The evening world., 1903-01-08
MRS. CHRISTIE,
STAR WITNESS.
Takes Stand in Her Own Be-
he" to Refute Her Husbands
Many Charges in the Famous
Divorce Suit.
FACE TO FACE IN COURT.

the centre OF the stage to-day in the
trial of the divorce case in which she is
both defendant and plaintiff before
Justice Clarke and a jury In the Supreme
Court.
She a a charming exponent Of the
star part-that OF a hurt and wounded
young wife. accused and accusing.
Tall, full figured, blond and blue-eyed,
with the dainty coloring to be expected
in a young wife and mother. listening
to h two-score or so accusations OF
her husband. James H. Christie, and
meeting them with a dozen, more or
less, of her own.
Sometimes she flushed hotly as she re-
PEELED the more serious charges, and
hurled her denialS at the head of the
small. s~elf-contained husband. whose
piercing black eyes never ceased thedr
scrutiny OF the wife from whom he
would be free.
Accused Wife ON the stand.
Clad in black, save for a dainty ruffie
OF white stuff at the throat. n with
her fur boa draped over her shape!y
shoulders, Mrs. Christie took the witness
etai.d in her own behalf. Under the law
she cannot testify against her husband.
she must conIhe herseit TO oefaa's VI
the charges, nslnuations anu susses-
lions OF the witnesses called IN her nus
bands behalf. regarding her alleged mis-
behavior with Wells II. Wrlsley, the
g~ray-halTed ana Harry
T. Sisson, the chubby. smooth-faced
young hkeepsle a~uctioneer.
Frederick b. House pretaced MS open
Ing by motions to dismiss or Tor a di-
rected verdict OF acquittal on each OF
the forty-eight charges made by the
husband. Charles Morschauser. the
Poughkeepsie lawyer; L. Latin Kellogg
and Mr.. Perdue opposed each motion
in turn, and the outcome Of 1t all was
that substantially all the charges were
left for the iurv To mass upon
Tben Mr. House addressed Tho ,,ru
telling them not only how unfounded
were the charges against the wife but
that he was going to prove the i'm
proper relations Of James H. Christie
with Grace Bennett. a fair Bostonese,
and other women.
Co-respOndent Bana.b.a
Whom Mrs Christie too, ~. .
Mr. Norscha ,,ser asked FRAT NJ 49,
Law he excluded FROM tho 49,. 80
.be testised. Nh. How. nna.a..n
Iu.t,oe TIA rke sa,d n. +bo,.,, =. -
late in The trial for suoh n motion hnt
Anallv sent the o~-responden from "A.
room. : . r -
Mrs. Christie testified in a plea san,
low voice. She said her household at
the Elise included her sister. two ser
wants and her two little boys. aeed
eight and FIVE respectively.
She said her first visit to Wrislev's
store was in December, 1898, when she
went to sell art novelties, shopping
bags, stationery boxes and the like.
which she had painted. Mr.. Wrisley
introduced her to the buyer. Mr.. WILL
Jams. who bought her work. This busi-
ness occasioned many calls during the
&c" ho~'
Says Husband Encouraged wrisIey
Mrs Christie ..,s ho. h,sh,,s ,rnoa
~ Si,is'e anu her husoaio urseu
her TO invite the old friend of her fam
wriS,e,, introduced ber 70 .ha nasniar
"- -. a
,na ,,as at hon Mraha na.s 1870
ANs was AZ her uusoahu suesestioh'
+, NJ y sister and Miss Byield. who was
visiting us. frequently went bicycle rid
ing with Mr.. Wrisley and Mr.. Joe sher-
~ aAu Hhie' o'fiSue'
They all seemed to enjoy 1t. and my
husband said / ought to get a bicycle.
M vvr,s,oy sa,d ,s,ara uaa saIo -
M "-.'''' S"u ~'ee GA saie oh
at the store. and MI. Cristie told him to
send one up and charge 1t to him. After
WV ieS'+A was "pe u JOIN the rest
N during the next three months we
frequently rode, a party of Ave or six
MOI tuo"
'" NV wv re.or, nron .usn,, ,,r ,,u..
weeks In July, 1893, was to finish up
some summer gowns 1 had no, had time
tn Snish hefors 7 rsmnvad NM "a 70 m HI
10 10 Amenia n""iofe l Fe'ho'eo my i~m''y
sbs SsId shs had M,ss Emm. praoro,
ridge and a dressmaker for comnsnions
sainuSSe all all q q % aS y Gonhpahions
aama trnIt part Vi ehe time 10 can
Wrisiav was .mong thu ~a,Iors n ~
prtce ana cusrnssu prine har s, =. n
aaunnt aS Oothers sls 1--WE y,.,t ner uncle ana
The dimples disappeared from Mrs,
NuIiStles citohs diu Her ldCe TOOK on