The San Francisco call., 1906-10-01
SCANDAL RAISES ITS
HEAD IN PLATT
MANSION.
Alleged Fondness of Aged
Senator's Wife for the
Coachman Causes Row
VIOLENT SCENE
AT TIOGA LODGE
Confronted by Enraged
Husband Accused Woman
Tries to Shoot Herself

I
NEW YORK, Sept. 3O-Mrs.
Thomas Collier Platt, the young
and handsome wife of New York's
aged Senator, is at her husbands
country seat, Tioga Lodge, High
land Mills, N. Y, preparing to
meet threatened legal proceedings
that embody embarrassments
from which the average woman
would shrink.
Mr.. Platt's son-in-law, Colonel
Francis ]. Carmody, is secretly
planning the proceedings against
her, and the assured outcome
unless compromise intervene
will be dragging forth of family
skeletons
Not long after Senator Platt's secret
wedding In this city to the dashins
widow. Mrs. Lillian t. Janeway. Oc-
tober II. 1908. the bride paid her nrst
visit to the Senator'S country home at
HigIand Mills
Nothing eventfu1 occurred until one
fatefuI day when delivery wagon OF
/ the United States Express Company.
| Of which the Senator is the president.
called at the lodge.
The man in charge or the wagon was
young and moderately good looking.
His shoulders were broad. ana hs
swung a heavy parcel from his wagon
to the roadway with an ease that told
os strength
Mrs PIatt. seated on the veranda OF
the lodge. saw the young exprsssman
and signed for the parcel It was the
talk that night among the servants in
the Senator's household how the charm
ing new mistress had shown, much in
the young expressmen. even Offering to
help him to a better position
ARRIVES WITH HIS TRUNK.
The climax Of hes kindness came a
/ week
reappeared at the Tioga lodge with his
trunk Mrs. PIatt had induced the SEN
ator to employ him
His name was j. K Hedges
1t was soon established that Mrs
PIatt would have no other whip than
Hedges and that her fondness for long
drives was increasing.
village gossip was soon busy at these
details. and some of the wealthy cot
tagers OF the neighborhood quietly
closed their doors to Mrs. Platt.
Matters were in this shape In Sep
tenaber OF last year. when Senator Platt
took his wife and two Of her most in
innate friends on trip across tho
continent.
1t was his ambition to make the long
tour a complete success because his
wife had set her heart on 1t. Yet =
discordant note was struck on the very
day Of the start from Jersey City.
when the party boarded the private
car they found Hedges. the coachman.
in possession. 81
He was dressed according to fash
ionable mode for wealthy tourists and
his manner betrayed no embarrass-
| ment.
Mrs. PIatt carried her point. ana
throughout the trip. covering thirty
days, Mr.. Hedges sat at the guest table
and played the role Of tourist without
a. hitch. Notable men all along tha
route to San Francisco entertained the
Senator's party. and the name Of Mr..
Hedges figured In the published re-
ports of the banqusts and luncheons.
MRS PLATT MAKES CHANGE.
Mr.. Busby. an intimate friend OF tha|
Platts, was seated in his private once
Mrs. PIatt entered and charged Mrs
Busby. who was one OF the party on |
the San Francisco trip. with a de-
liberate plot to steal the aged Sena-
tors heart
Mr. Busby sat in stupefed silence.
The full list Of charges by Mrs. Plafi/
in this memorable interview - no>
given here. There were accusations/
of which Mr. Busby would not speak
when questioned. Late that afternoon
Mr.. Busby found the Senator in the
Broadway office and told him the whole
dismal story.
Mrs. Platt. after the strenuous inter.
view with Busby. had hurried back "a
Highland Mills. where Hedges had re-
sumed control OF the stables.
Ringing up rioga Lodge on the long
distance. the Senator asked for Mrs
Platt Listening at his elbow. Miss
Snow. his stepdaughter. was terrified