Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-27
IN BEHALF OF Mr.. HUNT
Testimony Offered Today in
Bassett Divorce Suit.
MAY ARGUE CASE TOMORROW
Continuation Of Reading of Deposi-
tions for Complainant.
FACTS ON CR0sS-EXAMINATI0N
Testimony Bearing on Visit to Allan
tic City-Statement Written by
the Correspondent.
MAY ARGUE CASE TOMORROW
FACTS ON CR0ss-ExAM1NAT1oK

the Correspondent.
In opposition to the testimony offered by
the witnesses for Charles C. Bassett. in the
suit for absolute divorce from his wife.
Fanny Rice Bassett, in progress before
Justice Gould in Equity Court No. 2. At
torney Henry E. Davis, counsel for Rev. E.
Lawrence Hunt, former pastor of the
Washington Heights Presbyterian Church.
who Is involvV In the case as corespon-
dent, presented number Of dispositions
tending to disprove some of the most dam
aging testimony against the codefendant.
Attorney Colladay. for Mr.. Bassett con-
cluded his reading of testimony late in the
afternoon, and 1t is understood that the
hearing of testimony will be finished before
the court finally adjourns for the day. SO
that the arguments may be taken up at the
opening session tomorrow morning.
Citing the testimony of only one of the
servants in the Bassett home as an example,
Attorney Davis presented the dispositions of
Mrs. Louise M. Smithe and Mrs. Lucy B.
Platt. both OF which were to the effect that
May IL. 1904. the day on which the Bassett
cook testified that Mrs. Bassett spent the
day In her room sick. she (Mrs. BassetD
was at the Founding Hospital May party.
at the hospital on 18th street, assisting at
the Ice cream table and in her usual good
health.
Testimony of Physician.
DR.. Herbert L. Gray testified that he
was residing at the Morse house in Bal
timore while Mrs. Bassett was there, and
further that Hunt did not spend a night
in the house while she was there be-
IN ha FOL do
clared that he went In and out of Mrs.
Bassett's room at liberty four or five
times day. While Mrs Bassett was 1T
the hospital witness and Hunt took
charge Of Mrs. Bassett's son. who called
both Hunt and the witness uncle
Every time Hunt was, at the house DR..
Gray said that he ran up and down stairs
and into the room when Hunt and Mrs.
Bassett did not know he was coming.
and that Hunt was always perfectly de-
corus and dignified in the presence of
Mrs. Bassett. During all the time that
Mrs. Bassett was in the Morse house DR..
Gray declared he had free access to her
apartment, and was in position to know
her conduct with Hunt, and he declared
that there was nothing disclosed which
excited his suspicion. nor did he hear
any one comment upon the relations of
the couple.
Reading Of Dispositions.
When the hearing was resumed before
Justice Gould in Equity Court No. 2 this
morning. Attorney Colladay continued read
ing the dispositions of witnesses and At
torney Henry E. Davis. representing Rev.
Mr. Hunt offered .cross-examinat.on Of
certain witnesses q
The story of the case, as taken up after
the conclusion Of the reading yesterday
(which led up to about June 20. 1905, when
Mrs. Bassett was boarding with the Nc
Cracker family in Baitimore).i was placed
before the court in the deposition of Ida
M Of
She said that Mrs. Bassett and Mr.. Hunt
stayed at Mrs. Gibson's In Atlantic City
some time during the summer. and before
the couple went to Gibson's that they ap-
piled to Mrs Griffith for rooms Witness
declared that Mrs. Bassett sad she wanted
rooms for herself and husband and child.
On cross-examination it was said that Mrs.
Bassett asked Mrs. Griffith for only one
room.
Mrs. John G. Bibson of 10 South Florida
avenue, Atlantic City, testified that Mrs
Bassett and Mr. Hunt resided at her house
in June or July last year for something
between two and three weeks: that they
had two rooms, which were engaged and
paid for by Mr.. Hunt.
Both Mrs. Gibson and Mr.. Gibson. whose
depositions followed said that Mr.. Hunt
and Mrs Bassett passed as brother and
sister. and that the boy, Chester. called
Mr.. Hunt uncle"
When asked what portion Of the time Mr..
Hunt was there. Mr.. Gibson testified. well
OFF and on: was there very little: he would
go and come. and be there a day or two,
generally about two or three times week.
Identified Sketch.
Witness identified a pencil sketch Of the
third floor of his home. showing the rooms
rented to the couple. The sketch was put
In evidence, and the testimony showed that
$3.50 per week was paid for the two rooms.
Mr.. Gibson told of the appearance at hts
house. on or about July 4. 1905. Of Mr..
no ooid hn 6r0t t,a
knew about the existence of such q person.
and Of the excitement which followed.
Afterward. he said. Hunt explained that he
was protecting Mrs. Bassett, who had been
driven all rOun,. the country by her hus-
band.
Reading from his cross examination Of
Mr.. and Mrs. Gibson, Attorney Davis
brought out their statements to the effect
that Mr.. Bassett, after discovering the
whereabouts of his wife, had told them that
there was nothing wrong; that Mrs. Bassett
should not be put out OF the house, and that
he would pay her expenses as long as 1t
might be necessary for her to remain in the
city.
The only other witness whose testimony
was offered affecting the Atlantic City side
of the case was Samuel w. Scott, a police
in the neighborhood of the Gibson House
with the occupation Of each.
Adjournment for the noon recess was
taken when Attorney Colladay was In the
midst Of series Of dispositions of oficials
at the local post Office concerning Mrs
RaSsetts rental Of a post Office lock box
and her letters to Postmaster Merritt re-
garding the disposition Of mail addressed
to her.
A number of exhibits were offered to
show that Mrs. Bassett had asked that no
information be given concerning her letters
to her husband or to any other person. It
was shown that lock box number twenty
seven was at first rented. but that 1t was
later relinquished and that box sixty-one
was rented, Mr.. Hunt receiving the key for
1t. Other letters were read from Mrs. Bas-
sett to the postmaster at Baltimore regard
ing the disposition of her mail at various
times. The handwriting and signatures in
the various letters were identified by former
Representative FaIrchild of New York as
being that OF Mrs. Bassett.
Letters Written by Mr.. Hunt
An important part in the afternoon SEES
sion was the presentation of a long letter
written to Mira Stone. a friend o. Mrs
Bassett by Mr.. Hunt. in which the latter
summed up the whole case. In part as fol-
lows: