The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-01

The hearing in the suit of Miss Isabel
NJ. Cole against Robert Burton Rodney, to
recover $685. for services claimed to have
been rendered, as companion" to the de-
PENDANTS wife. Margaret Rodney, which
was begun yesterday afternoon before
Justice of the Peace Thomas H. Callan,
was not concluded. The session of the
court was taken up in hearing thhe testi-
mony of the plaintiff and the defendant,
and an adjournment was taken to some
future day when argument of counsel will
be heard.
The litigation is a sequel to the mar
riage of Mr.. Rodney in Toronto, Canada,
on November 3 last. Immediately after
the marriage ceremony Mr.. and Mrs. Rod
noy came to Washington, and Miss Cole
accompanied them. In her declaration,
filed in her suit against Mr. Rodney, Miss
Cole alleges that she came to Washington
at his solicitation as 4 companion for his
wife. and for such service he agreed to
pay her salary of $50 per month. On
the arrival OF the bridal party in Wash
ington Mr.. Rodney secured accommoda
tions for his wife and Miss Cole at the
with his sister. Miss Lavinia Rodney, at
72S Thirteenth Street northwest.
The troubles of the Rodneys, with which
Miss Cole has been very closely connect
ed, were exploited a few days ago in the
reports of a suit for separate support and
maintenance filed by Mrs. Rodney against
her husband. In evidence of the justice of
her claim Mrs. Rodney filed certain let
tiers written her by Mr.. Rodney, in which
he referred to Miss Cole as a "varmint,"
and charged her with being the immediate
cause of the unpleasant and very extra
ordinary relation existing between him
self and his wife. While testifying yester-
day, Mr.. Rodney charged Miss Cole with
having hypnotic and mesmeric influence
over Mrs. Rodney, and stated that ever
since his marriage she had obtruded her
self between him and his bride.
Mr. Rodney began his testimony by stat
ing that he is a paymaster in the United
States Navy, with the rank of Lieutenant
Commander On being asked If he were
on the active or retired list, he stated
that his name is enormously entered as
retired" but that such entry is unlawful,
and he stated that he had dared the Navy
Department to Investigate the mater.
Miss Cole, when she appeared in court
with her attorney, James Archer, was
dressed in black and very heavily yelled
When called as witness she uncovered
her face. She is a woman of progressing
appearance, about twenty years OF age,
and spoke in low but very positive tones
in answer to the questions asked her by
counsel on either side. Her story Of her
introduction to the Rodney family dates
back to last summer. She said she met
Mr.. Rodney at Toronto. Canada and after
his marriage at his solicitation she came
to Washington as q companion to his
wife. There was no written contract in
reference to the matter, but she stated
that Mr.. Rodney had agreed to pay her
a salary of $50 per month. Her term of
service. she stated, was to continue for
period of two years. She performed her
service as companion to Mrs Rodney from
November 3, the date of her marriage,
until December % For this Miss Cole
stated she was entitled to $3.50 and had
received $21 on account, leaving a balance
of $3.50 the amount sued for. She also
stated that she left a good position in
Toronto to accept the one offered by Mr..
Rodney The latter. she said. purchased
her railroad ticket from Toronto to wash
ington.
The story Mr. Rodney told Of Miss Coles
coming 10 washington ClNeEtl very great
~ from her version Of the affair He
stated that he never saw Miss Cole until
the day before his marriage when she
called upon him at his hotel in Toronto,
with his bride elect. The latter he said.
came 10 him for some money and he gave
her 800. Half OF this amount he said he
believed Miss Cole got. : letter was Of
fered in evidence in which Mr. Rodney,
in writing of his wife's mother, stated
that he liked little Miss Cole" and IN
explanation Of this he said he had referred
to a half-grown girl whom. he saw with
his wife and her mother on his visit O.
Toronto in the summer, some months be-
fore his marriage. He Was greatly SUR
prised when he saw Miss Cole, the plain
tiff in the case, at the railroad station
ready to accompany him and his Vito 90
Washington, but at the request or his wife
he purchased q railroad ticket for her.
He denied positively that lie hal dm-
ployed Miss Cole as companion 10 his
wife and stated that since she had been
ia this city he had paid for everything
she bought because he looked upon her
as guest OF his wife Hc paid an fIaT
bills, he stated, except Gro ~ The riding
81 Smoking Jackets Reduced 10 $3.50