Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-01-18
'1H[ WIFE DEFENDS SELF
Climax Reached In the Sensa-
tional Bailey-F Flinders Dam
age Suit at Cherokee
MRS. FLINDERS PREDIcAMENT
Testimony That She Did Not Love
Bailey and UNFOLDING Her Own
Honor Would Defeat Her Husbands
Case for Damages Bailey in His
Own Defense.
,nec,al TO Times Republican.

| fighting a battle in district court here,
with $4,000 as the stake, calmly took
the stand yesterday afternoon and as
calmly took sides against her husband
in the case.
Thus the real climax in the case was
reached.
Bailye Monday astonished the court
room by declaring that Flinders had
offered to let him have his wife, pro-
viding Bailey got q divorce. and pro-
viding lle Flinders, got divorce so
he could marry Maggie Veal, his cou-
sin.
Then Mrs. Flinders went on the
stand yesterday morning and corrob-
grated this remarkable story.
Trying indeed was the situation in
which Mrs. Flinders found herself in
testifying. Her husband had sued
Bailey for $4,000 damages for stealing
her affections. BY testifying that she
had not given her love to Bailey she
would be declaring against her hus-
bands interests in the suit and likely
provoke his anger.
IT, on the other hand, she would tes-
tify as her husband would wish to
help his suit along, she must reflect
upon her own record as wife and
admit she had not been true In thought
at least to her husband. And II as
Flinders has alleged, she loved Bailey
she would find herself in the quandary
of injuring his chances to defeat Film
ders' suit or else denying her true re-
lations.
She Didn't Hesitate.
But the woman solved this problem
as readily as if the many consequences
had not occurred to her. Resolutely
she declared with Bailey that there
had been no improper relations be-
tween them, that she had never spok-
en- love to Bailey; in short, that she
had done nothing unlawful to her vows
to her husband.
1t was the general impression Mon
day that Bailey made a splendid wit
ness for himself, and he seemed to
regret that the affair had come to the
present state. During short recess
Bailey sought secluded spot in the
court room and wept bitterly.
Nearly all Tuesday was consumed
with the testimony Of Mrs. Flinders
She was very pleasant, mild and Wo-
manly, and appeared to regret what
had happened. She said she had been
married eighteen years and had three
children. They were: Verla, aged IL;
Arthur, aged 16; and Vernon, aged y.
She said that her home life had always
been pleasant and the relations be-
tween the two families agreeable UNI
til last March.
Concerning trips to Chicago and
Sioux City with Bailey. she corrobo-
rated the statements Of Bailey She
said that she and her husband and
Bailey had arranged these trips. She
had written her people at what time
she would be home from Sioux City,
but none Of them were at Sutherland
to meet her. Mr.. Bailey was there and
drove her home. It was o'clock in
the evening and still daylight. Moth
ing improper occurred.
Denied Writing Letter.
Concerning the meeting with Bailey
in the little shop at the home Of Mrs
Drummer, after the death of Mrs. Brun-
ners mother, she said that was false.
Bailey took her home that night as 1t
was cold and dark and the roads bad.
Mrs. Flinders was asked regarding
the letter to Bailey which Is said to
have started the trouble, which Find
ers said he found in her home March
u. She denied that she had written it.
She and her husband had talk short
ly afterward and Sam said nothing
about the letter. He declared that
something was wrong and said:
II am lying low to get some more
evidence"
Mrs. FLINDERS thought he was merely
Joking. Bailey happened in that same
day and Sam asked him to stay for
dinner and treated him as he always
did. The first meeting, when she and
her husband, George Flinders and wife
and Bailey were present, was detailed
by Mrs. Flinders. She Indignantly de-
MED that Bailey kissed her.
Sam had knife and threatened to
cut my heart out" she said. He called
me- the yilest names he could think Of.
He kept this up every day. Finally I
told him that he had used me SO that
i
him that I could think more Of Bailey
than of him, and still not be In love
with Bailey. Mr.. Bailey never held my
hand or caressed me in any manner"
Husband Would Relinquish Her.
Asked concerning the double divorce
proposition made by her husband and
to Bailey, to allow Bailey to marry her,
she said:
"Sam told Bailey that he could get
divorce and marry me, and he thought
he could get divorce and marry Mag
gle Veal" said Mrs. Flinders
Mrs. Flinders said that at first Sam
didn't talk of the trouble before the
children, but later he did. She told OF
going into the kitchen once and md
ing her husband beating Verla with his
fist. She told him to strike her and not
the child, but Flinders Responded:
"Oh, l am too old to be caught that
way"
Beneath all of this testimony there
has been little heard Of Mrs. Jennie
Bailey the wife of the defendant. 1t
4. not known what she thinks Of the
proceedings. 1t is not known whether
she will be a witness, and she has not
been at the trial.
Miss Maggie Veal. the new woman
in the case, is a cousin Of Mrs. Find
ers. She appears to be friendly to Mrs.
Flinders, and is staying with her at
the Lewis hotel with the daughter.
Verla.