The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-07
RESENTED HIS TESTIMONY
An Angry Woman Attacks Wit
ness in Divorce Case.
MrH. Elizabeth Griffith Throws nm
lax Well at Thomas Sweeney and
Strikes Attorney J. c. GittinEs. Her
Counsel Quilted With Didirulty.

lax Well at Thomas Sweeney and
Strikes Attorney J. c. Gittings, Her
Counsel Quilted With DiGiruIty.
a sensational scene was enacted in
the office of Attorney Rutledge Wilson.
Ace Fifth Street northwest, about noon
yesterday. when Mrs. Elizabeth Griffith
took exception to a statement of one of
the witnesses against her in a divorce
case and struck him in the face with
her fist. In attempting to strike the
witness with an ink well Immediately
afterward. Mrs. Griffith struck her at
torney. John c. Cuttings. severely lacer-
ating his face.
The affair was chapter in a divorce
suit instituted by Mrs. Griffith against
her husband, George NJ. Griffith, a
watchnan in the Interior Department,
over a month ago. The bill for divorce
was filed in the Equity Court, charging
Mr.. Griffith with cruelty and with
threatening the life of the plaintiff.
Mrs. Griffith alleged that Immediately
after their marriage, December %, 1899,
the defendant began to abuse her, ac
cusing her of infdelity, ana finally
beating her and threatening her life
Mrs. Griffith alleged that treatment of
that character continued until the be-
ginning of the present year, when she
sued for a, divorce John c. Cuttings
was retained as her attorney.
When the case came up in court Judge
Bradley appointed Attorney hutledge
Wilson a special examiner in the case
and directed that testimony should be
taken by him. Griffith had in the mean
time filed a cross bill making several
charges against his wife, alleging that
on one occasion she turned him out of
her house. It was this cross bill that
was being heard yesterday when the
trouble occurred.
Griffith. with his attorney. w. Preston
Williamson and his witnesses. repaired
to the office of Examiner Wilson shortly
before noon. Soon afterward Mrs Grif-
fifth and her attorney arrived. Several
Witnesses were examined. and finally.
when Thomas J. Sweeney. who lived in
the same house with Mr.. Griffith. was
called. the plaintiff is alleged to have
become agitated. Attorney Williamson
made a searching examination of the
witness, during the course OF which he
asked question which is said to have
aroused the plaintiff to such a degree
that she struck Sweeney blow in the
face. Before she could be restrained,
It is said, she threw an inkstand at
Sweeney, just as her attorney stepped
between them. Mr.. Cuttings received
the full force of the blow just below
his right eye. cutting and bruising the
side of his face and bespattering him
with ink.
Several of the witnesses and the at
torneys attempt to quiet Mrs. Griffith.
She was finally subdued and conveyed
to another room. where every effort was
made to quiet her.
Mr.. Wilson notified Mr. Williamson
that IT would be impossible to continue
the hearing until Mrs. Griffith became
quiet, and at the suggestion of the at
torney the case was postponed. In the
meantime. under instructions from his
lawyer. Griffith left the building with |
his witnesses AS Mr.. Williamson was !
leaving, Mrs. Griffith is said to have |
threatened the witnesses, who were |
gathered on the sidewalk The attor-
neys again interviewed and the woman |
was prevailed upon 20 remain in the |
office until she had become calmer.
Attorney Cuttings was removed to a
nearby drug store, where his injury |
was dressed lie then proceeded to his |
home. His partner. John Shields, said /
he could not account for the affair. He |
said that the firm of which he is a men,
ber had been retained by Mrs. Griffith |
TO prosecute her claim for a divorce
early in February. They had filed tl;eir
bill in court, he said.
Special Examiner Wilson has not yet
decided when the hearings will be re-
--s--''d, as he does not know when Mr. |
lgs will be able to attend. The
was not seriously hurt, although |
ounds are painful. Sweeney, the |
is, still carried the marks of Mrs. |
his knuckles when he left the |
where the proceedings were held |
lE SHIPMENTS TO CEASE.