The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-02-27
MRS. ERSKINE
ExONERATED.
Jury Returned Verdict After IS
Minutes 0elIberaiIon.
DENIED HUSBANDS CHARGES.
UleIs Of Defendant Testified That Ersklls
Threatened 10 Got Divorce BY Fair
Means Or FsuI.

New York. Feb. 7.-For the second
time within week woman sued by her
husband for an absolute divorce has been
vindicated by jury sitting under Jus
tce Scott In the Supreme court Last FRI
day Mrs.F'rancis j. Cakes, whose mill
lionaire husband sued for a divorce. was
exonerated by a jury. and last night the
jury that had been listening for two days
10 the testimony In the action brought by
John X. Erskine. Jr., well-known
lawyer. of this city. against his wife,
Marie Antoinette Beach Erskine, came
into court after an absence of but rs min
utes with verdict I'm her favor.
Mrs. Erskine was the last witness call
ed. She was attired altogether in black
was very pale. but calm and collected
and gave her testimony without a tremor
She denied absolutely that she had at
any time been guilty Of any improperly
with Ward, whom she said she had en-
gagged as a man OF all work at her home
in Elizabeth, N. j.
Did he ever kiss you or did you kiss
himy" asked John Brooks Leavitt, her
lawyer.
Never! Neverp' shrieked Mrs. Ers-
kline, her face flushing crimson.
GAVE WARD AN OPAL RING.
Mr.. Leavitt asked about her giving
Ward an opal ring. and she replied:
Il gave IL 10 him because 1 thought IL
was unlucky."
On cross examination by former Surro-
gate Ransom Mrs. Erskine admitted that
the ring had originally been given TO her
by her husband.
A number OF witnesses were called to
testify that they had seen nothing i'm
proper In the relations between Mrs Frs
Kline and Ward. one of these. Mrs Au-
gusta NJ. Wilcox, who had been a guest
of Mrs Erskine. was asked IL she had
ever seen her kiss Ward.
Never" she replied. 'If had would
have left the house Immediately"
one OF the witnesses called in behalf
of Erskine was Charles II. Aver. a clerk
in the law office Of Evarts. Won Cott &c
Erskine.
Mrs. Erskine told me-" said this wit
ness, that she would spend $4,000 on the
Elizabeth house. because under New Jer-
sey law wife owned everything that
was her husbands.
She said anybody who came 10 her
house must pay. II John Erskine was To
come out here. she said. he'd have to
pay. Tommy is knocker and he'd knock
Johnny out IL he didn't Then she said
of her own volition: III John Erskine
don't like II. he can't get divorce any
too soon. for there are three men waiting
10 marry me-
TESTIMONY AGAINST HUSBAND.
Walter R. Reach. lawyer of this city. |
an uncle OF Mrs. Erskine. called in her |
behalf, said that Erskine had come to |
him and said:
Il made mistake to marry my wife |
She Is crazy. 1 don't think there is any |
thing wrong with her: she is simply |
crazy. | will not live with her and / l
won't give her cent
HE suggested" continued the witness.
that she should go West and get a di-
vorce from him. ! told him what |
thought of him ! told him l would not /
have anything TO do with any such |
scheme as he proposed 7 was never so
shocked at any thing in my life."
DID Erskine get angry?' inquired Mr.
Leavitt
He did. He said, IF she sues me for
a limited divorce In this state | will ruin
the whole Beach family. 1 will drive
them out of the state. ] will get a di-
vorce from her and I will get II by fair
means or foul