The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-02-05
Mrs. Elder Falls in Her Hah,as
Corpus Proceedings.
Former HELP AGAINST HER.
They Testify 10 Many IniIscIstIons with
tas,sI, a Male Friend Mrs, Cuspa
Says Hu.blnd kblndo,at Her.

Few York, Feb. 5.-Possession of her
three young children was denied 10 Mrs.
Katharine Elder for somo months at
least. by the order issued yesterday by
Justice Gildersleeve in the Supreme court
Habeas corpus proceedings were brought
by her against her husband. Francis WEI
der, OF SO West One Hundred and For
tieth street
The children are John Winchester
Elder six years old; Katharine, five, and
Florence Gertrude, three.
Mr.. Elder offered the afYidavlts Of three
FORMER servants In the Elder home, who
testified as to Mrs. Elders conduct with
julius j. Cooper. They stattd that Mrs
Elder used to ask Mr.. Cooper To break
fast after her husband had gone TO work :
that Cooper and Mrs. Elder smoked Gig
arettes and drank cocktails together. and
that she allowed Mr.. Cooper TO kiss her
An affidavit by Mrs. Cooper stated that
since her husband met Ars. Elder he had
abandoned her
In beginning the proceedings TO get pos
session OF the children. Mrs. Elder states
that she and the children were living with
friends In Hartford. and that her husband
came there and kidnapped the little ones
She was In New York herself at the time.
she alleges that Mr. Elder went TO
Hartford, met tho nursegirl on the street,
told the girl that Mrs. Elder had been
severely injured in New York. and that
the sight OF the children might encour-
age her to fight of weakness and be
the means OF saving her life. The girl al
lowed the children TO go with him
on the evidence before him Judge Gill
dersleeve decided that the husband should
have possession OF the children until the
court should further order Mrs Elder
is 10 he allowed TO see them often Both
husband and wife are suing each other
for absolute divorce
Litigation between husband and wife
began several weeks ago, when ne sued
for separation. alleging that she had
abandoned him. She answered by saving
that she had just grounds for divorce
and that In the event OF such a suit she
could prove her husbands relations with
Mary Williams. once a servant in her
home.
Suits for absolute divroce were then be-
gun on both sides. Mr.. Cooper Is named
as correspondent by Mr.. Elder
Cooper's whereabouts are not known.
lie and his wife came 10 New York from,
baltimore several years ago. He Ia said
20 be son OF a wealthy merchant OF that
city.
Mrs. Elder is se years old She Is slei,d-
" dnu pretty. Win Drown nair. Her
husband is only a few years her senior.
lie is a clerk in the law offices OF Hoad-
ly. Lauterbach e. Johnson
In hts own affidavit. presented 10 Judge
Gildersleeve. Elder says that Cooper be-
san 90 win away his wifes affections In
1900. but that for the sake Of keeping
home ties Intact and avoiding unpleasant-
ness generally he did nothing. Finally
Coopers presence became so intolerable
that he ordered the man out the house
that he ordered the man out OF the house
wants. which allege many irsdiscreet acts
by Mrs. Elder.
~ remember" says Lizzie weidon's af-
fdavit. that when Mr. Cooper used TO
come 20 breakfast Mrs. Elder would ask
me what had for breakfast. ana would
say that Mr.. Elder had steaks. shops or
something else. Then she would say,
Send out and get some softshell crabs
or something's OF that kind for Mr.. Coop
err
Mrs. Margaret Cooper testified that
since meeting Mrs. Elder her husband had
abandoned her and that although he had
not worked. he WAS alwavs bountfullv
supplied with money which she believed
Mrs. Elder gave him. and that he re-
ceived Gifts which he told her came from
Mr.. Elder, hnt az which she sfterwsrd
found Mr., Elder knew not of.