Omaha daily bee., 1908-05-21

llltt today testitied that ne palu FlVVW
to lis son, Frank H. Platt to bring about
settlement Of a suit brought against him
by Miss Mae c. Wood, through the law
firm Of Howe & Hummell.
NEW YORK, May 20.-Senator T. c.
PIatt went on the witness stand today to
give testimony in his own behalf in the
sensational suit brought against him by
Mae c. Wood who Is suing him for divorce
on the allegatian that he entered into a
marriage contract with her in 1901.
The senator entered court leaning heavily
on the arms of two attendants. Hs
seemed very feeble and walked with diff
Guilty He was accompanied by his son,
Frank H. Platt, and a stylishly attired
woman.
The prospect that the senator would be
in court today drew large crowds to the
county building, where the hearing is in
progress.
This prospect developed during yester-
days sensational session of the hearing,
when the court denied the motion of the
defense to dismiss the suit. Following
this decision Miss Wood continued her tes-
timony with the result that tho stRte-
ment alleged to have been signed by j.
Martin Miller was put in evidence. This
alleged that Secretary Loeb, Robert Q.
wynne. former first assistant postmaster
general now consul general at London. and
Senator Platt conspired to obtain from
Miss Wood certain letters which she
claimed we're written TO her by the senator.
Both Mr. Loeb and Mr. Wynne denied
last night that they took part in any suck
action.
The Senator'S Testimony.
In opening his testimony the senator said
he was nearly 75 years old. His first wife
died In 1901 He first met Miss Wood In
1901.
"Do you remember seeing her at the
Oriental hotelP' was asked.
Il never saw her at the Oriental hotel
In my life
DO you remember asking her in the
month OF August 1901, at the Oriental
hotel. to become your wifef"
II never asked her. It's false"
The senator described his rooms at the
Arlington hotel and said No. 15s was the
paror and there were two bedrooms and u
bath.
Did you talk TO tho plaintiff in No
vember. 1901, about marriage?"
mo"
did you on Thursday November 0. ask
place on Saturday. and say you, yourself.
would make all arrangementsT
Il did not" replied the senator.
Senator Never Gave Photograph.
The senator denied emphatically that he
had given Miss Wood a photograph OF
himself on which he had written My
Dear WIFE" Miss Wood testified that she
was sitting on Platts knee while he wrote
these words.
Mr.. lie Barber, Miss Woods counsel,
asked Platt IL he had ever addressed Miss
Wood in endearing terms.
Platt said:
II may have foolishly done so some
times"
Platt said he saw Miss Wood sometimes
at his business office at 40 Broadway and
that Miss Wood called with a Mrs. Can
field who was a candidate for/an appoint
ment in the Philippines.
How many times did you her at the
Fifth Avenue hotel2" asked Mr.. lie Bar
bier.
Il could not say I saw her good many
times"
Did you call her Ksty?"
Il called ner Catty in my letters. I was
very rauch pleased with her and liked her
very much"
Did she call you by any pet name?"
Never In my life"
why aid you like her7'
Admits she Was Agreeable.
Because she was an agreeable woman
E%NNN
marry the plaintiff in this suit?" asked
Mr.. stanohfield. counsel for the senator.
Il did not"
did you ever promise to marry Tho
PLAINTIFF
Il did not"
Did she ever promise TO marry your
mot that know Of"
The senator said that he first learned tha
MISS Wood claimed to be his wife from
h. T.,
he could not remember the year.
did you ever give the plaintiff a wed
ding rns2'
Il never gave the plaintiff wedding rinl
In my life"
did you ever have wedding ring in
scrlbed for herr
Never In my life" was the answer.
The lawyer handed the senator the al
legged marriage certificate and the sena
tor said that he never saw the paper be
fore In his life. although he had seen
a photograph OF It.
Marriage Certificate False.
did you on the night OF November {
1901. hand that paper TO the plaintiff2''
Il never ala"
DO you know where that exhibit wa
procured. or who procured it7"
II do not"
rs there any hanwriting of yours ol
that paperH''
The senator looked the paper over. bacl
and front, ana answered: There is not"
number o, the letters alleged to hav
been written by the senator to Miss Woo,
were read and he denied be had wrlttei
them.
The letter reading; Your letter is 5,
bright Il almost reooncIied me to odeu'
election" was dated 1906. and MT stanch
field asked;
"odsli wAs elected way back in 1900. wa
he notf"
He was"
Yes, that was the year he beat me. an'
I thought 1 could not be mistaken" sai'
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