The Washington herald., 1908-05-21
PLATT MAKES DENIAL
Found Mae Wood Agreeable;
Remembers Nothing.
MEMORY FAULTY ON STAND
Aged Statesman Aided to His seat
in witness Chair-PhysioaIIy Dee
cFepid, bat Mentally AIert-Eneyv
Nothing OF Letters His Son Paid
$4,000 to Get from Complainant.

$4,000 to Get from Complainant.
New York, May a.-Leaning On two
men. as crutches. Thomas Collier Platt
senior United States Senator from the
State Of New York. shambled in Justice
O'Gorman's court to-day. 10 deny that he
had ever married Mae Catherine Wood.
For nearly two hours he occupied the
stand, under direct and cross-examina-
ton. Then he was lifted from the Wit
ness chair and practically carried out Of
| the courtroom.
What he did not deny, he could not
remember. save that he identified some
letters he had written to the Wood wo-
man.
An agreeable woman, very agreeable
woman" he described her, and one with
whom. for a while. he found it a pleasure
to correspond and meet socially. But
further than that. he would not commit
himself.
Emphatic Denial Made.
His denials OF any more intimate inter
course with her than was indicated by
his admitted letters, was quite emphatic
in tone, though never more expressive in
words than simple II did not, sir" or
an absolutely and positively. no."
At the same time his faulty memory, to
which his counsel. John B. stanehAeld
drew the attention OF Justice O'Gorman,
led the aged Senator into some curious
tangIes OF testimony. at the end Of which
he could only turn at bay and fail back
on his: 7 do not recall If 1t were 50,
I think I would remember it. But do
not remember any such thing.
Senator PLATE made q pathetic figure in
the witness chair. His thin, transparent
fingers resting on his narrow. tenuous
knee, fidgeted constantly, some times
with the trOuser cloth. again with his
chain-suspended eye glasses.
Somewhat vain efforts 10 cross his legs
and get into a more comfortable posi-
tion marked every few minutes Of his
testimony. Once he dropped his eye
glass case and was quite unconscious
OF the fact till Mr.. Stanchdeld handed i
! back TO him.
Body Decrepid, Mind Alert.
But above the semi-derelict body foated
a head and brain that was bright and
clear. even if memory did sometimes
betray him. His calm. white-bearded face
was In repose. his wide open eyes shining
Ike gray steel lamps from tn cavities
In which they were sunk
A careful attention 70 his dress and
personal appearance may be due more
10 kind hands that look after him But
there was back OF it a personal pride
that showed he knew he looked well
and would not have permitted himself
TO appear in public otherwise.
Most interesting Of ell we're the occa-
sional flashes of vigoT, especially during
his discrimination. Annoyed and al
most angered BY the constant repetition
OF a question. he would force forward
the upper part Of his body seize his eye
glasses. shake them in the direction Of
his ouestioner. and exclaim IN no trem-
ulous or uncertain voice. but with the
hrmness and loudness Of a man accus-
toned 10 brook no such coutumely:
I have already answered that question,
sir. What you state Is absolutely false" "
There spoke the boss, or his living
memory
Never Knew of Purchased Letter.
one curious part Of his testimony. on
cross-examinaHon, showed that he had
never known. as he said, till ne came
into court to-day that $4,000 Of his money
had been paid out to get from the Wood
woman the letters she held which he
had written her during the course Of
their acquaintance.
Not until MI Stanchfield examined
him again on this subject did IT tran
srire that the Senator had left all the
Wood case TO his son Frank. who had
effected the settlement, got the letters,
and then told his father that il had
the money without asking any more
questions, and never laid hands or eyes
on any letters his son had purchased.
AS to the supposed typewriter con-
| fession which Mae Wood produced in
evidence, the supposed letter dated IN
Washington, December 10, 1906, and pur-
porting to admit frankly that she was
/ his wife and that he had obtained her
papers and letters BY duress. the Sen
ator said positively he had been asked
on that day by his valet to write his
autograph on a blank piece Of paper for
lady who was waiting outside his
rooms in the Arlington.
He signed his name as requested. He
was sure the paper was blank. and that
the typewriter matter must have been
added later.
Following the testimony OF the sena-
tor, his valet. Rowland and his nurse,
Mrs. Abel and her husband ali testi-
fed that two heavily vailed women had
| presented blank pieces Of paper on
which they wanted the autograph OF the
Senator TO add 70 a collection already
formed IN WASHINGTON