The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-01-18
PLATT A STAND-PATTER
DID NOT DEERE TO SUE HANNAH
 ELIAS.
Aged New Yorker Goes on the stand and Testfles He Gave the Mcney
 to the Negreas Voluntarily.

New York. Jan. 1.-The trial of the suit of John R. Platt, the octogenerian millionaire to recover from Hannah Elias, q negress, nearly three-auarters of a million dollars, which he alleged she extorted from him during period extending over more than twenty years was begun before Justice oGorman In the Supreme Court today Mrs. Elias was not in court when the case was called. but Mir. Platt was present.
 In opening the cese for the plaintiff Attorney W. c. Warren said that Mrs. Elias sometime before proceedings were begun against her succeeded in getting from Platt a number of letters and books which would have been ex- tremeiy valuable to him in proving the case against the defendant, but he hop ed even in their absence to prove their contents and thus establish the justice of his clients claim. Former Governor Black senior counsel for Mrs. Elias, moved that the case be dismissed on the ground that the plaintiff had been guilty of inexcusable delay in bringing his complaint.
 The motion was denied by Justice O'Gorman as was another motion ask ing for a jury trial. When Mir. Piatt arose In response to q call from his counsel. he appeared to be very feeble and ls s assisA ed to a chair in the wit ness stand. Guided by questions from his counsel spoken in q very loud tone. the witness told of his first meeting with Mrs. / Elias, more than twenty years ago when as President of the Volunteer Fire Association he took the visiting California flremen out to show them good time and Recounted 5inei- dents which occurred d0ring thcff toIir friendship His story was practically the same as that told when he was on the stand in the magistrates court early last summer when the proceed ings against Mrs. Elias was begun.
 His memory was extremely poor and he could not remember the amounts of money he had loaned to Mrs. Elias.
 MT. Platt told of many times when he gave Mrs. Elias money in various amounts to settle bills which she told him might result in lawsuits if not paid. He made these payments because he feared that if any of tho cases should set into court his name would become involved and his realtlons with the woman would become known He had been actuated entirely by a desire to avoid publicity.
 Throughout the entire examination hts lack of memory was apparent and nearly all of his statements were of a general nature. Mir. Black handled the witness very kindly in his cross exam nation his apparent desire being to show that any money given Mrs. Elias by Mir. Platt was given voluntary He took him over the ground covered in the direct examination without making any attempt to controvert the allega- ton that the woman obtained large sums of money from him. In answer to further questions Piatt said his re- lations with Mrs. Elias for many years were most friendly and intimate; that he never had feelings against her and that he has no such feelings now.
 You never intended to sue her?" asked MT. Black.
 "No; not until suit was brought It was not started by me, This thing got out and it came to my brothers ears and he brought suit. My property was taken away from me by trustees and have nothing now but the clothes I've got on."
 Mir. Black read from the testimony taken before police magistrate in which Mir. Platt said he was not afraid of any man and that he believed Mrs. Elias would not expose him unless she had to.
 MT. Platt conceded the testimony as read was correct, saying:
 "As the boys say. believe she would have stood pat"
 And if your brother had let you alone, you would have stood patr'
 "I would"
 '"That is all, Mir. Platt," concluded Mir. Black, and the old man left the stand.
 Mrs. Elias entered the court room during the progress of the trial accom- panied by a white man and a white wo- man. She allowed 1t to become known that her companions were q bodyguard to protect her against any possible de- monstration. The hearing was ad- journed until tomorrow morning.