The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-03-08
THE NORTON DIVORCE CASE
DEPENDANT TAKES STAND IN
 HER OHN BEHALF

stand-CIaimed to Him That She
 Took Up Her Abode in the Capital
 to Evade PersecutiOn-TriaI Nearing
 an End.
 The principal event in the Norton
 divorce case yesterday was the ap- pearance of the defendant herself on
 the witness stand. She occupied the
 time of the court most of the after
 noon, and her testimony practically
 amounted to a general denial of the accusations which have been brought against her.
 ! Mrs Norton said she was twenty two years old and met Norton in Au- gust, 1905. She was married to him January IS, 1906. After her marriage she lived at her home, and last saw Norton on Thursday, February 8, 1906. They called on Miss Cook after which they went to the Oneco for dinner. He put her on the car and she did not see him again until the trial began, three weeks ago. She said that between her. marriage and their separation they had been extremely happy. Before mar riage they had met almost every day. MT. Goodhart asked if she had been with Norton at various cafes before and after their marriage, and she said she had frequently and that both had par taken of intoxicating drinks. He usu- ally drank cocktails, highballs, wine or whiskey. She drank almost all varie- ties, having no preference.
 Did he ever make any objection to the beverage or quantity that you par took off"
 Well, he said he'd rather nave me drink cordials or highballs than beer, because they'd make me fat" she an- swered
 Mrs. Norton said that the last con- versation they had was about going to high school dance and he said he would write her about 1t. Sine received a letter from him, which was read. It was the last she heard from him and 1t was dated February 9. It began, My dearest and was one of those read before and already printed in the Courier
 Mrs Norton said that Norton knew both Miss Degnan and Miss Cooke, and never said anything about her going about with them Mrs. Norton stated that she did not go to the dance be- cause he didn't send or come for her. She then wrote him a letter enclosing a picture of herself for his watch case, which he had asked for.
 On the same day she said she reeeiv- ed another letter from Norton asking Yer to go to dinner with him at Morris Cove. Miss Cooke and Miss Degnan lat Church and Chapel streets. Mrs. Norton stated that she met Miss Cooke and they walked to Chapel street. Mir. Hull objected, and MT. Goodhart, talk ing up an allegation in the complaint, stated that he intended to show his honor that the complaint was not brought in good faith but was made up of incidents intended to be sufficient to secure a decree and were not made honestly.
 On Chapel street she said that she and Miss Cooke met a Mr. smith, a chum of MT. Norton. She said Smith told her that Kenneth had asked him to meet them and go to Morris Cove with them, and that he would follow later They went and waited until 10 o'clock for her husband She then sent a message to him at 400 Temple street. She got no answer and later sent another message, and when no answer was received to this all three came uptown and went to Norton's romo.
 MT. Smith went into the room and table He brought them to her, and they were the ones she had sent. There was also another telegram from an FL lis Wood. There was another telegram from c. c. Conway, Norton's brother in-law, to Mir. Smith, asking him to get all information possible about the mar riage, which that day had been an- in the Courier. They then l went home.
 The first witness yesterday was Rev. | Paul F. McAllaney, of Hartford, pas- tor of St. Peters church of that city. | He testified that he met Mrs. Norton | at the parish house in the latter part | of April, last year. He said she had | visited him and told him of her trou- bles in New Haven after her marriage, | and asked him to recommend her to | some Catholic home where she could | get away from those who were perse- cutting her The priest said he had sent | her to several places, but that there | was no room for her at the time and | she had come back to him. The priest | also testified that Ele had seen Mrs. Norton at church on Easter Sunday Father McAllaney said Mrs. Norton had told him that she was away from her husband for awhile, but that sine expected she would soon be with him again, and she wanted to get a home where she could be free rom any stigma to her name or other ,auses for complaint, as she was be- ng watched. The priest was then ex- 1used.
 Miss Anna Degnan was then recalled for the continuation of the cross-ex- by MT. Hull. The latter as he started his questioning, offered a etter addressed to Mrs. Edwin Ken leth Norton at Hartford, and asked if 1t was in her handwriting. MT. Good hart objected because the letter might be one of the packet taken from Mrs. Norton's room by Webb and there was ] question as to the legality of evidence in this way The letter was admitted and Miss Degnan answered |