The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-05-21
MAE WOOD HELD.
tcontilaed from Page one.)

c: Wood against United States Senator
Thomas c. Plat for divorce. The
DEFENDANTS attorneys have several
more witnesses to introduce. The
testimony Of Peter F. Strassburger,
shipping agent for a firm of litho-
graphers. that the alleged certificate
OF marriage produced by Mae Wood
was on blank printed by his firm
ana or which several lots had been
Sold was expected to be made the
basis for further evidence, today to
attack the genuineness of the certifi-
cate.
New York. May 21.-At the con-
clusion of the Wednesday afternoon
session Justice O'Gorman announced
that the trial must conclude with to-
days sessions, no matter how late q
sitting OF the court it might invoke.
In support of Senator Platt's con-
tent1on that his signature to state
ment acknowledging Miss Wood as
deception. counsel for Senator Plat
submitted to the court an affidavit by
Mrs. Dunning in which she said that
she secured Senator Platt's autograph
by sending a book to his rooms in the
Arlington hotel, with a request for
his signature. Mrs. Dunning said she
gave the autograph to Miss Wood and
that Miss Wood was delighted with it.
A deposition by Thomas R. Porter.
newspaper man of Omaha, which
was given in evidence by Senator
Platt's counsel gave the substance Of
an interview which Porter had with
Miss Wood. Porter quoted Miss
Wood as saying that she was at work
for Leslie's publications in New York,
in 1901, and was sent TO interview
terview and invited her to call when
she wanted another. Later when she
wanted an appointment as teacher
in the Philippines. she went to see
Senator Plat with woman friend
who also wanted an appointment. At
terward this woman, Miss Wood was
quoted as saying, made herself so dis
agreeable that Senator Platt thought
1--WE would have to elope to escape
her But my sense OF humor would
not permit me to elope with 70
year old groom whom l would have
to support as he walked"
Miss Wood added: II could not al
ford to antagonize such powerful in
terests as Senator Plat and was oblig-
ed to put up with him to a certain ex-
thinks him matrimonial prize to
have been in my shoes for about one
day"
Mr.. Porter also testified that April
20, 1905, Miss Wood stated to him:
II was afraid the senator might beat
me out by agreeing to fulfill his prom
Use and marry me; and if there is one
thing that would be more humihating
than suing this old man for breach
of promise it would be to be Obliged
to marry and live with him."
Said She Broke Engagement.
MIR. Porter also stated that Miss
Wood told him that she had become
1908. and shortly afterwards he wanted
to . break the engagement, but that
she finally broke it on account of Mr..
Platt's attentions to Mrs. Janeway
his present wife.
A letter written by Miss Wood to
Abraham Hummell the former lawyer
in 1906, was made public. In it Miss
Wood attacked ]. Martin Miller and
1.-The politicians who she said, had
been associated with him in the con-
spiracies against her.
In deposition by Frank Haight, a
Chicago reporter. which was read in
court. Haight-. quoted Miss Wood as
having told hffn in an interview that
she-wa unable to find Edward w
Rice, whose name was signed as Off
ciating clergyman to her marriage GER
tificate and that she sometimes believ-
ed that the man who performed the
ceremony was one of Platt's secretar-
!, les. In this deposition Miss Wood was
quoted as saying that she was aston
ished when Senator Plat came torthe
Fifth Avenue hotel in 1901 and an
nounced he was going to marry her
but knowing hts craving for dramatic
episodes she agreed. She said the
ceremony was a mere marriage con-
tract.
Edward Rowland, assistant 5anitol
for the United States Express com.
pany, but in 1906 valet to Senator Platt
testified to the senator's furnishing ar
autograph signature on blank shee'
of paper to two women applicants a
the Arlington hotel in this city in 1906
The witness was shown the letter II
which Senator Platt is alleged to have
admitted his marriage to Miss Wood
and identified the page on which the
senator's name was written as the pa
per to which the senator had affixed
his signature on the occasion in ques
ton.