Omaha daily bee., 1908-06-10
END OF PRATT CASE is NEAR
Taking Of Testimony Probably Will
Be Closed This Morning.
DOCTOR AND LAWYER TESTIFY
Terms OF settlement once Agreed ON
20 Avoid Court Proceedings
Are Taken Up in
Trial.

Hearing Of evidence in the Pratt divorce
case will probably be completed this fore
noon unless the plans Of the attorneys
change. Colonel Pratt's lawyers announced
yesterday afternoon they would not put
the colonel on the witness stand and That
they could finish their case in an hour.
1t is believed the case will be submitted
to the court some time this week.
The session of court yesterday lasted only
an hour. DR.. H. NJ. Mechanism, Mrs.
Pratt's physician, testified he had been
called to attend her first in September,
1908, the fall after she was married, He said
she complained OF nervousness and Sleep
lessness. His testimony closed the case
for the plaintiff.
The defense stated its side Of the case
by putting on witnesses to refute the evil
dence of Mrs. Pratt that Colonel Pratt
was frequently intoxicated, Johns. Collins,
John F. Coad and Charles F. McGrew. all
testified they had known Colonel Pratt
intimately for a number of years, but had
never seen him intoxicated.
HE drinks more or less" said Mr.. Coad.
but l never saw him intoxicated. Some
times he would get on the water wagon for
six months OF more. have seen him re-
fuse drinks a number Of times. At times
he could not drink because Of some stom-
ach trouble"
WOmRn's Lawyer on stand.
More Of the details of the negotiations
for a settlement Of the difference between
Colonel and Mrs Pratt came out at the
hearing Tuesday morning when d. NJ. Vim
sonhaler, one of Mrs. Pratt's attorneys,
went on the stand Among other things
he testified as TO q conversation he had
with H. w Magee, Colonel Pratt's son-in-
law an attorney Of Chicago.
In the conversation Magee asked the
divorce suit be delayed until he could go
to San Antonio to see Colonel Pratt. He
said he would recommend that Colonel
Pratt allow Mrs. Pratt 500 as a basis Of
separation.
Judge Vinsonhaler was c-ross-examlned
by Colonel Pratt, himself. He asked about
the intimate business and professional
relations between v~insonhaler and Colonel
Pratt and the witness said the colonel had
talked with him about his business to
some extent. Referring to the conversation
between the witness and Colonel Magee,
the latter asked:
Didn't 1 offer you $500 for every month
you would delay the filing of the sult?'
CRnnRt Recall II.
Il don't recall. j wouldn't say you
didn't, however,"
Didn't you make the proposition that
$4,000 either in cash or interest bearing
securities be put up for Mrs. Pratt so she
could get the interest and that Colonel
Pratt pay her $50 8 4Tonth besides?"
Judge Vinsonhalers said he did not recall
that Mrs. Pratt was &c get the interest.
Asked If this proposition was not the
untimatum from Mrs. Pratt, he said he
did not think 1t was
my impression f." he said. THAT my
last PROPOSITION was $500 a month ii the
matter was closed up at once" -
J. Before judge vy9sonhsler went on the
stand Mark NJ. Farmer, teller of the Bank
Of Benson, identified the signature Of Mrs.
sabira Zweifel TO a number of letters
to Colonel Pratt. Mrs. Eliza Bonhoff of
Benson testified she has seen Colonel Pratt
call at the zweifel house a number of times
some of which were after his marriage to
Mrs. Pratt.
Neither Colonel Pratt nor Mrs. Pratt
were in the court room during the morn
ing session and the crowd in the lobby
was greatly diminished, The proceedings
lacked and startling developments and the
hearing was generally dull aud uninterest-
ing.