Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-05-20

ANIMATION, was led to tell OIL the cir
cumstances under which she signed in
1903 in this city a release of Senator
Platt from any claims she may have
had against him. She testified that
she received from A. H. Hummel thu
sum Of $500 upon signing the state.
| ment, but denied that she was aware
of all its contents. The crosS-eXaml-
nation ended early in the afternoon
and was followed by motion on the
part of the defendants counsel to dis
miss the complaint. This was denied
by the court and Attorney LeBarbier
for Miss Wood, then introduced the
statement purporting to have beer
signed by Miller and was examining
bliss Wood regarding it when court
adjourned for the day.
New York, May 19-Mae c. Wood con-
tinued her testimony today in her suit
for absolute divorce from United States
Senator Thomas c. Platt, to whom she
alleges she was married in this city in
1901. Senator Plat, through his counsel
contends that no such marriage took
place and asserts that the marriage GER
tficate which Miss Wood produced in
court and copies of several letters al
legged to have been written by the senator
to Miss Wood are forgeries. The case is
made sensational by the fact that Sena-
tor Platts marriage to Lillian Janeway
of Washington occurred subsequently to
the alleged marriage to Miss Wood. I'm
usual interest is also given to the case
by Miss Woods allegation that the let
<Ioi,, TO
the senator were secured fraudulently
from her.
John 3. Stanchfield, counsel for the
senator, has brought out in testimony
apparent discrepancies between Miss
Woods statement that she was married
to the senator in 1901 and certain other
allegations which she is alleged to have
made in 1903 and 1905 to the effect that
Senator Plat had broken his promise to
marry her. Miss Wood questioned the
authenticity OF the affidavits she was al
legged to have made in 1908 and 1905.
Mr.. Stanchfield continued his cross-ex-
animation Of Miss Wood today, question
ing her about release which she gave
to Abraham H. Hummel. the former law
yer, in 1903, in which she agreed to ac-
StIl Slu,oUV Ill SeltlcIleHt VI lleT CldlIllS
against Senator Platt. Miss Wood de-
clared yesterday that this release was
signed under duress, but she said she ac-
cepted some of the money. Although
Miss Wood had signed the release and de-
clared in an accompanying affidavit that
she gave the alleged Platt letters to
Hummel as her attorney, she denied to-
day that she retained Hummel as her at
torney, and declared that she could have
obtained $4,000 for the letters. Miss
Wood said today that she was paid $7500
for the letters. She did not know where
the money came from, she said
In the cross-examination the question:
ing attorney frequently produced news
paper clippings purporting to recount in
terviews with Miss Wood regarding her
relations with the senator. In many in
stances she acknowledged having made
the statements attributed to her, but in
others she declared that she had not been
correctly quoted. In one case the attor-
ney asked Miss Wood if she had been
correctly quoted in saying that she was
afraid Flat would defeat her Nebraska
suit by marrying her. She laughed and
replied that she had made no such state
ment to the reporter.
why did the reporter write it them"
she was asked
Because it was good newspaper stuff
and people want it," she replied.
"And advertised you?"
at advertised Platt," she replied with
smile
In letter written by Miss Wood to
A. II. Hummel which was produced by
the attorney she wrote that Martin Mil
Ter had demanded that she buy him a
diamond ring. "This." says the letter,
latter the 500 you remember I gave him
in your office. Well. 1 gave him the 500
and told him for Gods sake to keep
away from my hotel"
Miss Wood testified yesterday that ].
Martin Miller, now United States consul
at Rheims, France. had forced her to
give mp some Of the letters she had re-
ceived from Senator Plat.