Omaha daily bee., 1907-02-15
MRS. BASSETT TELLS STORY
Tells Tale Of Jealousy and Cruelty on Par
Of Her Husband
REVIEWS SIXTEEN YEARS or vtDOEO LIFE
Charges spouse Beat Her. Threatened
Her Life. Caused DsuEhter's Death
and Forbade Her 20 Attend
Hunts Church.

Hunts Church.
The Utmost secrets Of her married life
were laid bare by Mrs. Fannie Rice Bas-
sett yesterday afternoon at the hearing
Of her suit for divorce from Charles c.
Bassett For two hours and a half she
was upon the witness stand before court
room crowded with spectators and under
went q most searching examination by
Judge Irving Baxter. her attorney. The en-
tire married life Of sixteen years until
her separation from her husband two years
ago was gone over In minute detail. II was
the story Of a nervous. high-strung woman
married to >man Of Jealous disposition.
II was a story of cruelty practiced against
/ that woman by her husband, who all the
/ time professed to love her with his whole
heart II was the story OF jealousy
aroused by the too sOlicitous attentions Of
a minister TO one Of his Pensioners, which
jealousy brought on state Of affairs that
resulted in the separation of the nervous,
high-strung woman from her husband and
after two years the institution Of divorce
proceedings
In a low, wen moduIated- voice, which
was further mellowed by her native, soft,
southern accent. Mrs. Bassett told her
story which. II true, is q remarkable rev.
\ citation OF the domestic affairs Of SEINE OF
the highest in Washington. She stated that
her husbands cruelty began with the time
Of their wedding trip. One Of her brides
maids had gone with them TO New York.
Her husband she said. was 30 Jealous that
he would not tolerate even this girl, and
with an oath declared that II his wife
did not order her to leave he would. She
said ne swore at her on an average Of
every two or three days during their mar
ried life. She related incidents when he
had struck her with his fists and with a
whip. She declared that he refused TO get
her doctors when she was III: that he re-
4 fused to send her to a sanitarium when
the doctor had said that It was necessary
for the preservation Of her life: that he
held her and forced medicine down her
throat for illegal purposes and that he
constantly complained OF the size Of the
family
Forced Medicine Down Throat.
The voice of this handsome, refined look
ing woman. daughter of a United States
senator. was low, but at times as she re-
cited her story it rose to a high pitch and
she raised her head proudly and empha-
sized what she said with gestures intensely
dramatic. A few times she laughed a bub-
bling. good-humored laugh. And q few
times. angered by the seeming gruff objec-
lions of Attorney Stout to the questions
and replies. she answered with spirit
While she was relating an incident about
the death Of her child Catherine, which
she laid at the door Of her husband. Mr.
Stout interposed an objection Turning to
him quickly. she exclaimed:
Mr.. Stout reverence for your own
mother should make other mothers sacred
TO you"
Being instructed by the court to answer
the question as asked, she said:
Il will try. but Mr.. Stout does make me
so angry
And, turning to the attorney with a
bright smile. she added in a low voice
II do believe you are as bad as Mr.. Bas-
sett."
wouIdn't Get Doctor.
Regarding her husbands cruelty. she re-
lated many specific incidents. While she
was with him on one Of his geological feid
trips their little daughter was sick one
night and the mother was sleeping with
her. Mr.. BaEsett wanted his wife, and
because she would not leave the child, she
alleged, he came into the room and struck
her. When their daughter Catherine was
sick, she alleged, her husband refused for
a long time to go for a doctor, until the
child was dying. and even then he refused
his wifes request that he remain in the
room with her. AS a proof Of what she
represented to be insane jealousy, the wit
her with the whip. She testified that he
said At that time: Il love every inch of
you. but I'm Jealous OF everything and you
shan't go to Hunts church"
II was after the calls q Mr.. Hunt had
continued for a time that Mr.. Bassett's
jealousy became unbearable, according &c
, the witness.
He talked to the servants about me. .
: she said To the darkey elevator boy he
said one day. My wife's looking pretty
fine today. Pity the preacher can't see her.
He gave our coiored cook money to tel
= him whether Mr.. Hunt had been there. He
Z stated TO others that DIR. Hunt was in love
with me-"
witness TrIed-Suicfde.
, What aid you do as a result OF thisT p
asked the attorney. And in a low but
distinct voice Mrs. Bassett answered sim.
, ply:
, Il tried to commit suicide. Judge Bax.
ter"
one day in 1904. when she had returned
from a visit 10 Justice Brewers she SAID
he seized her by the arm and shook her
He fiourfshsd a pistol and threatened e
kill her II she saw any more OF DR.. Hunt
:, She demonstrated with him, she said
about circulating rumors concerning her
self and DIR. Hunt and told him that 81
he sent any OF these false rumors to her
: aged father OF her brother or sister sh,
1 would never live with him again Event
, ualiy she left her husband and took apart
3 ments elsewhere in Washington. MT let
|. ting him know where she was, ant
shortly afterward Rev. Mr.. Hunt en-
gagged apartments for her in Atlantic Cit,
Y and saw her settled there.
This matter was referred 10 IN tn