The San Francisco call., 1905-03-01
WIFE OF BUFFALO BILL" DENIES
KNOWLEDGE OF DRAGONS BLOOD
Still Loves Husband, Who
Is Suing for Legal
Separation.


Mrs. Louisa Cody, for forty years the
wife, business partner and helDmate of
Colonel ". +. Cody C'Buffalo Bill'),
the celebrated ex-scout, Indian fighter
and Snowman, to-day took the witness
stand in defense OF her character and
good name, which have been assailed
by her husband in his sensational pc
tition for a divorce and to tell her
side Of the family quarrel. Mrs. Cody
emphatically denied that she had ever
attempted to poison her husband or
that she had administered dragons
blood or any poison TO him for the pur-
rose Of retaining his love or gaining
control over him.
Mrs. Cody testified that she was mar
ried to Colonel Cody in st. Louis forty
years ago, when she was p years of
age.
AT the time we were married. she
said, Colonel Cody was employed on
the plains Of Kansas as a teamster
and shortly afterward became en-
gagged as a buffalo hunter for the rail-
road contractors on the Kansas di-
vision of the Union Pacific. He killed
thousands of these animals, which were
used by the graders for meat.
In 1868 we moved TO what was then
Fort MCPHERSON, Nebr., where Colonel
Cody became a scout for the Govern
naent. We lived al Fort Mcpherson
FOR several years We were poor in
those days and l did what / could to
assist in supporting the family by tax
ing in sewing. Colonel Cody and l
cid not have serious trouble during our
residence at Fort Mcpherson.
CoDY's STAGE CAREER OPENS.
The Colonel went on the stage in
1874 and shortly after this he took US
a 10 y -1-.aF- ~cl
Tor four years. At the expiration of
this time we came back TO Nebraska
and located here at North Platte. We
bought property here from time TO time
with earnings Of the Colonels show
business. In 1898 We purchased our
residence here in town. This was fixed
UP in good style and 1 prepared to
welcome my husband home from Eng
land, where he had been touring with
his show"
Was this homecoming the occasion
Of the big Banquet rendered by the
citizens of North Platte to the
Colonel" asked Attorney Hailigan.
Mrs. Codv. did you ever administer
h drug 10 Colonel Cody. or any liquid
ithat would injure him2"
No, sir; 1 never did"
You frequently dOctOred the colonel
when he suffered with minor ailments
aid you not?"
Yes. sir; [ doctored him and gave
am different kinds Of medicine for his
bttle troubles when he drank"
Did you ever administer dragons
blood for the purpose of making the
colonel love you more and other women
Jesse"
No, sir: and I don't know what
drsgon's blood is. Never saw any and
never heard Of such a thing"
y Did you ever give the colonel any
thing to make him sick?"
No. sir"
sDid you ever poison him."
NO, sir"
DOG POISONING UNINTENTIONAL
: Replying to further questions, Mrs.
Cody declared she had never told Mrs.
Boyer "a witness for the plaintiff) or
any other person that she had ever
5rugged her husband 20 make him love
aer or to gain control over him so that
he would sign certain papers for her
she also denied that she had ever pois-
oned any Of the colonels dogs inten-
tionally.
Il told the men at the ranch" she
explained, TO put out strychnine or
ether poison for the rats, which were
getting bothersolne, and accidental
" the colonel's dogs got some Of the
poison. One ct the dogs in particular
OF which the colonel was very fond and
which I liked myself for that reason,
was killed, and l felt very badly
over it."
AIRS. Cody acknowledged she had
punished her children whenever they
needed it," and had castigated them
with small riding whip.
Mrs. Cody denied that she was ever
intoxicated as had been alleged by
witnesses for the plaintiff. She never
drank liquor except for medicinal pur-
poses, she said. ard never used profane
or obscene language.
STILL LOVES THE COLONEL.
DO you still love Colonel Cody?'
asked the attorney.
-'Yes- he is the father Of my children
and I love him still
DO YOU desire a reconciliation at
his timer"
Yes. ! 90: but l think that the Col
mel ought to retract the poisoning ac-
usation."
Would you be glad to see him now 90
Yes, ! would gladly welcome him
cne"
ibid you ever complain to Mrs. Boy
about the conduct of Colonel Cody?"
Nc, sir"
MD you ever tell her the names of
women with whom you thought
colonel was intimate?"
70, sir"
Did Colonel Cody give you this
rth Platte ranch and city proper
Yes. sir and when he did he said: