Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-01-19
Hannah Elias, the Pretty Octo-
room, Details Her Relations
With Il Millionaire
HE GAVE HER LARGE SUMS
Aged Millionaire, Even Before His
Vito Died, Often Visited the Hand
some CoIored Woman and Kept Her
In Wealthy F-ashion-says the Money
Was All Given Voluntarily.

0ctoroon who he says, has blackmail-
Cd him to that extent had rested We'd
nesday afternoon, and Ex-Governor
Blacks motion to dismiss the case had
been denied, Mrs. Elias was called to
the stand to testify In her own behalf
She took the oath in a self possessed
and jaunty manner, and settled COM
fortably In a chair to tell all about her
relations with the aged millionaire,
whose money had made her rich. She
did not remove the heavy fur coat, or
release her sod-mounted handbag.
The woman. told plain story of her
first meeting and subsequent life with
Plat without display of shame. She
spoRe calmly as IL there was nothing
extraordinary about 1t, of how Platt
showered her with money and bought
house after house for her.
In all she admitted receiving over
100000 from her aged admirer. The
bulk Of this was invested in real estate
on the advice Of Platt, but at the time
the suit was begun she had over $751;
600 in the bank, which she withdrew
and turned over to a friend, a white
man named Donovan, In whose hon
esty she has the most implicit conf
dence.
In her examination the woman told
how she hal paid handsome fees for
attorney services, and indirectly stated
that the present litigation had cost
her $4,000. She did not come thru
her ordeal unscathed, as she was fore
ed to admit that she once served q
month in the nenitentiary, on Black
wells island, and prior to that four
months term in the penitentiary In
Philadelphia, for larceny.
Began as Cook.
Prior to her taking the witness stand
side light had been thrown on her
earlier days In New York by other
witnesses. :Sht, had received 81 a week
as cook in negro boarding house, and
later became an inmate of n question:
able habitation.
How long ago did you meet Mr..
Platt?" About nineteen years ago. I
was then %, I met him on the street.
Fourteenth street and Sixth avenue.
He asked me to meet him the next
day at a questionable house. / met
him and he gave me $500 to get clothes.
He sent me to- Pop Miller's' on Thir-
ty-first street, and he paid $40 a week
board for me-"
How long did you live there?"
"About two years. He gave me $500,
$500, 5000. $1,000, every now and then.
/ showed him my bills, and he always
paid them. He told me when 1 first
met him that I reminded him of a
colored girl named Irene whom he had
known down SOUTH"
Mrs. Elias said that during her
changes of residence Mr.. Platt came
and called on her. She declared she
never lost trace of Plat. They put
personals III the papers when he was
meetings OH his return. She had NOV
cd from Fe'rtieth street to Third ave-
nue., then to 145 West Fifty-third
street, which she rented, Mr.. Plat
paying SIS IL month. He also rented for
her the house at 142 Fifty third street,
and finally purchased the house at 13S
West Fifty-third street.
"Mr, Plat bought 1873 West Fifty
third street for you?" asked Mr.
Black.
YES" she answered, "he bought 1t
and gave it to me as a present when
got a divorce from my husband. He
paid $4,000 for it."
The witness said that she told Mr.
Platt that her husband blackened her
eyes, beat her and continually abused
her. Thereupon Mr.. Plat urged her
to get a divorce.
Objects to Her Negro Neighbors.
Mrs. Plat said that on the day she
got her divorce the PLAINTIFFS lawyer
and Mr.. Nanz drank champagne unit!
midnight. Mr.. Platt went home before
that
Mr. Plat wanted you to move out
of Fifty-third street?"
yes; he said there were too many
colored people in the street and he
bought the house at 70 West Sixty
eighth street. 1t cost s29,5OO."
Did you have these houses furnish
ed and decorated?"
Eyes, and Mr.. Plat helped me Sc
lect the 6.raloeries."
How often did Mr.. Platt call on
you?"
Three on four times a week"
How Gid you happen to get the
house at Central Park, west?"
Mr.. Platt suggested that 1 get a
house there. as there were no houses
on the opposite side of the street from
which he could be seen going in
How much did you pay for the Cen
trail Par west, house?"
'Forty-five thousand nine hundred
dollars"
What was the next house you
bought?"
mo. 16S West Seventy second street.
Mr.. Plat. asked me not to get that |
house, as his daughter lived in Sew
enty-first street."
But you bought it?"
Eyes. and paid $4,000 for It,"
Was Mr.. Plat giving you large
sums of money them"
Yes; sometimes $4,000, $4,000, ST.
600 and sums like that. He advised me
to invest 1t In real estate"
When did you go to 434 Lenox av-
enue?"
After Andrew H. Green was assass-
mated. Mr. Plat advised me to move
away, as he did not dare call on me
because of The notoriety brought about
by the shooting of Mr. Green"
An insane, negro infatuated with Mrs.
Elias misteok Green for John R.
Plat and shot him.
did Mr.. Green ever call at Cen
trail Park YVest?'
II never saw Mr.. Green in my life"
Ex-Governor Black led his client