The Charles Mix new era. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1???-1911, 1908-05-29
MAE
MOOD
Nas Wood = Committed for Perjury
in Divorce Case.

>80 ~ - OVAA4xAhAtt0N " AGA10y
in Divorce Case.
Mae @ Woods divorce suit against
Senator Thomas c. Plat was dismissed
By Justice OaGorman In the New York
Supreme Court Thursday afternoon and
Immediately afterward the justice ON
United Mrs. Wood to the Tombs In de-
fault Of 5000 ball on q charge OF per-
jury. This startling end to the case
VA no less sudden than sensational.
The taxing Of evidence over, Justice
O'Coeman had asked her q few Ques-
lions concerning her claims and had
than listened to = short address by her
counsel In opposition to a motion to dis
miss the suit on the pleadings and evi-
dencA
The lawyers apologize argument
ended, Justice O'Gorman leaned for
ward In his chair and delivered himself
Of this short but positive opinion:
TIE court cannot credit the plainti6's
evidence a. to the alleged marriage, and
the testimony In the case impresses the
court with the belief that it is a most
wicked design to support a fictitious claim
BY forgery and perjury. The court an
not believe from the evidence that there
ever was . marriage. On the merits Of
the cass svery issue has resulted in the
courts impreaion that the plaintiff has
committed willful perjury In this case.
Being impressed with plaintiffs guilt of
perjury, the court commits her to the city
prison unless she furnishss bail IN 5000.
Delivered with all the impressive
ness that goes with q black silk gown
and . judicial position. these words fell
like thunderbolts % the Wood camp.
The case was one Of the most remark
able suits even to come up In New
York City. A United States Senator.
q feeble man q % years, the president
Of the United States Express Company,
. grandfather, the father Of adult SONS,
the husband Of . second wife whom he
married i've years ago-such q man BE-
ins sued Tor divorce BY Q woman who
claims 70 have secretly married him
nearly ssven years ago. The woman
who brought this astounding action Is
Mira Mae G. Wood, or Wood-Platt, as
shs calls herself. The defendant was
Thomas Collier Plat, for decades the
political boss Of the great State OF New
York and now representing that COM
monwealth In the upper house Of Con-
gress for the third time.
Mr.. Wood, who was herself divorced
~ Albert Wood years ago. began her
suit for q divorce from Senator Plat
On the ground Of his marriage to MrA
Jansway. and II vas the trial of this
snit that resulted In her commitment to
Jan as-a p~erjurer. The two most Inn
pogtant links In her chain. the mar.
riaes certificate and the confession"
were made her own worst accusers
when the defense dnnlly displayed Its
hand. Months OF patient detective
work. weeks Of microscopic study by
handwriting experts, and day after day
of testimony taken BY deposition In va
rious cities and States. demolished the
carefully built fabric OF evidence Mrs.
Wood had prepared. The marriage Ger
tificate was traced to the stationcrs
who sold Il; from them to the litho-
grnphers who printed II. II was shown
co~nciusively that this certificate. pur-
porting TO have been drawn on Nov. 8,
1901. Was not printed until 1902. The
other link In Mrs. Woods chain. the
confession" In which Platt was made
to acknowledge her m his wife. seemed
to almost cry out for itself that It was
IN impudent fraud.