Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-22
WEDDING DRESS
TAKEN TO COURT
MRS. CRESSEY MAKES HER
APPEARANCE
She Denies All Allegations Made by
Nelghbors, and Displays Gown
Worn at Marriage to Dis
prove Statements

Charged with being incompetent and
bordering on insanity by relatives who
have petitioned the appointment of n
guardian for her, Mrs. Nellie G. Cressev
yesterday created sensation I'm depart-
ment of the superior court by appear
Ing In that department at the afternoon
session, clinging to her husbands arm,
and bringing with her her wedding
dress.
From the very first of the proceedings
brought by the woman's brother and
sister against her husband Capt. Fred
erick j. Cressey, the woman has been
Kept out of court until yesterday When
the case first came up for trial Mrs
Cressey was too Ill to be present and
she was ordered sent to a sanitarium
py Judge Conrey in department of the
superior court. Shortly thereafter Mrs.
Cressey was released and returned to
ner nome in Gramercy place. That
really was the beginning of the trouble
between the neighbors and Capt. Cres-
sey, FOR from that time on there were
continual chickering's between them as
10 whether or not they should be al
lowed to see the woman.
Her Property Reconveyed
When the case same to trial it was
learned that Capt. Cressey, after hav-
Ing secured deeds to his wifes prop
erty, had reconveyed it to her. He gave
as his reason at that time that his wife
had given him the deeds to record in
case OF her death and that when death
seemed imminent he had filed the docu-
ments.
Later he explained that he had recon-
Veyed the deeds to his wife when he
saw that her recovery was probable.
Since then the case has dragged
through the courts, the relatives and
hOrS pODtpn1incr hot nj
sey was trying to swindlc his wife out
of her property and Cressey holding out
that his wife did not need q guardian
and that he was the best person in the
world to care for his own wife.
A week ago yesterday an examination
was held at the woman's home, Judge
Wilbur sitting there. His impression
of the womans health at that time
favored Capt. Cressey and the case was
resumed in court
Mrs. cressey Appears
Yesterday Capt Cressey was on the
stand throughout the morning. and
when he left at the noon recess it was
with the remark that he would be able
to prove his contention before long.
In the afternoon the captain again
appeared at the court house. He was
accompanied by a woman who seemed
to have great affection for him and who
continually patted him on the arm. 1t
was Mrs. Cressey. and when her neigh
bors saw her in the court room they ap-
peared astounded.
Throughout the afternoon the woman
was on the stand. She denied having
torn her hair out by the roots and de.
MED that she had bald places on her
head.
Attorney Adams suggested that her
head was the best evidence and that he
nermittp1
10 this the woman objected, and the
court sustained her objection
In memory test, Mrs. Cressey proved
herself thoroughly competent She told
where she had been for several days.
She told of her visit to the Auditorium
Baptist church last Sunday and gave
the text and portions of the sermon de-
livered there by DR.. Burdette. oue
gave the details of her wedding, giving
the names of the three preachers who
had officiated. and then told in detail
the story of the fire at her home on the
day of the wedding.
Denies All Allegations
She denied fatty every allegation
made by her neighbors, and in explain
ing that her wedding dress was not
soiled on certain occasion when she
had worn it she produced the garment
from a bandboX and held it up for the
court to vew---a mass of soft, white
stuff, with ruffes and lace galore.
In her final statement she said, that
Capt. Cressey had always been kind to
her, had never committed one act that
could have caused her pain and that ne
had shown consideration for the care
and protection of her property.
At the close of her remarkable tes-
timony she was subjected to a rigid
cross examination, but she refused to
change her mind.
At the close of court yesterday after
noon the case was postponed for further
hearing today.