Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-01-19
HE GAVE THOUSANDS
Hanna Elias Takes Stand In
 Own Defense.
AGED ADMIRER PAID HANDSOMELY
Negress, Defending Suit of John R. Platt to Recover $6s5,OOO. Tells Her Story-TestiAed to Giving
 S162 ,OOO Without Voucher.

Her StOry-TestiAcd to Giving
 s182,OOO Without Voucher.
 NEW YORK, Jan. 19.-Hanna Elias, the negress sued by John K. Platt for S6S5O0O, took the stand in her own defense here. She told in the boldest manner of her relations with Platt. She lifted her veil as she mounted the stand, looking around the courtroom with her bold stare.
 During two and half hours of questioning and cross questioning the negress maintained perfect composure and sang froid.
 One of the startling pieces of infor- nation revealed by her was that short ly before the attaching of his property in connection with the present action she had drawn $162O0O in cash from the Lincoln National bank and given it to Patrick Dugan. an upholsterer, who had worked for her at various times. She had asked for no receipt and had received none
 Mrs Elias" Mir. Black. in opening. said. describe how you first met MT. PIatt.''
 II first met him about nineteen years ago at Fourteenth street and Sixth avenue. We went to the French Mad ans in Thirty-frst street. Then he gave me $500, said I was nice girl and told me to go to Pop Miller's and he would take care of me
 Did he give you any money while you were there:"
 "Yes. Sometimes $500. sometimes $1,000. Lots of money"
 What did he call you:"
 Irene. He said he had known girl by that name down south Did you have servants:'
 Yes"
 Did he ever give you more than $1,- GOO at time?"
 Yes. Sometimes S2O00 He was very kind to me-
 Did he advise you as what to do with the money:'
 Yes. He told me to put it in say ings bank. as he couldn't mention me in his will because of his relatives" Did you ever lose track of him?
 "Only when he went south. When he came back he would put an adver. tisement in the newspapers. It would read: 'Bessie-Tell me where you are Topper Then l would answer by put ting in an advertisement reading: Pop. per-Dime Savings bank at S:30. Bes- sic"
 Now. how much did you pay for the house at 13S West Sixty eighth street,"
 "Eighteen thousand five hundred dol lars"
 "Why did he want you to move from the Fifty-thrd street house?"
 Because it was so objectionable"
 "Why?' , "There were. so many colored people in the neighborhood,' "'
 "Why did you go to the Central parl west house?''
 Well, Mir Platt wanted me to move there because nobody lived opposite"
 Did he look at the Central park wes house?'
 Yes. He said it wasn't worth S4o, Ooo."
 "Is that what you paid for it:"
 "Yes."
 "What else did you buy?'' ! "No. 166 West Seventy second street for S49,5OO.'
 "Why did you move from 236 Cen tral park west?'
 Because of the notoriety brought or by Andrew II. Greens death."
 How about Mrs. De Craft:'
 "Well. MT. Platt came to my house in Lenox avenue very early one day fl February. 1904. I said to him. Why pepper, what are you doing here SC earlyY and he said: The devils tt pay. Mrs. De Craft has told my broth CT Isaac all about it. "Did he tell you he had wife,"
 "Yes. and two daughters. one oI whom was in Nebraska"
 What did Mir. Platt have to do with your divorce from Matthew Davis:"
 He told me to get m absolute di vorce and he would pay for it." She testified that six months after h. had become widower her aged admir- CT had made her present of his dea, wife's watch and purse. She told him she said. he should give them to hi daughter. but he replied that he love her better than anybody in all tn world