The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-05-21
.PLATT DENIES
 GIRLS STORY Aged Senator on the Wit
 ness Stand. DID NOT MARRY MAE WOOD Paid $l0,000 to Secure Certain Letters.
 Former Leader of Republicans So Feeble That He Was Supported
 when He Appeared In Court

New York. May 2o--United States Senator Thomas c. Piatt, for many years the leader of the Republican party in this State, testified In his own behalf today and denied all the charges made in the suit for absolute divorce brought against him by Mae C. Wood q former newspaper woman, and iaw- yer of Omaha, Nebraska.
 Most of the Senator's testimony was given in a low, indistinct tone; but when counsel for Miss Wood pressed him hard the Senator answered in sharp tone.
 The Senator denied Miss Woods statement that he married her in the Fifth Avenue Hotel in this city on November g, 1901, but declared that he met her at the hotel to take her to dinner He declared that he never married her and never promised to do so. He did pay his son, Frank Platt ti0s000 to secure certain letters in a suit Miss Wood brought some time ago. The Senator also denied that he ever signed a letter to Miss Wood which she had given in evidence and which purported to acknowledge Miss Wood as hsi wife.
 Pintf on the stand.
 Tn opening his testimony the Senator said that he was nearly 75 years old. Ills first wife died in 1901. He first met Miss Wood in 1901. 's5 'fDo you remember seeing her at the Oriental Hotel?" was asked.
 T 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 wife7"
 T never asked her; it's false"
 The Senator described his rooms at the Arlington Hotel and said No. I5s was the parlor and there were two bedrooms and bath room.
 Did yoE talk to the plaintiff in Mo- vember, 1901 about marriagef" , rNO '' ls..55
 eDid you on November 5 ask Ter to marry you. tfe cerepionx to. take place on Saturday, and say you yourself. would make all arrangements?"
 T did not" replied the Senator.
 The Senator denied enphatically that he had given Miss Wood a. photograph of himself on which he had written: ITO my dear wife" Miss Wood tes- tifed that she was sitting on Platts knee while he wrote these words.
 LeBarbier Miss Woods counsel, ask ed Platt if he ever addressed Miss Wood in endearing terms.
 Platt said: T may have foolishly done so some times"
 Platt said he saw Mics Wood some- times as his business office at 49 Broad way, and that Miss Wood called with a Mrs Garfield. who was candidate for appointment in the Philippines.
 How many times did you see her at the Fifth Avenue Hotel?" asked Mir Le Barbier.
 q could not say. saw her there a good many times."
 Did you call her Katy"
 T called her Katy in my letters. was very much pleased with her and liked her very much.
 Did she call you by any pet manner"
 Never in my life"
 why did you like her."
 Because she was an agreeable wo-
 Did you ever at any time or place marry the plaintiff In this suit7" asked MT. stanchheld. counsel for the Sem ator.
 Did you ever promise to marry the plaintiff.
 q did not
 Did she ever promise to marry your"
 Not that I know of"
 The Senator said that he first learn ed that Miss Wood claimed to be his wife from a Chicago newspaper, he thought in 1903. he could not remem- Der the year.
 Did you ever give the plaintiff a
 T never gave the plaintiff a wedding ring in my life"
 Did you ever have a wedding ring inscribed for herr"
 Never in my life?" was the answer
 Shows Marriage Certificate.
 The lawyer handed the Senator the alleged certificate. and the Senator said he never saw the paper before in his life. although he had seen a photo graph of 1t
 Did you, on the night of Nov. g. 1901. hand that paper to the plaintiff?"
 T never did"
 DO you know where that exhibit was procured or who procured it?"
 q do not. ."
 "Is there any handwriting of yours on that paper?' pack and front. and answered: There s not"
 A number of letters. alleged to have ,een written by the Senator to Miss Wood were read. and he denied that he lad written any of them.
 The letter reading. Your letter is 50 bright, 1t almost reconciles me to election" was dated 1901. and Nr. Stanchheld asked: "o'Dell was elected way back in 1900, was he not2"
 He was"
 "Yes. that was the year he beat me. md thought could not be mistaken" ,aid Mir Stanchfeld. which raised a augh in the courtroom, in which the senator joined.
 The Senator declared positively that ie had never maintained improper re- ations with the plaintiff.
 ''Did you ever call her by a more name than Catty. call her asked Mir. Le Barbier.
 q don't believe I ever did"
 Did you ever tell her you were mis- srable?"
 q don't remember it."
 Mir. Le Barbier read letter alleged 70 have been written by PIatt to Mae Wood in 1901 calling her dearest Nae" saying she must not expect much rom him as his time was occupied. and life is hardly worth living" After he convention he hoped to meet her. It ended: Peace and plenty be with you."
 Platt said: q don't think 1t Is a gen
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