Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-05-21
PLATT MAKES DENIAL
Did Not Marry Mrs. Wood, De-
 cIares New York Senator.
MIGHT HAVE BEEN "FooLIsH'

|
 Admits Possibility of Having Address. | ed Plaintiff In Terms of Affection. Enters Courtroom Leaning on Arms of Attendants.
 New York, May '22.--Decrepit and palsied--so infirm indeed that locomo- tion was Impossible without the help on either side of an attendant-Unite States Senator Thomas Collier Platt took the witness stand in his own be- half in the divorce action of Mae C.. Wood before Justice O'Gorman in the supreme court and entered a general denial to the charges which the wom- an has preferred against him. Senator Platt denied the alleged se- cret marriage; denied that he had ever discussed, proposed or arranged for any marriage with the plaintiff, in fact, denied in its entirety the circum. stantial story that Mae Wood sw0re to on the witness stand as to the events of Nov. O. 1901, the date on which the alleged ceremony was per formed.
 { With deathly pallor in his face, his hand trembling. his voice echoing weak and hollow through the silent courtroom, the senator admitted that he might ''foolishly" have addressed the woman by affectionate terms; ad- mitted that some of the letters intro duced in evidence had been penned by him; admitted that he had found her agreeable" and had admired her; ad- mitted the payment of $10,000 to se- cure his letters to her. But straining his voice to its utmost capacity, he denounced as forgeries the certificate of marriage and the acknowledgment of the validity of the Wood woman's claim upon him. He branded as ut terly false' her story of the meeting at the Fifth Avenue hotel, of the ensuing ceremony, of the proposal of marriage at the Oriental hotel, of the injunction of secrecy and of his holding her in his lap while he guided her hand in sign ing a picture of himself For my little wife" s,. .......
 Might Have Been Foolish" ..
 When asked if he had ever addressed her in endearing terms he first said No" and then qualified his answer when testifying, T may have done 1t foolishly sometimes"
 He admitted that Mrs. Wood was in his apartments at the Fifth Avenue hotel on Nov. 9, 1901, the day she con- tends a legal marriage ceremony was performed. The senator, however, said that he had merely asked her there to have dinner with him and that she had not remained. as she testified, for the next three days. ....
 He admitted, however, that they had a code of signals by rapping on the door between the room she occupied and the outer ones.
 Senator Platt also under cross exam- ination admitted that his secretary at that time was Albert Howe. a Metho- dist Episcopal clergyman. but he de- nied that he had ever officiated at a marriage ceremony or signed mar riage certificate. I
 Some amusement was caused when Edward Le Barbier. counsel for the plaintiff, asked Senator Platt if he had not written Mrs. Wood, addressing her as Dear Katy"
 II might have said Catty," Senator Platt replied. |
 Do you spell 1t CaatyT'
 "No, Catty," almost shouted the wit. ness"
 Was 1t pet name"
 "No." said Senator Platt emphatic ally. s......
 Thinks Signature Forgery.
 Senator Platt said that the letter be- ginning. T am willing to admit that | you are my legal wife" bore his true signature. but that when he had writ ten his name the sheet was blank. He a len safd ha thought fha givnatttrp |