Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-13
AN ABSOLUTE DIVORCE
Decree to Be Signed in Favor
of Charles C., BaSSett.
OPINION BY JUSTICE GOULD
Court Comments Regarding Inference
From Testimony.
REVIEW OF THE PLEADINGS
Climax of Sensational Case in Which
Minister of Gospel Was Named
Correspondent.
OPINION BY JUSTICE GOULD
REVIEW OF THE PLEADINGS

Justice Gould, in Equity Court No 2 TO-.
day announced that he will sign a decree
granting an absolute divorce to Charles c.
Bassett of the geological survey from Mrs.
Fanny Rice Bassett, daughter of former
Senator Rice of Arkansas, because of acts
OF adultery committed with E. Lawrence
Hunt.
In his opinion Justice Gould declares that
Illicit relations are fairly inferaSle from
the acts and conduct of the defendant as
shown in the testimony. All that need be
established to sustain charge OF infidelity,
the court said, is to show that those
charged with the effense had a disposition
or desire" and ample opportunity for its
qualification. Such is clearly proved Justice
Gould stated, by "a view of the entire ASSOC
citation between the defendants, commence
Ing in a casual acquaintanceship. continu-
ing throughout it's growth, and final cuImf-
nation In the strongest possible attachment;
the absolute abandonment of the husband
ana the acceptance of the support and pro-
lection of the correspondent; the clandes-
tine birth of q child under the circum-
stances disclosed by the testimony TO which
the name of the correspondent was given
by its mother: the complete concealment
from the husband. aided and ahettei by the
correspondent; the lack OF frankness on es-
sentfal matters in the testimony of Mrs.
Bassett and the failure of the correspondents
to take the stand as a witness; the familiar
ity shown to exist between them in the ordi-
nary relations of life: all these, with other
incidents too numerous to be here recapitu-
lated. lead to the conclusion that the estab-
lshmeut of the offense is the only just and
reasonable Inference from the testimony"
Recites the Various Pleadiags.
The opinion of Justice Gould covers twen-
ty typewriter pages, and after reviewing
the facts concerning the filing of the petit
ton by Mr. Bassett March o, 1905, recites
the various pleadings in the case aad notes
the fact that Mrs. Bassett filed no answer
to the charges, but did testify at great
length as witness for her co-defendant
Mr.. Bassett was represented by Attorneys
Edward F. Colladay and Leckie. Fulton &
Cox and Rev. Hunt had counsel Attor-
ney Henry E. Davis, who strongly urged
before the court that the testimony did not
establish th> commission of single act OF
infidelity
Justice Gould in his review Of the testi-
mony declared that a careful and thorough
study and analysis Of the volumlnous testi-
mony in the leads to the conclusion
that the following facts are either admitted
or established by preponderance of the
evidence:
"Plpintiff and defendant, Fanny Rice Bas-
sett. were married in this city November
IL, 1884, and continued to live here as hus-
band and wife until the year 1:UL Six
children were born to them prior to the
latter date, four of whom are still living.
Prior to the fall of 1903 their married life
appears to have been as happy as that or
the average husband and wife. excepting
that, from the date of their marriage. they
were harassed by lack of income insufficient
to rear family of children and maintain
in Washington a social position .co.nmensu-
rate with their aspirations Prior TO the
fall of 1908 they had become acquainted
with the correspondent who was the pas
tor of the church which they attended. In
notnh IF relations between
the defendants had become very friendly.
The correspondent was candidate Tor the
chaplaincy of either the House or the SEN
ate and Mrs. Bassett, who seems TO nave
had a large acquaintance among those VINO
could lend aid to secure the appointment,
was extremely active in his behalf.
Met Daily in Apartments.
"At the period the defendant, resided in
| the Albemarle apartment house with her
husband and family on the fourth floor, ana
Hunt with his mother, on the seventh
Noor. Until the determination OF the chap-
laincy of both the Senate and the House,
Mrs Bassett and Hunt met daily IN her
| apartments After this matter was con.
cluded Hunts visits continued and were
generally made in the absence OF the PAIN
| tiff. According to the testimony of Mrs.
Bassett her relations with Hunt aroused
| her husbands jealousy In the fall or 1905
and he asked her the question, is Dr.
Hunt making love to your He also testi-
fes that An the early part of April. 1904,
| her family physician advised her TO ask
Hunt not to come to her apartments ana
| that she stay away from his church be-
| cause her husband was so jealous that there
was liable to be trouble at any time; thas
when she went back to the apartment she
found her husband walking the moor anq
| 'frothing at the mouth. He said Or.
Hunt had been there and left book Tor
me to read and he commenced
shaking me as hard as he could shake
me-" These manifestations of Jealousy OF
Hunt on her husbands part continued until
May IL, 1904 when plaintiff left for Og-
densburg N Y, where he was engaged
until the following November In Topographic
cal field work for the geological survey.
I'm her testimony Mrs. Bassett states
that at the time of her husbands departure
for Ogdensburg she had decided that she
! would never live with him again; that she
must take her children and have separate
home. Yet she also testifes that within
two hours of his departure she sustained
most intimate relations with him as nus
band and wife, and in less than week
thereafter she wrote to him as follows:
! You know perfectly well, husband mine.
that I want to make you happy always.
we have shared SORROWS and joys for over
twelve years, have our four dear little chill
dren and two little graves to bind US very
closely together. and we must stand to-
for our own sakes and for theirs. 1 will
try always to make you happy-tell me
your wishes. they are mine.
Continuation Of Visits.
After the departure Of Bassett May II
the visits of Hunt upon Mrs. Bassett at her
apartment continued.
Mrs. Bassett left Washington the latter
part of June, 1904. with three of her chill
dren and spent practically month with
her cousin. Mrs Mary e. O'Rourke Of
HighbridEe, N. Y. According to the testi-
mony of the latter, she was absent O
number of nights during July, leaving her
children with Mrs. O'Rourke. She informed
the latter on one occasion that she was
going to visit the Tillotsons, which she did
not do On another occasion she went
away on Friday and returned on Monday
and stated that she went with the Carr
Isles to visit friend Of theirs. This was
not the fact She was apparently absent