Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-20
HARTJE DIVORCE SUIT
MERCHANT ADMITTED CONSPIR-
ACY AT PITTsBURG TRIAL.

Following a sensational attack on the
character of Augustus Hartje. In which 1t
was alleged that he had taken two differ
ent women frequently to questionable
resort, the real sensation OF yesterday in
the Hartje divorce trial eliminated when
Judge Robert y. Frazer admitted. under
bitter protest OF opposing counsel, testi-
mony relating to the charges of conspiracy
against John L. Welshons a prominent
merchant: Augustus Hartje. the libeliant.
and Clifford Hooe. the negro coachman
now in jail on perjury charges for alleged
false swearing in the case.
Welshons who was called by Mrs.
Harttes counsel, told clear story of how
the deposition was secured from Hooe. He
said that Hooe then left the city, and tho
small sums Of money at different times.
This looked like blackmail, the witness
said. He said he might have told Hooe
that he would be sent to the penitentiary
for perjury II he did not stick to the orig
inaI story he told. Welshons story. it Is
said. comedies very closely to the state
ment Of Hooe relating to the case. which
is In the possession OF the district attorney.
Merchant Gave Negro Money.
This was the first attempt during the
trial to present evidence Of an alleged con-
spiracy, which Mrs. Hartje's counsel de-
clares was formed to defame her. Wei
shons is a close friend Of Augustus Hartje
and is accused with Hartje and Hooe OF
conspiring against Mrs. Hartje.
HoCe months ago made deposition in
which he said he had been intimate with
Mrs. Hartje. He afterward repudiated it.
and is now In jail on q charge of perjury.
Welshons told the entire story and said
that Hooes deposition was taken In his
store by Attorney Edward G. Hartje, Au
EuStuS Hartjp'S brother H.
drew Fisher. Hartje's brother-in-law.
Weshons detailed how he assisted Hooe
to get away from the detectives in New
Jersey and of the various times that he
gave Hooe money upon his demand. We'll
shons. however, declared that Augustus
Hartje knew nothing OF the fact that Well
shons was paying Hooe money and that he
never spoke to him about it.
Stuck to His Story.
Welshons adhered steadily to his story
that Augustus Hartje knew nothing of the
fact that he had given Hooe money, and
admitted that Hartje's attorneys had told
Hooe that If he was not telling the truth
they would prosecute him
Welshons foiled every attempt made to
show that he had conspired with Hart1e
to get Hooe to make the deposition In
placing Mr.. Welshons on the stand Attor-
rey John NJ Freeman, for Mrs. Hartje,
said that he did so to prove that an at
tempt mad been made to tamper with wit
nesSes.
Hartje's- attorneys made a desperate eff
fort to prevent the witness from testifying
Their protests were of no avail. Hartje's
attorneys announced they would go into
something of the kind also, and predicted
that If that branch of the case was opened
the trial would continue ten months longer
Attorney j. Scott Ferguson. for Hartje
said that they had letter showing that
the defense had taken the deposition of q
witness knowing that his testimony was
false, and that they also would show that
an attempt had been made to tamper with
witnesses.
Charge Hartje With Infidelity.
Mrs. Hartje's counsel opened up a new
line in the defense by presenting evidence
to show that Hartje had visited disorder
~ house and had met an immoral woman
there. The chief witness as to this was
servant in the house. and hot fight was
made by Hartje's attorneys against adj
Mrs. Hartje's bill of particulars and finding
that Mrs. Hartje had accused her husband
of adultery, Judge Robert S. Frazer de-
cided to admit the evidence. Attorney
Freeman, for Mrs. Hartje. announced that
Nadine is to corroborate the testimony of
the servant in the disorderly house.
More testimony on handwriting was also
taken during the day, when Samuel c.
Malone. an expert of Baltimore, was called
for Mrs. Hartje. He testified along the
same lines as those on that side which had
preceded him. He said that the writer of
the Standard, admittedly by Mrs. Hartje,
was not the author of the disputed love
letters. He admitted, however, that he
had written to counsel for Mrs. Hartje
asking that he be employed by them and
saying that If Mr.. Hartje was absolutely
certain his wife wrote the letters he could
prove this for him.