The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-02-24
That Is Price Put on Mrs. Son
degard's Affections.
Husband Tells His Story in
District. Court.
AFFECTIONATELET
DR.. Martin, the Defendant, De-
mics Its Authorship.
Tells About the Jealousy of Mrs.
Martin.

The trial of ]. P. Sondegard against
DR.. F. H. Martin for $4,000 for alien
ating his wife's affections occupied the
entire day in the Shawnee county dis
trict court on Thursday.
Mrs. Sondegard was formerly a
nurse at Christ hospital and while she
was i'll there DIR. Martin says he made
her acquaintance. Jealousy" he de-
clared, land some personal feeling on
the part of some of the other nurses
started some talk at that time"
Mrs. Sondegard was removed from
the hospital and did private nursing
for DR.. Martin over the city. Talk
concerning the relations of the two
continued and he employed her in his
Office as a clerk.
Mrs. Sondegard then entered a suit
for divorce from her husband, J. p.
Sondegard- He contested the case,
and was granted the decree. A few
days later he sued DR.. Martin for
$4,000 for robbing him of his wife's
affections.
one of the main points brought out
yesterday on the part of the plaintiff
ter alleged to have been written by
DR.. Martin to Mrs. Sondegard. 1t was
full of such expressions as, Sweet
heart, must see you in two weeks
i
gether again. "can you doubt my
love" and similar phrases.
Did you write this letter." asked
Captain J. G. Waters of DR. Martin as
the latter was on the stand.
mo, did not. may have written
parts, but the rest of that slop was
built around it by some one else
What part did you Write?'
ST do not admit to writing any of it,
but I may have written Mrs. Sonde-
gard a letter. engaging her services as
that letter you have, may have gotten
hold of mine and added stuff to it.
But did not write that letter"
What became of the correspondence .
between you and Mrs. Sondegard2'
"All that correspondence was burned
by agreement replied the doctor.
Questions were then directed at him
concerning the happiness OF his own
was mrs. Martin jeaIous?'' asked
Major Harvey, who defended DR.. Mar
ssshe was very jealous indeed Of ev-
cry nurse, but especially of Mrs. Sonde-
gard
'Did you have much trouble at
homer" was asked.
why was practically driven out Of
my home,' was the answer.
"Why?''
Somebody always telephoned Mrs.
Martin all sorts of stuff do not know
who it was. She claims to have re-
ceived letters which I wrote to Mrs.
Sondegard and Mrs Sondegard to me.
These she would not show, always say
ing they were, very affectionate'
Captain Waters broke in with this
question on cross examination: Did
you choke Mrs. Martin in trying to get
one of those Ietters2'
NO SIR was the answer.
ION Mrs. Martins deathbed did you
promise her that you would cease your
attentions to Mrs. Sondegard?"
''I told her that 1 would not employ
her as a nurse any more, and did not,
was the answer.
Captain Waters then switched sud
denly and leaning over the rail asked
Dr. Martin this question: Did you
ever have criminal relations with Mrs.
mo. sir answered DR.. Martin very
emphaticalIy. Il did not" The witness.
showed himself to be much angered at
the question.
The plaintiffs lawyers then turned
to some minor details of the trial.
Mrs Sondegard was called by the
defendants attorneys, but her right to
testify was objected to by the plain,
tiff, on the ground that the decree OF
her divorce from J. P. Sondegard has
not vet been made absolute, several
months still have to elapse- Judge
Dana sustained the contention.
Norman Lester, next to the prin-
cipals. was the most important wit
ness put on the stand yesterday. he
is the brother of Mrs. Sondegard.
According to his testimony he has
been in Topeka during the last few
years practically all the time that
Mrs Sondegard was here, and spent
much time in DR.. Martins Office,
where Mrs. Sondegard is now eH-
pIoyed as assistant
He testified that he never saw any
thing wrong between the two; that he
read many of their letters; and that
their conduct was in every. sense
proper. He is a young man about 8
Waters & Waters and Richard
Brock of Manhattan are the plaintiffs
attorneys, and Harvey & Osborne rep
resent DR.. Martin.
Attorneys Argue Case.
This morning at o'clock the arguments
in the case commenced. r. f. Brock OF
Manhattan opened for the plaintin- he
reviewed the facts in the case. he was
followed by Ned Osborn for the defense
John Waters then spoke for the plain
tiff 49,, 49,. -.
Major A NJ. Harvey and Captain J. G.
Waters. The former used most OF his time
in pouring invective upon J. r Sonde-
gard. husband of the woman with WhoIn
Or Martin is accused of assOciating-
CaDtain Waters opened at u:S0 o clock
His sDeech was characteristic and sensa-
tionaL 1t bristled with epidermis peel
ere p as did the famous skinning of John
j. ingalls, several years ago against a
nrorninent Kansas politician. The captain
let himself loose with vengeance
number of ladies who were in the court
room left and, one passed out, she
said: HE will have the whole court room
empty pretty soon
Weather Indications.