The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-06-11
Mrs. CIapton Gives Her Own
Side in Suit for S5OO,OOO.
ADOPTED AN ASSUMED NAME
Much Mauet, She Secured DiVoTc, ard
Resumed Name Of Bel Before Mr..
MalIIaTd Dled.

New York, June li-Mrs Josephine
Bell Clopton was put through search
ing cross-examination yesterday by As
sistant District Attorney Osborne when
she took the witness stand in Justice
Greenbaums part of the supreme court
10 defend the action brought by Mrs.
Minnie T. Riker TO recover $5OO0oO dam
ages for alleged slander. Mrs. Clopton,
divorced wife of William c. Clopton. had
named her as correspondent in cross
suit for divorce.
Incidentally Mrs. Clopton declared that
she had been married TO Henry Mailard,
the wealthy chocolate manufacturer who
died few years ago. IL has been gem
orally understood that Mr.. Maillard's s
heirs made settlement with Mrs Clop-
ton whereby she received a large sum,
more than 100000. it is believed.
Sarah Bagley, the first witness called.
stated that she was formerly employed by
Mr.. Clopton and had seen Mrs. RIker
I'm his room when he was sick, She also
had been employed by Mrs. Clopton. she
said.
WAS MRS. MAILLARD THEN.
Where did she live then?" asked Mr..
Osborne.
why. at 300 West seventy-hfth street.
She was then Mrs. Henry Maillard.'
Mr.. THAN, counsel for Mrs. Clopton.
objected to this line OF testimony and
Justice Greenbaum declared IL irrele-
want.
mot at ALL" interposed Mr. Osborne,
"for II the defendant was Mrs. Maillard
she couldn't have been Mrs Clopton
in 1898, for Mr.. Maillard did not die until
1900.
"she may have been divorced" re-
marked Justice Greenbaum with touch
OF satire.
Michael Jerome a bootblack, said that
ON one occasion he was sent TO house
in Sixty-ninth street with a note 10 be
delivered to Mr. Clopton.
"She called this gentleman out OF bed, !"
said Michael, pointing 10 Clopton and
then TO Mrs. Riker, and she gave the
note TO him.
Mrs Clopton when she took the stand
admitted having been on the stoop OF the
Sherman residence, in which Mrs. Riker
lived, on the night of the alleged slander,
but denied using the language attributed
to her She said her relations with Mr..
Clopton. Notwithstanding the divorce
proceedings in North Dakota and here,
had been friendly and that he had called
upon her almost daily at her residence In
this city and I'm Fargo and Bismarck.
North Dakota, last September. Justice
Greenbaum held that he must recognize
the validity of the North Dakota decree.
QUESTIONED AS TO MARRIAGES.
Mr. Osbore addressed to Mrs. Clopton a
series OF questions concerning her matri-
monial career that were almost all ex-
cluded by Justice Greenbaum. To those
questions she was permitted to answer
Mrs Clopton said she was born I'm
Persia, n. Y, and was married TO
Mr.. Bell in Monaska, Wis. He died in
1873
Were you married again?" asked Mr..
Osborne.
Yes" replied the witness.
ITO whom
ITO Henry Maillard."
"Did you resume the name OF Bell
before Mr.. Maillard died?"
II did" replied Mrs. Clopton.
william G, Clopton. called in rebuttal
by Mr. Osborne, was asked, do you
know Mrs. Riker?"
Very WE'LL" he replied.
do you know her general reputa-
tion?'
Eyes; IL is good
Mr.. Clopton's examination had not been
finished when the court took recess.