The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-07-20
Evidence Of of Conspiracy to De-
fame Mrs. Hartje
HARTJE'S RECORD SHOWN UP
Friend of Hartje Placed Upon the
Stand and Gives Damaging Tessi-
mony Against Him-First Attempt
During Trial to Present Evidence of
the Alleged Conspiracy Against the
Defendant.

Pittsburg. July 19.-Foliowing a sem
sauonai attack on the character of
Augustus Hartie in which was alleged
he had taken two lifferent women fire.
quently to a questionable resort the
real sensation OF the day IN the Hartje
divorce trial eliminated this afternoon
when Judge Robert S. Frazier admit
ted, under bitter protest of opposing
counsel, testimony relating TO the
charges of conspiracy against John L.
Welshons, q prominent merchant, Au-
|gustus Eartje, the libellant, and Cliff
ford Hooe, the negro coachman, now
in jail on perjury charges for alleged
false swearing tn the case.
Welshons, who was called by Mrs.
Hartje's counsel, told a clear story Of
how the deposition was secured from
HoOe. He said that Hooe then left the
city and the witness told of having
given him various small sums of money
at different times. This looked like
blackmail, the witness said. He said
he might have told Hooe that he would
De sent to the penitentiary for per-
story. Welshons' story, it is said COIN
cides very closely to the statement Of
Hooe, relating to the case, which is
in the possession of the district attOr-
ney.
This was the first attempt during the
trial to present evidence Of an alleged
conspiracy which Mrs. Hartjes coun-
|sel declare was formed to defame her.
Welshons is close friend of Angus
tus Hartje.
Hooe, months ago, adopted a depo-
sition in which he said he had been
intimate with Mrs. Eartje. He after
wards regulated it, and is now in jail
On a charge of perjury. WelshOns said
that Hooe's deposition was taken in his
store by Attorney Edward G.. Hartje,
Augustus Hartje's brother, and Attor-
ney Andrew Fisher, Hartje's brother
n-laW. Welshons detailed how he
assisted Hooe to get away from the
detective in New Jersey and of the
various times that he gave HoOe money
on his demand. WelshOns however,
declared that Augustus Hartje knew
nothing Of the fact that Welshons was
paying Hooe money and that he never
|spOke to him about it.
Welshors admitted that Hartje's at
torneys had told Hooe that if he was
not telilng the truth tney would prose-
cute him.
Welshons foiled every attempt made
to show that he had cOnspired with
Hartje to get HOOe to make the depo-
sition.
in placing Mr.. Welshons on the
stand Attorney John NJ. Freeman, for
Mrs. Hartje said that he did SO to
prove that an attempt had been made
to tamper with witnesses.
They said they had a letter showing
that the defense had taken the depOsl-
ton Of a witness knowing that his tes-
timonv was false and that they also
would show that an attempt had been
made to tamper with witnesses.
Mrs. Hartje's counsel opened up a
new line in the defense by presenting
evidence to show that Hartje had visit
ed disorderly house and had met an
immoral woman there. The CHIEF
witness as to this was a servant in the
house, and q hot fight was made by
Hartie's attorneys against admitting
this evidence. After a reading of Mrs.
Eartie's biz of particulars and finding
| that Mrs. Hartie had accused her hus-
| band of adultery. Judge Robert Frazer
decided to admit the evidence