The Washington times., 1907-02-13
BASSETT GETSDIVORCE:
COURT CRITICISESHUNT.
CORRESPONDENT
Clergyman May Have to Pay Half Costs of
Sensational Trial---NO Decision on
Custody of Children.

tire case. This was granted by
the court, after consultation with
Mr.. Bassett's lawyer. Greed NJ.
Fulton, and the case will be finally
disposed of tomorrow.
Justice Gould's decision covered TWEEN
ty-one pages Of typewritten legal cap
paper. and was an interesting and com
prehenslve review of the case After
reading his Impressions Justice Gpuld
announced he would sign a decree in
favor of the plaintiff, with costs Hunt
will probably be assessed for half the
costs.
No Decision on Children.
The court made no mention of the
children, four of whom Mr. Bassett
asked for in his petition. disclaming the
NTH as being the child Of the minister.
Justice Gould decided that as the chill
dren were not in his jurisdiction at the
time the case was filed and have not
since been here. it was out Of his power
TO consider them In his decision. and the
ultimate disposal OF the children VIII be
another matter which will probably find
its way into the courts before long. The
children are now with Mrs. Bas5ett in
the West.
An interesting feature Of the case Is
that a counter suit which Mrs. Bassett
instituted some months ago In Omaha
for divorce from her husband on the
ground Of desertiOn was called for trial
today, after several postponements Mr..
Bassett with one of his lawyers. Ed
ward f. Colladay. is now in Omaha
watching the progress of the suit. as is
also the Rev. +. Lawrence Hunt. who
will be witness for Mrs. Bassett II
was said by a prominent lawyer today
that the Western suit will probably he
abandoned when notice of the decision
Of Justice Gould in the Washington suit
is brought 70 the attention Of the
Omaha court
Court Criticises Hunt.
The Bassett case was one of the most
sensational ever tried in Washington
court. for it brought in the names OF
some of the most eminent men in Amer
lean political and social life Then, 100.
it revolved around minister who had
occupied two Washington puipits. and
who was pastor to one OF the most ex-
elusive congregations in Washington
The suit was filed IN Washington on
March 3, 1906 but did not come to trial
until several months ago In the mean
against her husband In Omaha. but the
latter's lawyers succeeded in obtaining
a postponement of that case, and short
ly afterward the hearings in the Wash
ing suit were begun.
Mrs. Bassett appeared in the Wash
ington suit merely as a witness. The
suit itself was contested by the Rev +
Lawrence Hunt, whom Mr.. Bassett had
named as a correspondent, and whom
the husband charged with being the
father Of the last baby born to Mrs.
Bas sett- Testimony was offered solely
bv deposition, the husband Offering
forty-three witnesses TO support his
charges, while Hunt was defended by
five witnesses. The minister did not
testify. and for this Justice Gould Of
feled marked criticism IN his review Of
the case today.
Mrs. Bassett Rebuked.
Justice Gould announced that he had
made a careful and thorough study Of
the evidence. He declared Mrs Bas-
setts own testimony had been weakened
by her continual refusal to answer. per
tinent ard material questions and by the
fact that certain assertions she had
made in her deposition and crOss-ex-
animation were directly contrary 10
those of nineteen witnesses on this same
point; that in order to believe her. one
would have TO determine that these wit
nCsses had deliberately sworn falsely or
were not aware or what they were saw
ing. Justice Gould held up for reviey
the actions Of the Brooklyn minister
throughout the entire case. his atten-
tiops to Mrs. Bassett after the husband
had left Washington for his duty in the
field, the fact that Mrs Bassett was
taken by Hunt to the Johns Hopkins
| Hospital. where a baby boy was born.
He cited the fact that Mrs Bassett per
siStenuy kept her whereabouts a secret
from her husband. although Hunt was
always aware of her abiding places.
/ Regarding this Justice Gould said:
1t is undisDuted that in November
1904 after writing in the most affection
ate terms to her husband, for six
months, and receiving continuous fnan-
cial support from him, Mrs. Bassett,
without any justification or excuse. alb