Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-19
MAE WOOD TEST|F|ES
Tells of Her Alleged Relations
With Senator PIatt.
ADMITS RECEIVING $4,000
Supposed It Was Gratuity From
the New Yorker.
THE HUMMEL AFFIDAVIT
ADMITS RECEIVING $4,000
HUMMEL AFFIDAVIT
THE
More Letters Read in Court-Plain-
tiff Says She Flattered Lawyer.
Defendant Not Present.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK. May 19-N1ae Catherine
Wood who was born in Michigan forty
two years ago. and who is a lawyer and
has been in turn a school teacher.
newspaper reporter a stenographer. an
employe of the Post Office Department
at Washington. was cross-examined
again today before Justice O'Gorman in
the supreme court at the trial of her
suit for an absolute divorce from United
States Senator Thomas c. Platt.
AS she took her seat in the witness
chair she adjusted her eyeglasses and
turned her face toward Mr.. Stanchf1eld
and waited for him to begin. The law
yer read the release which the plaintiff
signed in Howe & Hummers office when
$4,000 was paid on behalf of the de-
fendant In an affidavit attached to the
release the plaintiff set forth that she
did not have any letters or copies of
letters written by Platt. except those
which she then surrendered to Hum
mel The affidavit also contained
promise that she would not annoy Piatt or
any Of the members of his family.
with this affidavit fresh in your
memory will you swear that you never
retained Mr.. Hummel?"
Il never retained him..
Did you read over the affidavit before
you signed 1t?
Il never did"
She said that she read 1T recently at
the courthouse The affidavit consisted
of three typewriter pages, each of
which the plaintiff signed. She SAID
that she signed it at Mr. HummeIs re-
quest, knowing the general purpose
of it.
Received $4,000 From Platt.
Did you know that you were getting
$40, 900 from Mr.. Platt?"
II did"
Were you getting this $4,000 as a
gratuity?'
Il suppose so. They would have given
$4,000 to me-"
You got that $4,000 when you sur
rendered the letters"
Il did,
have Maid her in Hummers Office $4,000.
and added Il know them too well to take
it, :. ha,
She testified that Hummel paid to mel
s.. 500 when she surrendered the letters.
Where did you think the money eaN'e
from?" to-. .,a,' 7
Il wasn't thinking much just then. =, !
had been locked in Hummers once ali
day" es,, csrator
Platt?"
Il did not" 3, ,o,
Whose money did you think it was'
II didn't know. . ~.
She acknowledged her slgnatuie " 'Ae
release ard the affidavit.
Letter to Senator Platt.
Mr. stanchfeld then read the letter
which he said the plaintiff wrote to Sena-
tor Platt.
mr.. Thomas c. Platt, New York city
INV Dear Mr.. Platt: I am deeply
grateful to you for your recent communi-
cation of December 10 acknowledging
that l am your wife and asking me 10 oe
patient and wait a little while longer
WIN Nov @ am here in New York and
would be pleased to know how much
longer you expect me to wait, ana Wnal
YOU mean by such request lou nave
neglected me and have been tardy IN 90
ing this simple act of justice. and | am
not inclined to permit present conditions
to continue. You owe 1T to me to protect
and care for me, and the time mas arrived
for YOU to do it. as / am needy nave
deferred any definite action IN TINS mat
fer thinking YOU would come to your
senses and remember your obligations TO
me and do me justice. II you have any
suggestions to make. be prompt IN max
ing them. l shall expect a reply from
YOU no later than tomorrow. In care OIL
the Knickerbocker Hotel. 42d street and
Broadway. where will stop and call for
mail. Very truly yours. ~
."Addresse as above. as l do not seek
to thrust any more publicity on you than
is necessary"
Letter to dummel.
Mr. Stanchield then read a letter
which the plaintiff wrote to Hummel W
! 1904 in which she said Hummel was the
only person she could trust. and in which
she wrote, "All is fair In love and poll
tics" and Il could visit dear old London
| for year or more
What did you mean by writing tc
Humuel that he was the only person
YOU could trust?" asked Mr.. Stanchfield.
Il was only nattering him. responded
| the plaintiff with a smile.
Did not All is fair in love and politics
and your reference to visiting dear ole
London in year or more refer to ar
attempt to get more money from Mr.
! Platt?'
1T did not"
| Mr.. Platt was not present in court
| Were you not. when you wrote those
letters to Hummel. trying to get more
money out of Platt?"
| Il was not
Abe Hummel's Fee.
| The plaintiff testified that Hummel TOLD
her he kept $500 of the $4,000 for his
|