The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-06-24
John HitchingS Will Be
Principal Witness in
ColonelS Suit for
Annulment.
Claim Made That Woman
Knew All the Time Her
Legal Spouse IS
Living.

NEW YORK. June 24.-That the first
huband of Mrs. William A. Stokes is
not only alive, but in touch with Colonel
Stokes, and will be a witness al the trial
10 annul the marriage Of the com
mander of the Twenty-third regiment,
was the astonishing assertion made by
Mai Henry De witt Hamilton, counsel
for Colonel Stokes
John Hitchings. the husband. supposed
TO be dead in the KlOndyke, while Mrs
Hitchings was supposed to be a widow
and was being courted BY Colonel
Stokes. is near New York city. Just
where the man is Mr.. Hamilton refuses
70 say.
This woman" said Major Hamilton,
knew all the time that Hitchings was
not dead. Hitchings, who has been in
communication with Colonel Stokes,
does not want anything TO do with her.
He didn't even want to appear. but will.
lie says she obtained from him all the
money ne had. Finally he was glad 10
get rid of her by going away. II was
then he went 10 the klOndyke. There
was never any reason TO suppose that
he vas dead. She knew ne was alive.
Developed Passion for Jewels.
AS soon as she married Colonel
Stokes. Mrs. Hitchings developed a pas
sion for jewels. In a short while the
colonel had purchased for her jewels to
the value of $4,000.
Having obtained this, the next thing
she did was have him make over to her
Two life insurance policies. Then she
planned to get the deeds of the house,
COS ST. Marks avenue. In this she was
nearly successful.
Colonel Stokes made out the deeds
but did not give them TO her. He came
to the conclusion that his money was
nearly all gone, and he had better not
let everything he had pass from his
control. 1t was then she brought suit
for the deeds to the house. This suit is
now pending.
Colonel Stokes desired that this suit
should be brought about quietly, and
supposed that when the evidence was
presented showing that Hitchings was
alive there would be nothing mucn done
about it.
There will be some startling develop
ments when the case comes 10 trial
and We will be able to show that heI
marriage TO Colonel Stokes was a plot
viii the husband be produced at tho
trial2' he was asked.
Yes. the husband win be a witness al
The trial. replied Major Hamilton.
Accuse Hitchings of Spite.
One point that has been carefully
guarded by the attorneys for Colone
Stokes is the manner in which the in.
formation was conveyed to him tha
Mrs. Stokes had q living husband BY
the friends Of tho woman it is said tina
Hitchinss purpOsely kept out OF tn,
way for years and then found out tina
the woman had married again, and ther
Tor spite returned from the West anC
took occasion 10 break the news gently
10 Colonel Stokes.
The daughters OF Col William A
Stokes talked freely regarding the sui
brought by their father 10 have hii
marriage aEnulled.
We are confident that our father hai
cone the best thing in bringing this sui
70 Rave his marriage annulled" saiC
Mrs. Arthur Lee.
I have heard a report that nv sister
and myself were responsible for tn,
bringing OF this suit, and that we havt
been trying to collect evidence. Tha
report is absolutely false NV fathe
began this suit OF his own desire whei
he felt that no other honorable cours
was OpeE TO him. I have also seen i
printed that all his children refused 4
live In his house after his second mar
rtage. That also Is Incorrect 1t Jus
happened that we all left home abou
The same time"