Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1906-07-20
THE HARTJE DIVORCE CASE.

Following a sensational attack on the
character of Augustus Harte, in which
it was alleged that he bad taken two diff
ferent women frequently to question
able resort, the real sensation of yester-
day in the Hartje divorce trisl in Pitts
burg, Pa, eliminated yesterday after
noon when Judge Robert S. Frazer ad-
mitted, uuder bitter protest of opposing
counsel, testimony relating to the charges
of conspiracy against John l.. WelshCns,
3 prominent merchant; Augustus Hartje,
toe libeIlsnt, and Clifford Hooe, the
negro coachman nov in Jail on perjury
charges for alleged false swearing in the
case.
Welshous, who was called by Mrs.
Hartie' counsel, told 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 dif-
ferent times. This looked like black
mail. the witness said He said he
might have told Hooe that he would be
sent to the penitentiary for perjury If ne
did not stick to the original story he
told. Welshons' story, it is said, coin
cides very closely to the statement OF
Hooe, relating to the case, which is in
tie posss ssiou of the District Attorney.
This was the Grst attempt during the
lrisl 10 present evidence OF an alleged
conspiracy, which Mrs. Hartje's counsel
declares was formed 10 defame her. We'll
shons is a close friend Of Augustus
Hsrlje, and is accused with HartJe and
Hooe of conspiring against Mrs. Hsrge.
Hooe months ago made deposition
10 which he said he had been intimate
with Mrs. Hsrile. He afterwards re-
pudiated it, and is now in Jail on charge
of perjury. Welshons told the entire
story and said that Hooe's deposition
vas taken in his store by Attorney Ed
ward G. Hartje, Augustus Hartje's
brother, and Attorney Andrew Fisher,
Harije's brother-in.law.
Welshous detailed how be assisted
Hooe TO get away from the detectives In
New jersey snd Of the various times
that he gave Hooe money upon his de-
msnd. Wtlshons, however, declared
that Augustus Hartjs knew nothing OF
the fact that Welshons was paying Hooe
money and that he never spoke 10 him
about it.
Welshons adhered steady to bis story
that Augustus Hartje knew nothing Of
the TACT that be had given Hooe money,
and admitted that Hartje's sttorneys had
told Hoce that if he was not telling The
truth they would prosecute him.
Weshons foiled every attempt made
to shox that be had conspired with
Hartie to get Hoos to make the deposition.
10 placing Mr. Welshons on the stand
Attorney John M. Freeman for Mrs.
Hartie, said that he did so TO prove thai
aa attempt had been made to tampeI
With witnesses.
Hsrtje's attorneys made desperate
effort to pre,ent the witness from
testifying. Their protests were OF nc
/ avail. Hartje's attorneys announced
hey would go into something of tht
kind also, aud predicted that if that
branch of the case was opened the trisl
| would continue 10 months longer. At
torney ]. Scott Ferguson, for Har1e
said that they had letter showing that
the defense had taken the deposition
# a Witness knowing thst his testi
| mODy was false, and that they slst
| would show that an attempt had been
made to tamper with witnesses.