Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-04-18
Nellie MCGOWAN, Witness For
Mother in Divorce Suit, Over
come During Examination
UNABLE TO RESUME STAND
Because Of tho Witnesses' Condition,
and Mrs. McGowan's Enforced ABB
sence, Case Continued Until To-day
Attempt 10 Reach a Settlement Fails
Fewer Women Attend.

Proceedings in the MCGOWAN divorce
case were brought to a sudden nal
| late Wednesday afternoon, and a sen
sation OF new kind was furnished b.
Miss Nellie MCGOWAN, eldest daughte
OF the couple, breaking down while o.
| the witness stand and becoming com
pletely incapacitated for further ex
animation by an attack OF hysterla
Because OF the Inability OF the girl t
go back on the stand, and the en-
forced absence Of her mother iron
the court room, the hearing was CON
tinued until this morning.
The girl who Is one of her mother:
chief witnesses, had been in the Wit
ness chair for almost two hours whef
the nervous breakdown overcame her
The direct examination had been con
cluded and the cross examination was
well under way. Miss MCGOWAN wa:
being closely pressed by her fathers
attorneys relative to the incident whel
her father is alleged to have thrown
butcher knife at her mother. Tht
more in detail, touching upon the Incl
dent she was asked. the more nervous
confused and excited she became. Sht
finally broke into tears. and the ex'
preston Of the face indicated grea
mental and nervous strain.
coIIap.es in Jury Room.
The attorney who had been cross
examining her saw evidences OF
breakdown, and suggested that she b.
excused from the stand. She was al.
lowed to go and, accompanied by mel
mother, passed ,lown the corridor intt
the room used lily the grand jury. NJ
sooner had she entered this apartment
than she broke down completely, begar
crying violently. and became pros.
trated. ig5 * 81 ~
IA col. was secured, on which she. lay
down, and a physician was summoned
The father Immediately joined the
mother at the daughters side. Drugs
were administered to quiet the girl, ano
in a short time she became more COM
posed, altho was still very nervous
When able to be moved, she was taken
home, accompanied by Der mother.
Miss McGows.ns breakdown is at
tributed as much to a recent sickness
as to the strain on the witness stand
She has but recently recovered from 9
very severe attack of pneumonia, and
had been able to be out of the house
only few days previous to the com
mencement of the trial
This morning, while improved, Miss
MCGOWAN was still unable to take the
stand, and, any further examination OF
her will probably not be made.
Attempt at Settlement Fails.
An unsuccessful attempt looking to a
possible settlement between the hus-
band and wife on a basis satisfactory
to both sides, was made by the attor-
neys Of the case. A propoiition was
submitted by Mrs. McGoWan's lawyers,
in which a sum of alimony was given,
and the amount asked was less than
ST. 500, which Mrs. MCGOWAN is seeking
thru her cross petition. just what
the amount was could not be learned,
as those Interested were disinclined to
discuss it. 1t. was learned, however
that the proposition was promptly re-
jected by Mr. McGowan's attorneys.
Fewer Women Attending.
One of the features of this mornings
proceedings was the noticeable falling
off in the number of women attending
the trial. Those in the court room this
morning totaled not more than a quar-
ter Of the female section Of Wednes-
days audience. Some who have been
conspicuous by the regularity of their
presence in the court room were equal
ly conspicuous this morning by their
absence. The court room was not more
than half filled today which was
marked in contrast with the crowd
that packed the room the afternoon
before.
When it BECAME evident that no
more witnesses could be examined
Wednesday afternoon, Judge Bradshaw
so notified the audience, and in a keen
bit of sarcasm said, in speaking to
the crowd: There will be nothing SEN
sational to detain you for the balance
of the day. E;lushes crowded over the
as they arose 10 leave the room.
May Finish Testimony Today.
There is a possibility that the evil
dence will be concluded today. Mr..
McGowan's attorneys have some wit
nesses to introduce in rebuttal, chiefly
to establish their clients reputation.
After the hearing was resumed, fol-
lowing Mrs. McGowan's breakdown, &C..
C. st. Clair, cashier of the City Ma
tional Bank, was called in an attempt
to establish the amount of money Mr..
MCGOWAN has, or did have, on deposit
in that bank AS Mr.. st. Clair was
unable to even answer approximately
without an examination of the bank S
books, which would consume time, he
was excused. An attempt was made by
Mr. McGowans attorneys to use him,
while on the witness stand in rebuttal,
but the opposing lawyers objected, and
he was allowed to go.
AS Mrs. McGowan's attorneys had
no other witnesses which they wished
to put on the stand while their client
was absent. the case was continued
until this morning.
Miss Louise MCGOWAN, the second
daughter, was the first witness called
in her mothers behalf this morning.
Her evidence was largely corrobora-
tive of that given by her mother.
Mrs. Isaac Painter and n s. Balch,
the latter cashier of the Marshalltown
State bank, were the only other wit
nace.c ~, Ilo5 .b;s 1norninp Mr. Ralch