The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1908-06-09
PRICE PLAT PAID
TO ESCAPE DIVORCE
Brought to Light by Suit of Coun-
sci For Senator's Wife.
GAVE HER $4,000 in CASH

A Home at Highland Mills and S1O,-
900 Year ForFivc Years-Her
Lawyers Also Want S2471 I'm
paid Bills.
New York City--The terms under
which Mrs. Lillian Janeway Platt
called off her suit for divorce against
her husband, United States Senator
Thomas G. Platt, in the fall Of 1906,
were made public in suit brought
by Edgar Joseph, managing clerk for
the law firm OF Marsh, Winslow &
Viewer, of Ill Broadway, against
Senator Platt to recover $2471, the
amount alleged to have been paid by
the law firm, Mrs. Platt's attorneys,
on her behalf, and for which. it was
alleged, Senator Platt was RESPONSE
Bile. The case was heard before SUI
preme Court Justice Ford and jury
and sealed verdict was ordered.
According to the separation agree
ment, which is dated November IA,
1906. Senator. P1att agreed if his
wife would drop her action for di-
$40, 900 year for five years, and
certain valuable property, including
Tioga Lodge, at Highland Mills In
consideration Of this Mrs. Plat re-
leased her husband from any further
claim on him or his estate, besides
agreeing not to sue him at any time
in this State for a divorce. She, how
ever, reserved the right to begin di-
vnrao Yaro0nodipoc OF hin, Oh on1y
time she chose in any other State,
but not on the grounds Of his miscon-
duct
Daniel De Wolf Viewer, of her
counsel, was appointed trustee for
Mrs. Plat under the agreement The
present suit arises out of misunder-
standing between Mrs. Platt's law
yers and ex-Justice Hatch, who was
retained on behalf of Senator Platt
in September, 1906, when the settle
ment was arrived at For the pur-
poses of this action Marsh, Winslow
e Viewer assigned their claim against
Senator Plat to Joseph, their manag-
ing clerk, and he brought the action.
Senator and Mrs. Plat separated
on September 20, 1906. Soon after
she began her suit for divorce against
him through Marsh, Winslow &
Viewer Frank H. Platt, of the law
firm of Boardman, O'Brien. Platt &
Littleton, took charge of the case for
his father. He retained Justice
Hatch. Bills amounting to between
$4,000 and $1,000 for various things,
Including diamonds purchased by Mrs.
Platt, were discussed. Mrs. Platt
wanted her husband to settle all these
before she would agree to any settle
ment of their marital differences. Mr..
Plat expressed his Willingness to pay
the bills for any necessaries up to the
date of their separation, September
20, 1906, but would not agree to pay
for luxuries.
The necessaries amounted to about
$500. After this the separation
proposal was discussed When Frank
Platt paid his fathers wife $25, 900
he did so under the impression that
this amount was to include the pay
ment of the bills contracted by Mrs.
Platt for necessaries. But Mr.. Viewer
said no such arrangement was made
between him and Justice Hatch, and
that the latter agreed that if Mr..
Viewers firm paid the bills the money
SO paid would be refunded to them
later. Acting on this impression Mr..
Viewer said he paid out $2471, but
then stopped as he learned that Sena-
tor Plat had repudiated the verbal
part of the agreement The present
suit was then begun to enforce the
repayment of the sums paid out by
Mr.. Viewer.