The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-07-21
CONFESSION OF
HOOE ADMITTED
Mrs. Hartie Gains an Import
ant Point in Celebrated
Divorce Case.
PROSECUTION HARD PUSHED
SENSATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS
ARE EXPECTED.
PROSECUTION HARD PUSHED

Pittsburg, Pa, July 20.-Charges Of
crooked methods made by both sides were
a feature Of the sensational Hartje di-
vorce case during its hearing today.
What are apparently a series Of legal vic
tories for Mrs. Hartje. the respondent in
the suit also marked the days session
and eliminated in the admission of the
confessions OF Clifford Hooe, the colored
coacnman, in which he Is said to have
declared that ne lied when he swore that
he had improper relations with the re-
spondent This most important point was
not gained until after a bitterly contested
struggle between opposing counsel, which
lasted for over an hour and half, and
during which Attorney Ferguson made
many sensational threats.
Defense Practically Closed.
With the offering Of this confession and
OF several other documents today the case
Tor the respondent was practically closed,
although Attorney john Freeman of Mrs.
Hartjes counsel. told the court that he
might have some matter to present later.
An adjournment was then taken until
Monday morning,
Detective Ray of the Perkins agency
and superintendent G. P. Perkins told of
the arrest of HOoe in Ohio and of his be-
ing brought back to Pittsburg, where he
m>de his confession. Attorney John Mar
ron OF Augustus Hartje's counsel put
both Ray and Perkins through a rigid
show that Hooe was made drunk and
coerced into making his confession.
Mrs. Hartje Was Present.
Mrs Mary Scott Hartje the respondent
testified that she was present when the
first deposition of the negro coachman
was taken, and that what he said there
was 'outrageOuSly false"
There was a hard battle of argument
when counsel for Augustus Hartje tried
TO get stricken from the case the evidence
concerning Hooe,. given by John L. Wei
shons, Hartje's close friend, and the wit
ness who followed him.
Attorney j. Scott Ferguson made the
argument for Hartje, and bitterly ar
Freeman. chief of counsel for Mrs Hart
Je, replied sharply and was reinforced
with typewriter and carefully prepared
papers to establish his contention that the
evidence was proper.
Evidence Admitted.
Judge Robert S. Fraser gave the coun-
sci for HartJe no encoura cement and
finally ordered that the evidence be con-
sldered and made part of the case. The
opposing counsel had difficulty in agree
ing upon a statement of fact TO be con-
sidered upon which the conclusions of
law were based.
At the close of the day Judge Fraser
said that the four statements made by the
negro coachman would not be read in
open court. The judge said it would not
time, and corrected an intimatiOn that he
was acting solely in the interest of public
morals
HoOe has made four statements. the
first accusing Mrs. Hartje. and the other
three, made later, declaring this to be
false.
Sensations Promised.
With the unexpected throwing open of
all the doors in the celebrated case, SEN
satiOns even bigger than those heretofore
promised are expected.
Adjournment was taken late this after
noon until Monday morning Mrs Hart
1es side was given the privilege of exam
lining the forty love letters until Monday.
Alleged kidnapping Plot.
kilograms received by the police to-
night indicate plot TO kidnap the two
tiartJe children. The telegram was sent
by superintendent Taylor of the Pbila-
delph1a police department and read:
"Rumor here plot completed abduct one
or both Hartje children Three men re
ported left here this morning for PITTS
burg. No description"
AS a result two special officers are on
guard about the home OF John F. Scott
rather OF Mrs. Hartje and where Mrs
HartJe is now living
The name contest at Calders is like
the weather-it's getting hot.