The Washington herald., 1906-12-05
COUNSEL FLAYS HUNT
Fulton Says Minister Broke
Up BaSSett Home.
CASE IS NOT YET CLOSED
Preachers Attorney Attacks Truth
fuIness of Statements Made by
COIOred witnesses, Who Told of
Trips 10 baltimore, When Defend
ant Went with Correspondent.

Henry z. Davis, attorney for Rev. L.
Lawrence Hunt. who is named as core
spondent in the suit for absolute divorce
against his wife by Charles c. Bassett,
concluded his argument on behalf of his
client before Justice Gould yesterday.
He opened his argument to the court
with an attack upon the truthfulness of
the statements made by servants IN the
Morse and McCracken boardinghouses in
Baltimore. and made similar comments
on the evidence offered by other eolored
witnesses in Baltimore.
Concerning the statements of Benjamin
Fairchild. former Representative in Con-
gress, from New York. which was placed
In evidence in rebuttal to the testimony
OF Mrs. Bassett. Mr.. Davis said he did
not care to waste much time with Mr..
Fairchild's statements.
I do not care to waste time with his
statements when he goes on record with
a categorical denial of the truth of every
thing offered in Mrs. Bassett's deposi-
tion. Is it comprehensive that woman
OF Mrs. Bassett's intelligence could or
would invent such an amazing series of
occurrences If there were no basis IN
fact?"
Denies Evidence Was Asked For.
Mr.. Davis treated the assertion that
Mrs. Bassett and Mr.. Hunt had paid
negro servants to keep silent as far as
their knowledge OF their relations were
concerned with contempt and ridlcule
Speaking of the charges against Mrs.
Bassett and Mr.. Hunt while at Atlantic
City, Mr.. Davis argued that absolutely
nothing had been shown to substantiate
those charges. Reading the much
quoted passage from Hunts letter TO
Mr.. Stone. Mrs. Bassett's friend, in which
Mr Hunt compares Mrs BasSett with
the purest. cleaResJ gold on earth and
heaven, which has been refined by fire.
where poorer stuff would only leave
ashes" Mr.. Davis said that this is
either the product Of pure clean mind,
or it IS the veriest rot"
Greed NJ Fulton, counsel for Bassett,
after the nOOn-day recess. at once began
his argument. He at once launched
forth into a scathing arraignment of
Hunt, whom he called that wolf in sheep
clothes"
Says Hunt Broke Up Home.
"At the very time" said Mr.. Fulton.
when Hunt should have exercised his
duties as pastor. and should have en-
deavored 20 settle the differences between
Bassett and his wife. Hunt entered their
home. while Mr.. Bassett was out of the
city. broke up the home, and took the wife
and mother away.
II this priest of God is not guilty of
this thing why does he not come before
this court and testify in behalf of the
woman whom he says he loves and pro-
poses 10 make his wife?
rs it the duty of pastor to take
wife and mother from her home, travel
about the country with her, and conceal
her whereabouts from her husband?
Mrs. Bassett claims that Hunt always
acted the perfect gentltman towards her:
that she never went out in Washington
with him. and that Hunt never asked her
to go out with him. Your honor, this is
dlsprOved by the testimony of the clerk
at the Hotel Varnum, who has testified
that while Mrs. Bassett was a guest at
the hotel, he saw them go out together
on numerous occasions and did not see
them return.
Says Evidence Was Good.
Counsel for the other side would have
US believe that the evidence of all Of the
eolored witnesses in the case should be
disregarded simply because OF incon-
sistencies so slight. as discrepancies in
time, IN the location of doors and other
little insignificant and inconsequential
circumstances.
Mrs. Bassett's actions with Mr.. Hunt
Immediately after Mr.. Bassett's depar-
ture from the city and right after Mrs
Bassett had promised her husband she
would respect his desires about seeing
Hunt no more were held up TO scOrnful
comment by Mr.. Fulton
The case will be continued 1n-dau