The Washington herald., 1906-11-27
Witnesses Say Preacher Wis
tied Mrs. Bassett.
CHARGE OF BRIBERY MADE
Testimony Brings Out Fact that on
One Occasion Minister HID behind
Door While Defendants Husband
Was Led Into Another Room SO
the Visitor Could Make His Escape.

Z. Lawrence Hunt, pastor OF the Noble
Street Presbyterian Church, Brooklyn,
was presented to Justice Gould yester-
day in the suit Of Charles C. Bassett for
/ absolute divorce from Mrs. Fanny Rice
/ Bassett
To-day the reading Of the testimony
will be continued and concluded. and IL is
| expected that the arguments of Z. F.
Colladay, counsel for Mr. Bassett, and
Henry +. DAVIS counsel for Rev Mr. Hunt,
the correspondent, will take up the great
er part Of to-morrow's session. The tes-
timOny read before the court yesterday
was taken before an examiner, and Henry
E. Davis. representing the correspondent,
/ presented an answer denying the allega-
tiOns cited
It was shown in the testimony that
while in this city. the Rev Mr.. Hunt
visited at the Bassett house, and that he
was on very friendly terms with Mrs.
Bassett At the time the Bassetts had
apartments at the AlbemarIe, the testi-
mOny seems TO show that MT Hunt visit
ed Mrs. Bassett at her apartment at all
hours Of the day or night. At the time
these visits were supposed to have been
made, MI Bassett did not live at the
AlbemarIe One witness testified that
Mr. Hunt called most every morning"
at the Albemarle soon after Mr.. Bassett
went to the Office, and that Mrs. Bassett
used to tell witness when Mr.. Hunt came
in, not TO tell Mr.. Bassett and gave wit
ness money for not telling that Mr.. Hunt
had called. II is also stated that Mrs.
Bassett gave luneheons for Mr.. Hunt
said Hunt stood Behind Door.
The testimony showed that on one occa-
sion Mr. Bassett came home when MIR.
Hunt was in the parlor with Mrs. Bas-
sett Mr. Bassett came" said the wit
ness, "and Mr.. Hunt got near the door.
standing behind it, When Mr.. and Mrs.
Bassett went into the bedroom, Mr.. Hunt
went out the door into the hall Mr.. Bas-
sett did not see Mr.. Hunt
Another witness said that she took
notes. written by Mrs. Bassett to Mr.
Hunts apartment on the seventh floor
almost every morning. he would come
down after receiving the notes 10 Mrs.
Bassett's apartments. Still another testi-
fed that when Mr. Hunt was az Mrs.
Bassetts apartments she would send wit
ness out with the children, leaving Mrs.
Bassett and Mr.. Hunt alone.
John 3. Tillotson, a New York lawyer,
testified that he knew Mrs Bassett; that
be saw her at his mothers house once
during the spring or summer Of 1904
The testimony of John G. Carlisle. for
merly Secretary Of the Treasury, was TO
the effect that he did not know Mrs. Bas-
gett and had no recollection Of ever hav-
ing seen her.
No such person visited my house dur
ing the summer OF l90i-nOt then or al
any other time" he said
Claimed Bassett Whipped Wife.
Charles +. Hastings, medical student,
Of New York, testified that at an inter
view, Mr.. Hunt speaking of the trouble
between Mr. and Mrs. Bassett. said bad
matters had become worse" He did not
explain what he meant By bad matters.
When Hastings visited Washington. in
the middle Of March, 1905. he called on
Hunt. Hastings said Hunt was startled
by Hastings appearance. They walked
20 the New Willard Hotel Hunt seemed
10 be making an effort to keep himself
In control At the hotel the conversation
related TO the estrangement between Bas-
sett and his wife. Hunt first brought up
the subject of the Bassetts In the con-
yersation. He spoke of the brutality Of
Mr.. Bassett toward his wife and said
that one night in their apartment, AIr.
Bassett had removed a blacksnake. or
quirt. from the nail where 1t hung. and
struck her with it across the shoulders,
at the same time stating that &c loved
said, stated that it was his intention to
help Mrs. Bassett through the affair, If
fl took him through hell. He had ad-
vised Mrs. Bassett that dishonor was bet
ter than death
She Feared Hunts Affection.
BENJAMIN L. Fairchild, a lawyer Of
Pelham. y. Y. and member of the Fifty
fourth Congress said on the stand that
on July 4 or 3, 1895. he and Mrs. Bassett
had conversation in the house Of Mrs.
Gibson at Atlantic City. Mr.. Fairchild
on this occasion asked Mrs. Bassett
whether she did not think 1t would have
been far better If, at the time she told
her husband that she feared that Mr.
Hunt had become too fond of her, she
should not for her own safety forbid
den Mr.. Hunt TO see her again. Mrs
Bassett asked Fairchild to what Incl
dent he referred. He said he referred TO
the occasion when Mr. Hunt asked her
what she was worrying about and she
replied that she feared Mr.. Hunt had be
come too fond OF her.
Edwin W. Manuel, clerk at the Hotel
VaTnum. this city testified that while
Mrs. Bassett lived at the Varnum Mr.
Hunt called almost every day AT any hour
morning, noon, or night He said that
Mr. Hunt was very attentive to Mrs Bas-
sett. going out with him while the chill
dTen rOamed around the hotel taking
care Of themselves.
Morse Did Not Like Conduct.
John Morse, a boarding house keeper at
Baltimore, said that in January, 1905,
while Mrs Bassett lived at his home.
Hunt was a frequent caller, that he
transacted the business for Mrs Bassett
with him, paying for her rooms and
board. Witness stated that he tired Of
their conduct and requested them to
leave. He said Hunt was very devoted to
Mrs. Bassett while she lived at his house.
Doctor Henry N. Hurd, superintendent
of Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore,
read from a book the ward entry as to
Fanny r. Bassett, showing that Mrs.
Bassctt was admitted TO the hospital
February 1, 1905, and discharged March
q. 1865. ard that in the book. under the
heading Of Relatives and friends" the
name Of Rev. Z. L. Hunt was entered as
a friend
William NJ. O'BTien, bOokkeeper at the
hospital, corroborated his statement.
Thomas o. Dorsey, cashier of the hospi-
tai, testified that some Of Mrs Bassett's