson, who had
called at their North High street
home. on her mother. She was a lit
tie girl and when Johnson came
She was Sent to Bed.
Ned Raymour used to call on her
mother when her father was away He
called on her mother also at Clay
ton, H., where her grandfather kept
a hotel. Her mother told her OF get
ting letters from Raymour. Ray
mour had written her a letter when
she was twelve years old. and in Aus
tralia had given her mother a muff
Her father had insisted on paying for
1t but Raymour afterwards gave her
mother the money
She had seen Mr.. Lyons kiss her
mother a number of times . at her
grandmother cottage While living
at the Park Hotel Lyons called on her
mother when her father was away. On
going upstairs after evening dinner
they would find Lyons in the sitting
room
Or in Her Mothers Bedroom
When she went to bed. usually about
9 O'clock, she sometimes left Lyons
and her mother in the latter's bed
room. She had seen him kiss her
mother and SIT on her lap and had
seen her on his lap. Mrs. Sells had
given Lyons an opal scarf pin, neck
lies. some night shirts and cane.
Lyons sent them flowers.
Florence went to the postofice with
aer mother when they We're in Aus
:ralia, and knew that she got letters
lnder the name of Name E. Smith.
Her mother told her not to tell her
'ather about this Florence also got
letters from Lyons while in Australia
but none since.
Lyons had not kissed Florence in
California on the eve of the departure
Tor Australia, nor was she present
when ne made arrangements with her
mother about addressing her as Name
E. Smith. Lyons had never taken
Florence in his arms. but had kissed
her when she was a little girl. He
sent her but two letters while she was
in Australia and none since.
Before this trip Lyons had bought
her candy and helped her with her
lessons. Since returning to this coun-
try Lyons had never called 10 see her
IN particular. At her grandmothers
at Logan, Lyons had slept in
A Room Connected by Door.
with the one in which her mother
slept
Florence slept in her grandmother
Lukers, room. Lyons never came 70
Logan when her father was tbere
Florence carried letters from her moth
er to Lyons. They were sealed but not
addressed. She carried back answers
from Lyons. One evening when her
father was not at home Mrs. Sells and