Omaha daily bee., 1907-02-22
MRS. BASSETI BREAKS DOWN
,ong Strain on Witness Stand Buds in
Collapse Of Plaintiff.
REV. LAWRENCE HUNT RELATES STORY
Minister Named in Washington NJ Co
respondent Gould Not Recall Using
EndearIng Terms I'm Closing
His Letters.


scarcely half an hour Thursday morning
AA.rhen Mrs. Bassett collapsed entirely She
twas taken from the court room and after
nhalf an hours rest was able 10 resume.
Her cross-examination, which had con-
tinued five days, was completed late in the
morning. Rev. DE-. Hunt was placed on
the stand Immediately The trial pro-
ceeded much more rapidly The ministers
quick, concise answers were in contrast to
the long. rambling replies which have made
the testimony of Mrs Bassett such a
voluminous record.
Dr. Hunt stated he was in the college de-
partment of the Young Mems Christian as
ISOLATION work prior TO beginning active
pastoral duties. He related the episode OF
Christmas, 1903. when, accompanied by his
aged mother, he called at the Bassett apart
nents and Mr.. Bassett made a scene by
snatchins from the delivery boy an en-
velope accompanying a present sent by DR..
Hunt TO Mrs Bassett.
INSERT
Denies EndearinR Terms.
Dr. Hunt was kept on the witness stand
only about an hour in the afternoon. In
examining him Attorney Van Deusen for
Mrs. Bassett did not touch upon the nu-
Tnerous Incidents which were brought out in
Mrs. Bassetts testimony and consequently
there was not much for the defense to
question him upon. On his cross examina-
tion by Mr.. Stout. the minister looked the
attorney straight in the eye and answered
with decision. At only one time was he in
danger of losing his temper. He could not
remember just how he closed the letter
y which he sent with his Christmas remem-
brance to Mrs. Bassett in 1903 and which
caused an outbreak on the part of Mr..
f3assett. Mr.. Stout asked:
Didn't close this WaV. With nv SOULS
love. Lawrence
Hunt stared a moment, dumbfounded,
and then answered a long drawn and con-
temptuous. mo"
DR.. Hunt could not recall whether or
not he had taken lunch with Mrs. Bassett
in her apartments in the summer OF 1904.
He thought he had called there possibly
O dozen times during the summer. At the
time Mrs. Bassett attempted TO commit
suicide February is. 1904 DR.. Hunts mother
remained with her constantly for two
weeks and DR.. Hunt called every day.
"Uncle Lawrence" is what 10-year-old
Chester Bassett called DR.. Hunt, when the
boy was permitted to testify yesterday
n afternoon regarding several alleged incl
3dents IN the life Of his mother. One Of these
I was the time when, the plaintiff alleges
her husband came with Ben Fairchild to
Atlantic City to kidnap her children. The
house where Mrs. Bassett was staying
Fairchild said to Bassett, Take him. take
him. Now's your chance" referring e
Chester
There was much opposition TO receiving
Che testimony Of the boy particularly about
an incident which took place FIVE years
ago. when he was only FIVE years old. This
was the occasion when Mr.. Bassett struck
Mrs. Bassett. according to her testimony
nrN.
He explained that he remembered the In
cident because he got a spanking from his
father.
Attorney Colliday answered the query OF
Mrs. Bassett's attorneys as to what had
O. become of certain letters by announcing
he had them in his possession and would
produce them. When they were called fo1
he produced amid much laughter i'm.
mense suit case literally packed with hun
dreds OF letters.
While Mrs. Bassett was recovering from
y her collapse. her attorney read some Of
her letters TO her husband which are rel
evant of the inside stormy history Of the
- family.
Letters Between the Bassetts.
ct am through with my work and an
on my road TO hell" wrote Mr.. Bassett
60 his wife at one time when he had com.
pleted his field work for the summer and
was about TO return home. In reply Mrs
Bassett wrote letter full of encourage
tnent and hope that they would extricatt
themselves from their financial difficultie.
and that Mr.. Bassett would obtain som'
more lucrative position. In places Mrs
Bassett's letters overflow with tenderness
and then again she reproaches him for hi
cruelty. Throughout there is the plea fol
money. In one letter writing for money
ehe says: Was 1t for this I saved youi
Z life four years ago? I appeal to every
,tinge OF your manhood TO send me thu
: financial aid so greatly need"
" One letter was introduced by Mrs. Bas
Bett's attorneys which was written Marci
b. 1905 when she was In hiding from he
husband In Baltimore. This letter, writ
cen after the birth OF her youngest child
makes an appeal for half her husband
salary for a period. OF one year and
couched IN loving language. She admitte'
the letter was sent by her TO Or. Hun