Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-04-17
WOMEN FLOCK 10
HEAR k GDVAN CASE
Sensational Divorce Suit Brings
Out Constantly Increasing
Number Of Spectators
MRS. MCGOWAN ON TIE STAND
Her Testimony, Directly III contradie-
ton Of Her Husbands, Ia Sensational
In the Extreme-Wife Tells Story Of
lnfideIity, Hatred and ouarreis-Me
Gowan's Attorneys Rest Case.

Gowan's Attorneys Rest Case.
The, attorneys for Charles T. Nc
Gowan rested, and Mrs. MCGOWAN
case against her husband was begun
late Tuesday afternoon in the sensa-
tional MCGOWAN VS.. MCGOWAN divorce
case. Mrs. MCGOWAN, altho not the
first, was by far the most important OF
the witnesses put on the stand in her
own defense and in the suit for an
mony she has brought in a counter
claim against her husband. She oc-
cupied the witness chair during her
direct and cross examination more than
three hours, ad it has been years since
such pronouncedly sensational testi-
mony was heard by so large an audi
ence in d local court.
Women Flock in Groves.
The attendance at the trial. which
has been growing rapidly since the case
opened, exceeded all previous records
this morning. The proportion of wom-
en-. drawn by the prospects, OF hearing
the salacious morsels Of testimony,
has greatly increased until they formed
a large proportion of this morning 3
audience. Apparently refined looking,
and well dressed women were among
the number, others were mere girls not
vet in long dresses. Some have sat
thru every session since the case be-
gan Monday afternoon.
Vi When the doors of the court room
were thrown open this morning more
than a score of men and women who
had come early made rush for the
seats of advantage.
Mrs. McGowan's Testimony Climax.
The shocking features Of the pro-
ceedings so far reached climax in the
testimony of Mrs. MCGOWAN, who en-
tered the witness stand late yesterday
afternoon. Her direct examination
filed the afternoon session, and the
cross examination was not concluded
until midforenoon.
Her testimony, except in the unim-
portant and minor details, was a d.
rect contradiction and denial Of that
given the day previous by her hus-
band. From her, in the direct examine
alton, came denials of every sort. and
in the warning, which has split the
household for years, she charged her
husband with being the aggressor and
the cause. She denied making threats
to kill, or to ever seek a divorce, also
denied beating the children, especially
the son Charles Jr. She told of her
knowledge of McGowan's alleged init
macy with Mrs TiIlie Blake and Mrs.
McEwen, of S. c. Blale's night visit
to the MCGOWAN house in search OF
MCGOWAN. and repeated statements
she said MCGOWAN made to her with
reference to these two women. Much
Of her testimony Is unprintable.1
Women Cause Of Most Trouble.
Mrs. MCGOWAN testified that much
Of the trouble between herself and
her husband had been due to his re-
lations with other women. She said
she had seen MCGOWAN and Mrs. Blake
together one night. and had started to
follow them. but had returned to the
house. When she asked for money to
buy clothing for the children, and ac-
cused her husband of giving money to
Mrs. Blake, she said her husband told
her. in effect, that Mrs. Blake loved
him.
When, according to her statement,
Blake became enraged, and after he
had visited the MCGOWAN house sarmed
with a gun, in search Of MCGOWAN, and
after he had threatened to bring suit
for the alienation of his wife's at
fections, she went with MCGOWAN, at
his request, to the Blake plumbing
shop, and under McC;owan's instruc-
lions told Blake that if he started suit
against MCGOWAN she would begin ac-
ton against Mrs. Blake for adultery.
She testified that MCGOWAN had
asked her to get a divorce so that he
could marry Mrs. blake. She ac-
that previous to this incl
dent she had taken steps to obtain
maintenance, but had desisted
on her husbands promise to return
home and behave himself.
Claims He Acknowledged infidelity.
Mrs. MCGOWAN said Mrs. McEwen,
when she was living in the neighbor-
hood, frequently came to the MCGOWAN
home, but her visits stopped after NC
Gowan left home She said Mrs. Nc
Even often stayed all night, and
sometimes occupied a. room adjoining
that in which MCGOWAN slept. She
testified that MCGOWAN had told her,
when she accused him Of being unduly
intimate with Mrs. McEwen, that he
admitted breaking his marriage vows
In his relations with Mrs. McEwen.
This statement, Mrs. MCGOWAN alleged,
was made when she was lying IN BED
with a newly born infant.
She detailed what has been termed
he ..tea cup episode" when she cut
Ter husbands head with cup she
brew at him. She pleaded self-de-
ense in the act, saying her husband
vas attacking her with a knife. AT an
,ther time. she said, he hurled knife
It her. She told Of the incidents OF the
emoval Of the son. Charles, and daugh-
err, Marie. from the home, and OF her
ignorance and inability to find where
hey were. Very little that was new,
kept repeated denials, was brought
ut in the cross-exanination.
Mrs. Anderson Very Sarcastic.
Mrs. A. r. Anderson, formerly OF
donmouth, Ill. but now of Oskaloosa,
vas one Of the first witnesses called
y Mrs McGowan's attorneys. Her
whence, by reason of the extremely
arcastic manner of its delivery,
aused repeated filters to run thru the
onrt room. Mrs. Anderson testified to
he frequent visits MCGOWAN made
uring the year 1901 to the home Of one
Ir- 20 an1nnd of Monmouth. These [