Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-04
CAN EXAMINE PAPERS
LATEST FEATURE OF THE WOOD
PLATT CONTENTION.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, October 4-Counsel for
Senator Thomas c. Platt today got from
Justice Ford, in the supreme court, an
order directing Mae c. Wood, who has
sued Mr.. Platt for an absolute divorce, an
| order directing her to furnish to him in
spection of, and permission to take copies
of, papers described in the petition.
The order also directs Miss Wood to de-
posit the papers In question in the office
of the clerk of the court. The papers are,
under the order, to remain In the clerk s
Office subject to the examination of Sena-
tor Platt and his counsel and he and
they are to have the right to take photo
graphic copies of them during the ordinary
business hours of the court for a period Of
two weeks.
The counsel for the woman is also d.
rected to show good why these
why they shall not be required to deposit
the papers in question within four days.
The Court Order Issued.
The courts order was issued upon the
petition of Senator Platt.
Senator Platt begins his petition by set
ting forth that the name of the plaintiff is
Mae c. Wood. and not Mae C. Wood Platt
as she alleges in her complaint.
sHe says that her allegation that he mar
ried her about November 8, 1901, at the
Fifth Avenue Hotel, is absolutely false,
and that he never heard of her claim that
she was his wife prior to December, 1906.
ION the contrary" he says, "she has for
several years been trying to extort money
from me by various devices, including
threats that she would sue me for breach
OF promised marriage
The senator then quotes at length sew
eral letters from Mae Woods lawyers, in
which they outline their clients case and
hn n1 1-x i1ya bot
Senator Platt will save himself trouble
and expense by dealing with them direct
ly and promptly. He ignored these let
ters and declined to enter into negotia-
tions, so that they the lawyers) discon-
tinued their attempts at eXtortion until
just prior to the commencement of this
action.
He says that in the fall of 1906 Miss
other defendants at Omaha Neb. He
says that the allegations in these COM
plants are absolutely inconsistent with
the present claim of marriage. He as
serts that those suits were brought solely
to give newspaper notoriety to the sensa-
tional allegations contained in the com
plant, "and to further plaintiffs efforts
to eXtort money from me-
First Suit Was Dismissed.
He says the first suit was dismissed for
failure to prosecute and the second for
failure to pay sheriffs fees for serving
processes.
Senator Platt says he desires to have
discovery of the alleged marriage certificate
which Miss Wood asserts she has, and this
Is the principal paper which she must de-
posit with the clerk of the supreme
court within four days show legal
cause why she should not be compelled
to do so. The order to show cause is re-
turnable October 10.
In relation to this alleged marriage
certificate the senator says: Il believe
and am advised by my counsel that
have conclusive grounds for believing
that plaintiff intends to rely at the trial
Of this action upon forged marriage GER
tifcate and upon a forged admission in
writing dated December 10, 1906 The all
legged certificate is absolutely false and is
a forgery. 1t purports to evidence a
marriage which never occurred. The COM
munication which plaintiff claims she has
from me, dated December, 1906, was not
made by me, and If any such document
exists, as plaintiff claims it is a forgery"