The San Francisco call., 1908-05-20
Affidavit Signed "J. Martin Mil
Ter" Charges Conspiracy by
Government Officials
Former Assistant Postmaster
General Wynn Is Accused of
Initiating Scheme
Woman Claiming Senator as
Husband Declares She Was
Imprisoned and Threatened
SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE CALL


NEW YORK, May 1o.-There were
three important phases today in the
trial of Mae c. Woods suit for d.
vorce against Senator Platt. Miss
Wood admitted having typewriter q
letter and having sent it to Senator
Platt's apartments in the Arlington
at Washington for signature. In this
letter Platt acknowledged her to be
his wife. She swore she stood on the
threshold Of the door and saw him
sign it. She spurned as ridiculous
the suggestion that a blank sheet OF
paper had been sent up TO the senator
by a Mrs Dunning. q friend OF hers.
with request for n autograph and
that the typewritIen matter had been
added afterward.
She was forced TO admit that at that
time she knew Senator Piatt had just
married Mrs. Janeway and that his
signature to such q paper would be a
confession OF bigamy-
There was a desperate fight on the
part OF the Plaft lawyers TO keep out
a document signed by J. Martin Mil
Ter. now United States consul TO
Rheims.
THREATENED By HUMMEL
Miss Wood had testified that she was
taken 70 the office OF Howe < Hummel
BY Miller. and after being detained
there q prisoner and threatened and
deprived of food, she was compelled TO
surrender the letters and documents
she received from Senator Plat and
70 sign a receipt for $4,000 She re-
celved $500 OF this amount. and IL is
assumed that Howe Humnael retained
the balance for their fees.
Miss Wood declared that after ieav-
ing Howe & Hummei,s. Office she gave
Miller 800 and that he wanted her 10
buy him a diamond ring
Niller's affidavit. signed October Is,
1903. reads as follows:
4 was asked by high government Of
ficials at Washin gton and New York TO
get possession Of Senator Platt's love
letters TO Mae C. Wood. In order to
do this I had to pretend 1 would get
out a book, for which she gave me
the manuscript II was agreed BY al
parties interested that 1 was 10 get her
10 New York and get the papers out
OF her room.
Mr.. Loeb called up Platt in New
York and told him Miss Wood was GO
ing TO sue him for breach Of promise.
the scheme. I failed TO get possession
OF any original documents or letters.
We then began the scandal in news
papers 10 force her TO come to terms
-Wynne. first assistant postmaster
general. started the ball rolling by get
ting the New York World to print the
article as 1t first appeared. I estab-
lished my headquarters in the Tribune
building and. disseminated such infor-
nation as 1 could get from the Office OF
the first assistant postmaster general
CALLS 1T CONSPIRACY
Senator T. C. Platt was fully in
formed OF all matters by me. as l was
instructed to cooperate with him. but
the original papers were not to be given
to Platt, but 10 Mr.. Loeb in Washing
ton.
I was got into the conspiracy by
powerful officials whom 1 would not
dare TO displease from a newspaper or
political standpoint I consulted Mr.
quently, and acted at all times under
the direction of Loeb and Platt.
u. MARTIN MILLER
II IS understood that Miller's confes-
sion viii be brought TO the attention
Of President Roosevelt
Miss Woods cross examination ended
early in the afternoon, and was fol-
lowed by a motion on the part of the
defendants counsel to dismiss the COM
plant This was denied by the court
and Attorney Lebarbier, for Miss Wood,
then introduced the statement purport-
ing TO have been signed by Miller, and
was examining Miss Wood regarding il
when court adjourned for the day.