Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-23
DENIES THE CHARGES
Attorneys Address in Behalf of
Rev. Lawrence Hunt.
THE RASSETT nIVnRcF CASE
THE BASSETT DIVORCE CASE
Attorney Davis Declares Plaintiffs
Declarations Will Fail of Proof.
VIEW OF HUSBANDS ATTORNEY
Quotation From Letter Of Minister De.
fendant-Charges of Unfaithful-
ness Against Mrs. Bassett.


honor of the correspondent was not done
at the instance of either of the two de-
PENDANTS, Mrs. Bassett or Rev. DR.. Hunt"
said Attorney Henry E. Davis, counsel for
Mr.. Hunt. in his opening address in the
Bassett divorce case before Justice Gould
in Equity Court No. yesterday afternoon.
F" Lawrence was the name suggested by
Chester Bassett, the son of Charles c.
Bassett' he declared, because the boy,
Chester, was very fond OF Mr. Hunt, and
he wanted the baby named after him.
Speaking further of the baby, Lawrence,
now about fifteen months old, Mr.. Davis
said the attorney for the other side, Mr.. f.
+. Colladay, had deliberately ignored it's
legitimacy, and had tried to show that Rev.
e. Lawrence Hunt must have been the
father.
The very essence of the case of Mr.
Bassett," Mr.. Davis said, RESTS upon the
assumption that the baby, Lawrence, being
born ten full calender months after Mr.
Bassett had last seen his wife, could not
have been his child, when, as the court will
be shown, hospital and medical records in
dictate that such cases of prolonged ges-
tation are of frequent occurrence.
Will Fail of Proof.
I'm fact every essential detail alleged in
the opening statement of counsel for the
other side will fail to be proved when the
he ridiculed the offering of testimony from
negro nurse girls. averaging fifteen years
In age, formerly in the employ of Mrs
Bassett, which, he said, afforded the only
basis for many of the charges against
the two defendants.
When the hearing was adjourned Justice
Gould set Monday at IL o'clock as the hour
for the reading Of evidence, and it was
agreed that the case shall be concluded at
continuous sessions of the court, even
ha To oor
into Tuesday.
After The Stars report closed yesterday
Attorney E. F. Colladay, for Mr.. Bassett,
continued his opening statement of the
case ana there were many references to
the intimate relations Between Mrs. Bassett
and Mr.. Hunt. One letter was quoted In
which Mr.. Hunt speaks of the domestic
troubles of the Bassetts and then describes
Mrs. Bassett in the following language:
The fire has only purified the purest,
clearest gold OF earth and heaven. She is,
as You Will be amazed to find her, far more
gloriously bright and serene than ever be-
fore. God means fire to purify, glorify
gold, where poor stun leaves only ashes.
am SO convinced that she will be such
an exceptional power In the social and
spiritual life of the congregation to which
God will send me IN His own best time,
that I am going to give love the right of
way. and when she Is free am going to
ask her to become my wife,"
Long Separation.
1t was also stated by Mr.. Colladay that
after Mr.. Bassett's departure from the city
on May II, 1904. on business for the geo.
logical survey, he NOT only did not see his
wife again for over one year, but that from
May II, 1904, until July O. 1905, he had little
or no knowledge Of her whereabouts On
the latter date, Mr.. Colliday stated, Mr.
Bassett finally succeeded in tracking his
wife to lodging house in Atlantic City
where she had for several weeks been oc-
cupying rooms with Mr.. Hunt It was pointed
out that at no time had Mrs. Bassett, in her
letters to her husband, told him of her con-
dition, nor had she informed him that he
was again father, and he knew nothing
OF the existence of the baby Lawrence UNI
til he surprised his wife In the Atlantic
City house.
Reference was also made by Attorney Col
laday to the testimony of one Of the wit
feet that Mrs. Bassett and Hunt were fire.
Quently seen In room together when Mrs.
Bassett was clad only in night gown. Mr..
Colladay spoke of one occasion in the Balti-
more boarding house. when 1t had been
testified that Hunt and Mrs. Bassett and
and Mrs. Bassett wasn't dressed at all.
and she was In the act of putting on a
gauze undershirt" when the witness a
chamber maid. entered the ROOM
Mr.. Colladay said that Mrs. Bassett, after
being found in Atlantic City by her hus-
one day at Hunts home and then went to
Nebraska, six months state" and there
commenced proceedings against her hus-
band for divorce, alleging cruelty and de-
sertion as her grounds.
In all. the evidence Of fifty-two witnesses
forty-six Of whom are for Mr.. Bassett and
six for the defense.