The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-09-24
Edward J. Whitney, Lawyer,
Gets $1,000 Verdict Against
John W. Welscher.
"AGREED TO KEEP THE
FAMILY SKELETON DARK"
Whitney's Story Refuted by
Wife's Father-Wouldn't
Admit He Signed Note.

Hush money, alleged to have been
paid by son-in-law to father-in- law,
and other money obtained by the SON.
in-law f:'~-' the sister-in-law without
the knowledge of the other members
of the family, cast a mystery about
the case of Edward J. Whitney. a
lawyer, of 56 Fabyan place. against
John w. Welscher, of 246 Walnut
street, tried before Judge Heisley IN the
Supreme Court circuit today.
Ns..';ney, who married Welschers
daughter five years ago, brought suit
against Welscher to recover 50, 500 on a
promisory note claimed to have been
drawn and signed on December 10, 1907
After being out for one hour, the jury
returned verdict in Whtney's favor,
giving the lawyer $3.50. the full amount
Of the note and one years interest.
Welscher, who is IS years old, denied
fatty on the stand that he had ever
signed the note for $500 on which
Whitney claimed payment.
Whitney testified he had paid
Wclscher $500 in small sums. making
the payments from time to time COW
ering a period of about four years
These payments. he said, had beer
made ito keep secret"
In August of 1906. Whitney received
$500 for four years interest on the note
from Carry May Welcher, his wife's sis
ter, with the understanding that the
payment of the $500 was to be
unknown to Welscher. The reason for
the secret alleged transaction was not
| brought out in the trial, one of tn,
| lawyers stating that it had been agreed
to keep the family skeleton dark"
| Counsel for Whitney produced twt
| bank cashiers to prove that Welscher'.
signature on the contested note wa,
genuine.
Mrs. Nhitney's Testimony.
| Mrs. Whitney, formerly Mis-
Welscher, testified on the stand tina
before she was married she had beeI
employed by the Prudential Insurance.
Company. earning So to 81 a week, ant
that during that time she was steadil!
giving money to young Whitney.
! Asked why she had given away he
salary to n young man whom she hac
known fol- only a short time, Mrs
Whitney replied that she had done 81
| simply because she wanted to.
Speaking of the mystery in th'
case when addressing the jury in clos
ing the case, louis Hood, attorney fo
! Whitney. said
| "There seems to be a mystery and ;
| family skeleton in this case that baf
| hes. There is one. but for decency'
! sake we have kept il out. There ha
| been family trouble here-trouble of ;
/ kind that has generated much bat
! blood-so much, in fact. that it has spill
/ family in two, arraigning an aget
! father and one daughter against an
other daughter and her husband"
Sisters at Odds.
| This bad blood was very apparent IL
court today. The daughters, Carrie
| May Welscher and Mrs. Whitney, die
| not speak and fairly bristled on thu
stand. where they gave evidence tina
was fatty contradictory.
| Mrs. Whitney did not produce an!
witness to the signature of the con
tested note. 1t was testified by Mrs
| Whitney that she saw her husband Civ,
her father $50 before they were mar
ried Welscher swore that he had neve
! received more than Sc from whitney a
any one time.