Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-21
HARTJE DIVORCE SUIT
CASE FOR THE RESPONDENT
PRACTICALLY CLOSED.

Charges OF crooked methods, made by
both sides. were feature OF the sensational
Hartje divorce .ase during its hearing In
Pittsberg yesterday after The Stars re-
port closed. What are apparently a series
of legal victories for Mrs. Hartje. the re-
spondent in the suit, also marked the days
session, and eliminated in the admission
of the confessions of Clifford Hooe, the col
ored coachInan, In which he is said to have
declared that he lied when he swore that
he had improper relations with the re-
spondent. This most important point was
not gained until after a bitter struggle be-
tween opposing counsel, which lasted over
an hour and half and during which At
torney Ferguson made many sensational
threats.
With the offering of this confession and
of several other documents today the case
for the respondent was practically closed.
although Attorney John Freeman of Mrs.
Hartje's counsel, told the court that he
might have some new matter to present
later An adjournment was then taken un-
til Monday morning.
Battle of Argument.
. There was terrific battle OF argument
when counsel for Augustus Hartje tried
to get stricken fr m the case the evidence
concerning Hooe given by John l.. We'll
shons, Hartjes close friend and the wit
nesses who followed him.
Attorney ]. Scott Ferguson led the argu-
Mrs. Mary Scott Hartje Attorney John M.
Freeman, chief of counsel for Mrs. Hartje,
replied sharply and was reinforced with
typewriter and carefully prepared papers
to establish his contention that the evidence
was proper.
Judge Roberts Frazer gave the counsel
for Hartje no encouragement, and finally
ordered that the evidence be considered and
I'D "a q ~ nf hn nYavln oirc
counsel had difficulty in agreeing upon a
statement of fact to be considered, upon
which the conclusions of law were basedys
At the close of the day Judge Frazer said
that the four statements made by the negro
coachman would not be read in open court.
The judge said it would not be well to have
them made public at this time, and cor
rected intfmation that he was acting
solely in the interests of public morals.
Hooe has made four statement, the first
accusing Mrs. Hartje. and the other three,
made later, declaring the first to be false.
With the unexpected throwing open of
all the doors in the celebrated case sensa-
lions even bigger than those heretofore
promised are expected.
When adjournment was taken, late this
afternoon. Mrs. Hartje's side was given
the privilege until Monday of examining
the forty love letters which figure in the
case.
A kidnapping Story.
A dispatch from Pittsburg last night says:
In response to telegram from Supern-
tendent Taylor Of the Philadelphia police,
Superintendent McQuaide Of the Pittsburg
police yesterday sent two officers in citi-
zens' clothes to the home Of John F. Scott,
father of Mrs. Mary Scott Hartje, to guard
her children against kidnapping. The tele-
gram was follows:
''Rumor plot completed here to kidnap
Hartje children. Three men left here this
morning for Pittsburg. No description
Superintendent McQuaide Immediately
posted guards, and Will maintain them UNI
til the divorce case Is ended. At the same
time he sent detectives to watch all incom-
ing trains. A detective agency also sent
two men to the house, who will accompany
the two children wherever they go.