The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-19
Case Is Called Before Justice O'GOrnaR In the Supreme
 Court of New York
LOVING LETTERS FROM
 SENATOR IN EVIDENCE
Miss Wood Testifies That Marriage Ceremony Was Performed at Hotel Between Herself and
 Platt in November, 1901.


 New York, May 1S.-Mae Catherine Wood was on the witness stand all day today testifying in her suit for absolute divorce from United States Senator Thomas c. Platt, before Justice O'Gor- man in the supreme court. In spite of her asserting that she had been secretly married to Senator Piatt at the Fifth Avenue hotel on November g, 1so1, her counsel introduced in evidence a marri- age certificate which she said had been handed her by the minister who per- formed the ceremony and copies of number of letters alleged to have been written to her by the senator addressed in terms of endearment. On cross-exam- ination Miss Wood told how she came to give up the papers and letters she pos sessed relating to Senator Platt alleging that she did so under duress and was compelled to sign a receipt for s10,0o0 in settlement of all her claims against the senator.
 Miss Wood in her suit named as CO., responedent Lillian Janeway, whom Sem ator Platt married in 1903.
 Senator Platt was not in court today.
 Miss Wood was the first witness She testified that MT Platts first promise to marry her was at Manhattan Beach He said the marriage must be a secret. as he was an old man." added the witness.
 Knew Her Past.
 q demurred, and told him that he knew nothing about me, but he said he knew all my past life.'
 Miss Wood said she had two letters from Senator Platt but that one of them was demanded from her by J. Martin Miller and anoter man in October, 1908, and that she had never seen it since. Her counsel showed the witness a typewriter copy of a letter and she identified it as containing practically the contents of the missing letter It was offered in evil dence and admitted despite the objections of John B. Stanchfeld, Senator Platts counsel The copy was dated Friday, No- vember s, 1901, and read, in part, as fol- lows:
 NY llllllt DIlQc-lO-Dts Have lHduc all arrangements. You are not to say anything to anybody You are to obey my instructions implicitly. inclose card to the hotel. You will be there at o'clock and have room 15S. I an old fool but you shall never regret this step. Lovingly, TOM"
 Another letter of the same date was of fered in evidence in which the writer ad- vised Miss Wood that he would not reach the hotel until after o'clock, and that she was to go to her room and await a signal from him.
 Marriage Ceremony.
 The witness said she waited as directed that Senator Platt came to her room with two men, that he embraced her and in- troduced her to the men.
 T took his hand" said Miss Wood, and one of the men began the civil cers- mony by saying. You take this woman to be your lawful welded wife and you this man to be your lawful welded hus- band? "
 Miss Wood said Platt gave her a wed- | ding ring and she displayed the ring to the court. It bore inscription. She l declared that she thought the man who l performed the ceremony was a minister and that he gave her a marriage certih- cate This alleged certificate was offered
 
 witness said she remained in the hotel for three days and then returned to her duties. The marriage, she said, was not made public because MT. Platt wanted it to be kept secret.
 He wanted me to live in the next room to him and say that I was his secretary, said Miss Wood, but l refused" Several copies of letters alleged to have been written by MT. Platt were then read | btrM rThay a d. dressed in terms of endearment and ] signed "Faithfully your trom.'' 1 In a letter from Washington, dated No 1 vember, 1901, was the phrase Your let l ter has cheered me up so that 1 am al- most recoaciled to Odells election" The ! writer told Miss Wood not to worry about l his children, as they are all taken care of and that he can do as he pleases | A Thousand Kisses. | Another clause in the letter was, q | send you a thousand kisses for the one 1 you sent me"
 1 A picture of the senator on the, back | of which was written, 'to my little wife, | was offered in evidence.
 1 How was that written?" asked Miss l Woods counsel
 l Well I was sitting on his lap. Part ! of the time l held his hand. We wrote | it together. The words. little wife, wer1 | written by him, I think" | On cross examination Miss Wood said l she is 42 years old and was born in Micn- | igan, has been married and divorced, and | has been a newspaper reporter, a schoo
 teacher and lawyer. She did newspaper | work in Omaha and also was admitted to the bar in Nebraska. She last saw
 the senator to speak to him on Augus | 18 1903.
 Counsel for Senator Platt produced letters alleged to have been writer | to Miss Wood by the senator In one | of these letters. the senator asked Miss l Wood why she does not marry MT | Middleton" and says he would like tc see Der marry before he ''cashes in. | In another letter he took Miss Wood tc task for writing about "Old Janeway, l told her that he knew all about Mrs 1 .yaneway, that Miss Wood was entirely l wrong. and concluded:
 | q have no intention of marrying Mrs. Janeway or any other woman" l Talked About Case. Miss Wood de-ied that she ever re tained O'F1aherty & Fulton of Rich mond, Va, to prepare case agains | Senator Platt. but said she had n'v l them and talked about the case. There upo,, Senator P1att's counsel received a letter II om the lawyers 70 the sena