The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-01-09
WOMAN NAY ASK
100000 DAMAGES
Big Suit May Follow Pat
tersol Divorce Trial.
DEFENDANT IS HERE
Mrs. Patterson, Accompanied by Law
yer. Taking Evidence in Richmond.
WILL RELATE TO CHARACTER
Attorney Said Yesterday That Suit for
Alienation Might Possibly Develop as
q Result Of This Noted Case.
Tie Status is About the
Samc-The Trial
SoeH,
Mrs. Patterson, Accompanied by Law
yer. Taking Evidence in Richmond.
WILL RELATE TO CHARACTER


Cora Lathrop Patterson, now being sueo
for divorce by her husband, MIR. James
Patterson, of this city, accompanied ps
her attorney, Mr.. L. N. Bartlett, a prom
fnent lawyer of Omaha: interesting devei-
opments are expected in the case. MI
Bartlett said to a reporter Tor Inc iiiiiss
Yesterday afternoon at Murphy's that II
IS probable that Mrs. Patterson VIII oe-
gin suit for damages in the sum Oh sieV''''
against the person whom she oeileVes ~
RESPONSIBLE for the break between hef
bps.,and and herself, she holding that
Mr. Patterson was urged into the step OF
seeking divorce through other parties.
Should this suit be tiled, it would prop
arly come after the divorce trial, winch
is set for February or March next IN
Z Omaha, where Mr.. Patterson has taken
residence The suit would be hled mere.
Incidentally, MIR. Bartlett, on behalf Oh
Mrs. Paterson, stated yesterday AFTER
noon that the defense would raise the
question of jurisdiction in Omaha. MAIN
taining that Mr.. Patterson had taken res
tdence there only nominaiy ana Tor liie
purpose of securing a divorce, Wnile an
his business interests remained in the
East
TAKING TESTIMONY.
Mrs. Patterson came to Richmond in
the middle of last week, and was foI-
lowed on Saturday by Mr.. Bartlett Mr.
bartlett lis now engaged in the taking OF
testimony here there being twelve or.
fourteen persons in the city whose depo-
sitions he will require evidence at
Omaha when the case comes to tTlai.
This evidence, however, Will be rather
in the nature of proof of character than
otherwise. In talking of the case yeSter-
Gay. Mr.. Bartlett spoke freely. lie said:
There has been misstatement and
a misunderstanding Of this case in the
Eastern press generally. Mrs. Patter-
son is being sued on the ground Of cruel
and inhuman treatment This has been
made to appear otherwise, and desire
to correct this impression.
There has been no material change III
the status. of the case. / am here now
to take the testimony of certain wit
nesses in-tfis city to show, rather than
ANYTHING else Mrs Patterson's charac-
ter / haze taken similar evidence in
Washington from people who lived in the
same house with them. This evidence
he-e is largely in the nature of affidavits
asst will have no other material bearing
on the case than to show Just who ana
what Mrs. PATTERSON IS.
QUESTION OF RESIDENCE.
..As to Mr.. Pattersons residence IN
Omaha. the court itself will have to de-
eide this point We believe that as the
residence was purely nominal one that
the matter is not in the juridiction of the
court BEFORE which it is to come up. Mr..
Patterson has never taken residence IN
Nebraska as is required by law; when he
went West he did not even bid his son in
Washington goodbye. The laws of Ne
braska require a residence of six months
$50 far VIC have examined only few
of the witnesses who will. through their
denositions. give testimony at Omaha. /
cannot tell you their names as yet, but
!. they are people who We're closely con-
nected with the family here and who
will give evidence OF a formal kind. The
talk of correspondent in the case, we
have shown to be worthless
SUIT MAY BE FILED.
In connection with the possibility or
the filing of a big suit as result OF
the case. Mr.. Bartlett said that the wife,
should the suit be set up. would maintain
that. owing to fear of disinheritancc,
Mr.. Patterson had brought suit. The
suit therefore would be brought against
the person whom. it is alleged, was the
direct cause of the present proceedings
1t now seems improbable. however, that
this phase OF the case will come up soon,
SC at all.
Efforts were made to see Mrs. Patter-
son yesterday. but nothing could be
learned She is stopping with relatives
on West Franklin Street. and will prob
ably remain for a week or more. Mr.
Bartlett will return West about next
Monday after securing as many affi-
davits as he needs. He has progressed
slowly in this direction thus far. but
homes TO close up the work within q
few DAYS. All these dispositions are being
taken before a representative of Major
"A. r. Courtney. counsel for the plain
tin, but at Major courtney's office yes
terday nothing could be learned in refer
ence to the case
The gathering of dispositions, not only
in this city. but in Washington, is mere
~ a formal preliminary to the trial