The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-19
D. PERCY MORGANS IN COURT.
NJ SBAND GIVES HIS REASON FOR
LEAVING ms WIFE.

ParsOns-Tels How Tie Carried on
His MISUNDERSTANDING OF the Wife't
suit for separation In white Plains.
he little Supreme Court room at White
Plains contained many persons conspicu-
Gus in the social world yesterday. On one
side Of the room sat d. Percy Morgan, his
mother. his sister. Mrs. Kissel, and her
husband. Randolph II. kissel. On the other
we're John r. Parsons. leading attorney
for the sugar trust; Mrs. Parsons Mrs. d.
Percy Morgan, Mr.. Parsons's daughter,
two Of her sisters. Herbert Parsons, her
brother, Tompkins McIlva!ne and Henry W.
Taft. brother OF the Secretary Of War. The
contention OF the former party was sup
ported by Attorneys Wellman and Gooch
Of Wellman. Gooch 4 Smythe. Neither
group regarded the other with cordiality.
The occasion for the social alignment in
court was the trial Of a separation action
brought against her husband by Mrs. d.
Percy Morgan.
Mr.. Taft opened the proceedings in the
middle Of the afternoon in a matter Of fact
way by explaining to Justice Keogh that
the plaintiff rested her case upon the two
grounds Of cruel and inhuman treatment
would leave for the evidence in the case
TO develop; on the charge Of desertion he
gave particulars,
Mr. and Mrs. Morgan we're married, he
said. in 1898. and for three years prior to
last May had resided in the John Jay place
at Rye. During this Period and Lcfore
they had had domestic difficulties which
eliminated on May 20, when Mr.. Morgan,
4. - 81.
Of purpose to his wife and on a false pre-
text TO his three youngest children, Edith,
John and Percy, took them from the house
to a place near Philadelphia, There he
concealed the whereabouts Of the children
from Mrs. Morgan, meanwhile making
overtures to her only through an attorney
and not communicating with her directly
until after four weeks, when he sent letter
dictated by a lawyer.
In these communications, Mr.. Taft con-
tlnued, Mr.. Morgan threatened violence
against any one who should attempt 10
recover them. Nevertheless Mrs. Morgan
recovered them, as she had a right to DO,
and since then has resided with them at
Rye. her husband meanwhile residing
elsewhere. Matters would have gone on
In this way had not the defendant visited
her homs with pistol on his person. On
account OF his conduct Mrs. Morgan be-
hsved it incumbent upon her to protect
herself and was forced into a position where
most reluctantly, she must ask adjudica-
ton from the courts.
Mr. Taft sprang a surprise on the op-
position by calling TO the stand Mr. Nor
gan himself, and il was evident that he in
tended, II possible, to esta blish his case in
the powell manner Of proving it through
the defendant The same move see med
10 say that be did not care to expose Mp.
Morgan or her blood relatives TO the trials
OF the witness stand II II could he avoided
Mr.. Morgan, who was said by the M tives
OF White Plains 10 have aged pc roe ptibly
during the last year preserved his COM
posure admirably during a trying ex-
animation. He booked oarewom. and
his lips were compressed closely in the
Intervals between questions. In regard
30 the enticemsnt Of the children from
home he readily admitted Mr.. Tafts ale
cations.
1T was a Sunday morning. he said,
and Mrs Morgan was at her fathers place
at Harrison on the Sound. At $50 drove
from the place with the children, cling
them we would go TO Quaker Ridge, where
we might do some hunting Instead OF
that drove 10 Mama ronsck station, wber
we took a train for New York and went
thenoe 10 Phiadelphia and from Phila-
delphiA TO other places in Pennsylvania
until selected a house to our liking in
THAN, Delaware county, and began the
occupancy OF 1t with them
Asked II he did not think it was cruel
treatment 10 deprive the mother Of the
children, II he did not know that worry in
regard 10 them would haraAe and pain her,
Mr. Morgan parted cleverly.
Il knew she would be deeply grieved at
their absence" he said, but l wanted to
draw her TO a new home where ! could
support the family properly on my income
and could be relieved from the unbearable
proximity Of her father.
The hypothesis Of too much father-in-
law Mr.. Morgan continued TO elaborate as
occasion offered. There was got in evil
dence then by Mr. Taft letters Of business
nature which passed soon after Mr. Morgan's
departure with the children. He was
assistant treasurer Of the American Sugar
Refining Company, the same company with
which his father-in-law was connected
hut the business relation was severed soon
after the domestic split Mr.. Havemeyer
wrote requesting him to sign. no more
checks and he replied on June s, in part
90 folloWs;
In reply to your letter, beg 70 inform you
that when Mr. Parsons secured position for
me in your company, twelve years ago. he
assured me that 1 would receive a salary
Of $4,000 In the then near future, provided
my work was satisfactory. Soon after my
appointment 1 was told by him that my work
was entirely satisfactory. but the salary has
not been raised 70 a sum appToImating the
amount epeci fed, although ! have saved
quarter Of million dollars for the company
In view OF the failure 20 receive the large
salary, / was placed In an awkward position
when contracted for the place at Rye for
took IL only on the expectation that the sal
sry would be commensurate with lie eI-
penEes
Testimony was then given as 20 efforts
for a reconciliation made through Mr.
Morgans sister Mrs. Kissel and through
Judge james Cay Gordon and John O.
johnson, prominent Philadelphia lawyers.
Mr. Taft made the witness admit that every
step he took after leaving this State was
V.Nsa -, A. aA,-i~, ~ lla IL uyxrnF Ind q