Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-05-21
Yourself to Miss Wood. in 19ca?"

ala not.
when did the letters come TO your
attention." Il don't recollect that
ever had the letters
what part did j. Miller have IN
securing the return OF those letters
Il don't recall that he had anything
to do with it," the senator answered.
And he denied also that Miller ever
demanded money from his son FRANK
for similar purposes he dld, however
endorse a $4,000 note for Miller ne
said. This now has Deen almost Gil
| tirely paid, he said.
The senator said he married MIS-
Lillian Janeway in October, l9oS. lie
was not permitted to answer When
asked if there had been previous
secret marriage.
| At the conclusion of the cross-eA-
animation he was asked If he recall
ed receiving a letter from Howe ana
| Hummel in reference to a case Which
they contemplated to bring against
him He replied that he did. At That
| time he gave his son Frank II. Plat
$4,000 to secure the return OF certain
letters ia this case. He understood
the case was brought for Miss Wood
| he said.
Replying to questions by Mr.. Stanch-
field Plat said that when he sad pre-
viously that he paid no money for the
letters he meant that he paid none TO
j. Martin Miller.
In support to Senator Platt's con-
tention that his signature to state
ment acknowledging Mis- Wood as his
legal wife was obtained by deception,
counsel for Senator Patt submitted
to court an affidavit by . Mrs. Dun
ming in which she said that she Sc
cured Senator Platts autograph by
sending a book to his room in the
Arlington hotel with a request Tor ms
signature. Mrs. Dunning sald she
gave the autograph to Miss Wood ana
that Miss Wood was delighted with
it.
A deposition by Thomas r. Porter,
a newspaper man of Omaha, Neb
which was given in evidence by Sen
ator Platt's counsel today gave the
substance of an interview with Porter
had with Miss Wood. Porter quoted
Miss Wood as saying that she was at
work for Leslies publications in New
York in 1901 and was set to interview
Senator Platt, who gave her an inter-
view and invited her to call when sne
| wanted another. Later when sne
! wanted an appointment as a teacher
in the Philippines she went to see
Senator Platt again with woman
friend who also wanted an appoint
ment. AfterWard this woman, Miss
Wood was quoted as saying, made
herself so disagreeable that Senator
Platt thought he would have to elope
to escape her. But my sense of humor
would not premit me to elope with
70-year- old bridegroom whom l
would have to support as he walked,
Miss Wood added. Il could not. af-
. ford to antagonize such powerful in
terests as Senator Platt and would
be obliged to put up with him to
certain extent. I'd like to have any
one who thinks him a matrimonial
prize to have been in my shoes for
about one day.
Mr.. Platt also testified that on Apri!
20. 1905, Miss Wood stated to him:
81 was afraid the senator might
beat me out by agreeing to fulfil his
is promise and marry me; and Ii
there is one thing that would be more
humiliating than suing this old man
/, for breach of promise; it would be to
I |
Mr.. Porter also stated that Miss
Wood told him that she had become
engaged to marry Senator Plat in 1908
and shortly afterwards he wanted to
break the engagement but that she
finally broke it on account OF Mr..
Platt's attentions to Mrs. Janeway, his
, present wife.
A letter written by Miss Wood to
| In,
made public today. In it Miss Wood
attacked u Martin Miller and the
politicians" who she said had been
associated with him in the conspiracies
against her.
In deposition by Frank Halght
Chicago reporter, Haight quoted
Miss Wood as having told him in an
interview that she was unable to find
Edward w. Rice whose name was
signed as officiating clergyman to her
marriage certificate and that she
sometimes believes that the man who
t performed the ceremony was one OF
Platt's secretaries In this deposit
ton Miss Wood was quoted as say
ing that she was astonished when
Senator Plat came to the Fifth Ave
nue. hotel in 1901 and announced that
| ne was going to marry HeT, put
KNOWING his craving for dramatic
episodes" she agreed She said the
ceremony was a mere marriage con-
tract
Edward Rowland, once valet fo'
Senator Plat, was shown the letter
in which Senator Platt is alleged tc
have admitted his marriage to Miss
Wood. and Unidentified the page on
which the senator's name was written
as the paper to which the senator had
affixed his signature on the occasion
in question.
Court adjourned until tomorrow.