The morning journal-courier., 1908-03-05
REACH ARGU MENTS
Mrs. Ford and Defendant Smith on in the Alienation
 Suit.
G00DHART MAKES PLEA
Summing Up of the Case Made by the Attorney for the
 Plaintiff.

All tie testimony was heard before the jury and Judge Wheeler in the superior court yesterday and the ar suments were begun in the Ford alie- nation suit before court adjourned. This morning it is expected that At torney Goodhart will be heard for the defendant and that the case will go to the jury shortly before noon.
 The case, which has been largely treated of in the papers for the last few days, is one for 5000 damages asked by Julius Guy Ford bookkeep- CT in the employ of J. A. Smith & Co. and formerly a clerk in the Five and Ten Cent store, against Frank L. Smith, a farmer and milk dealer of North Haven.
 The court room yesterday was crowd cd to its utmost A large part of those present were women and there was so much whispering and running on the testimony as it was given that the court had :o stop the proceedings more than once to caution those pres ent to be careful or they would be taken into custody by the sheriffs.
 The sensation of the day came dur ing the afternoon session. when Mrs. Ford and MT. smith were put on the stand. They were the only witnesses offered hy Attorney Goodhart, the law yer for the defense.
 Mrs. Ford was dressed exactly as the day before in black suit and veil and with gray fur piece about her neck. She told her story modestly and quiet ly. being watched intently every sec end by Smith, the defendant. with whom, it IS claimed, shc was more intimate that married woman should be. Attorney Ely for the plaintiff cross examined Mrs Ford and did his best to put her at a disadvantage but she held her own successfully. Asked why it was she had not told her husband about Ter meetings with Smith, she said she had not wished to because she did not want it to cause any trouble. She denied making suggestion to At- torney Goodhart as the case had pro- gressed as to what question to ask the witnesses of the plaintiff except where the evidence had touched upon | her and her actions wrongfully
 Smith, who is a powerfully built man with curly light hair and a generous | light mouslache was next put on the stand by Mir. Goodhart and put through the pacos. There was litter of excitement when he was asked if inc had ever kissed Mrs. Ford. One of the witnesses earlier In the trial had testified that he had seen him do so But this he emphatically denied. He said that he had never treated Mrs Ford other than a gentleman should and that she had never acted other than a chaste and refined woman should.
 Neither Mrs. Ford or Mir. Smith would admit that they knew of any ill reputation that Lucys had. The place | ir question used to be on Temple street and it was there that much of l the recent Norton divorce case center ed Secretary Stokes of the university l had been put on the stand earlier in the day by the defense to testify as to the bad reputation of the place. II was there that Mrs. Ford and Mir. smith used to go often after they had been to the theater or out driving to- gether
 On cross examination Smith said he had never said anything to Ford about his visits to Mrs. Ford because he did not consider if any of his business to tell him anything about it. He ex- plained the method that Mrs. Ford and he used in their meetings. He said he usually went out Mondays collecting lis milk bills. He arranged 1t so that Mrs. Ford met him every Monday aft ernoon. Then they went driving to- gether. The meeting place was on a corner not far from the house. If he | could not go driving with her he call ] ed and told her so. Earlier in the aft ernoon Mrs. Ford had testified that the reason why she had not had Smith drive up to the house and then take her out was because she did not want any of the neighbors to have anything to talk about
 MT. Goodhart put in evidence letter written by Lawyer Webb, who is con ducting the case for Ford with Attor- ney Ely, which urged Smith to make a money settlement The letter had not I been noticed by Smith in any way and the present suit had been the outcome,
 After Smiths evidence tho defensC | rested and short recess was had | After the recess few witnesses were recalled for rebuttal testimony Thes the arguments were begun. The oniy argument heard yesterday was that ol MT, Webb which lasted until o'clock after which the court adjourned unti 10 o'clock this morning. MT. Webb | argument was sane. undcmonstrativ, talk to the jury, which brought forti much favorable comment from the law l yers present in court. During it Al, torncy Goodhart made copious notes and it is expected that when he gets hi. chance this morning he will have { big crowd of auditors.
 MT Webb said that he wanted f plainly understood by the jury at th, outset, that there was but one defend ant in the case, Smith He described Smith as a man who had insidiousl, come to the Ford home intent on in, purpose of winning the heart of th, wife, and breaking up tho happy home For it was a happy home" said Mr Webb. The Fords may have had their bickcrings as every couple has, bu they loved each other and that can, not be denied" The letter he hat written to Smith he explaine to show the natural instincts of Mir Ford. hon. l ing that the matter would be settle, out of court. Mir. Webb spoke of Smitl
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