The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-11-07
CASE
Husband Tells Of His Wife's
Visit to Ohio Which End
ed in Desertion.
CORRESPONDENCE IN EVIDENCE
Wife Charges Cruelty and
Addiction to Morphine in
Reply to Accusations
Of Inf1delity.

Dr. Walter Wilkinson. of No. 81 Cres-
cent avenue, was on the witness stand
today in Chancery Chambers giving his
testimony in the suit he has brought
against his wife, Mrs. Emma Josephine
| Wilkinson, for divorce. The doctor
charges infidelity and names seven CO.
respondents The bill sets out that Mrs.
Wilkinson deserted her husband on July
Is, 1900, going to Ohio, and she has not
lived with him since. In her answer Mrs.
Wilkinson says that she was compelled to
leave the doctor because of his cruel
treatment. She also asserts that he is
addicted to the use of morphine.
In giving his testimony before Vice
Chancellor Pitney, the doctor said that
the understanding with Mrs. Wilkinson
when she went to Ohio was that she was
only to be absent one week He bought
her railroad ticket, provided her with
money for her railroad expenses and pin
money at Ohio.
Il went aboard the train with her. the
doctor said, ''and I said to her, I'll be
glad to get you back and she replied,
I'll be glad to get back to you
Continuing, DR.. Wilkinson testified that
he remained on the train until it was
about to leave, when he kissed his wife
farewell. He jumped on an iron rail be-
side the window at which she sat and
kissed her repeatedly through the win
dow.
II remained on the rail- said the doc
tor. "as long as I dared, and as the train
left the station kissed my hand several
times to her.
Senator William Brinkerhoff, counsel
tho af cfo of
ceedings put in evidence a number of let
ters from Mrs. Wilkinson to the doctor
during her stay at Columbus, Ohio These
were to prove that Mrs. Wilkinson was
on good terms with her husband at the
time. The lawyer was about to read them
when Mrs. Wilkinson's counsel, Mr.. W.
c. Fisk, requested him not to do so. They
were admitted to evidence and the Vice
Chancellor read the letters himself The
first one was dated July q and the last
August 9.
did you receive another letter from
her?v asked Mr.. Brinkerhoff of the doc
tor.
"Yes. received one from Summit
which was dated August 15,', was the re-
ply.
Have you that letter?' asked Mr..
Brinkerhoff.
mo. sir. I destroyed it, but I know
what it contained. In it my wife declared
that she was not coming home, and that
she would never live with me again no
matter what should do.''
why did you destroy that letter." in
terrupted the Chancellor
Because I knew that she did not write
it. l knew that she must have written it
at the dictation of some other person. 1t
made me mad to think of other people in
terfering with my affairs
what reason had you for believing
that your wife did not write that letter?''
pursued the Court.
Because my wife was a very poor
speller and I knew that there were Ger
tain words in that letter she could never
spell without asking some person how to
do it. I kept the letter two days and tore
it in shreds and applied match to it,"
Repeat if you can something of the
contents of the letter.
"It read" said the doctor, after min
ute's reflection: (" sWalter-I have fully
decided to leave your house and never re-
turn to you again. Your actions to me
have not been'-She intimated to me that
had been cruel and that I was addicted
to the excessive use of morphine. She
wrote, The excessive use of morphine
makes your actions toward me altogether
different /"
Have you had any communication with
her or met her since that timer, asked
Lawyer Brinkerhoff.
She telephoned to me in November, last
year, saving: I want you to meet me in
New York tonight at any place you say
without witnesses. Will you do so? ]
said No: good bye and rang Oft. She
telephoned me again and said. IF come
ovcr to the house will you let me in?'
said. There are plenty oe servants in the
house, and if you ring the bell they will
probably let ycu IN. Goodbye.
Additional testimony will be offered on
Monday next.