The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-21
Aged Senator, Tottering Into
Court, Declares He Never
Proposed othe Woman.
HE CALLED.HER "KATTY'
BUT CAN'T TELL WHY
Admits He May Have Foolishly
Addressed Her in Endearing
Terms-Paid $4,000 to Re
cover Letters-How His
Signature Was
Gotten.


Gotten.
- > Ew YORK. May 2o.-Physically
lN SO feeble that practically he
had to be carried In and
i out of the court room. United
states Senator Thomas c. Platt
was ut times a spirited witness to-day
when he appeared to testify in his own
behalf in Mae C. Woods suit for abso-
lutte divorce from him His denial OF
the charges brought by Miss Wood
III her suit was emphatic. and when
rrodded too hard by the plaintiffs
counsel. the aged Senator proved him
self capable OF vigorous response.
While the defendant in the action
was in the court room much Of the
day. Miss Wood, the plaintiff did not
attend the trial to-day.
The presentation of the case for the
defense. aside from Senator Platt's own
testimony, was marked by sharp at
tack on the authenticity OF the mar
riage certificate which Miss Wood Of
fered in evidence to support her con-
tention of n matrimonial contract with
the Senator. This was followed by an
Senator Plat is alleged to have adj
nn!tted his marriage to Miss Wood.
was written over his signature on a
blank sheet OF paper to which he pre-
vious1y affixed his autograph on re-
quests OF two women applicants for
1t while he was stopping at Hotel Ar
lington in this city in 1905.
Did Not Marry Her.
le-
mony denied emphatically that he ever
married or promised to marry the
plaintiff. repudiated the signature pur-
tihcate and the genuineness of several
letters which Miss Wood testified came
to her from him.
On the conclusion of the afternoon
session Justice O'Gorman announced
that the trial must conclude with to-
morrow s sessions. -. = r.
In opening the testimony the Senator
said he was nearly seventy-five years
old. His first wife died In 1901. He
said he met Miss Wood in 1901.
DO you remember asking her In the
month of August. 1901, at the Oriental
Hotel, to become your wife?'
IT never asked her. It's false"
Did you talk 10 the plaintiff in
NO
Did you on Thursday, November eth,
ask her to marry you. the ceremony
to take place on Saturday, and say
YOU yourself would make all arrange
ments?''
.T did not" replied the Senator.
The Senator denied emphatically that
he had given Miss Wood a photograph
OF himself, on which be had written
ITO my dear wife" Miss Wood testi-
fed that she was sitting on Platt's
knee while he wrote these words.
Mr. LIE Barber. Miss Woods counsel.
asked witness If he ever addressed
Miss Wood In endearing terms.
Senator Platt said: st may have
foolishly done so some times"
Mr.. Plat said he saw Miss Wood
some times at his business Office. at No.
40 Broadway. and that Miss Wood
called with Mrs. Canfield. who was
a candidate for an appointment in the
Philippines.
Did you call her Katty?"
II called her Katy In my letters. r
was very much pleased with her, and
liked her very much"
Did she call you by any pet name:"
Never in my life"
Why did you like herr?
Because she was an agreeable wo-
man.
Did you ever at any time or place
marry the plaintiff In this suit asked
Mr.. stanchdeld. counsel for the SEN
ator.
II did not
Did You ever promise to marry the
PLANTING"
II did not.''
First Learned Of Claim.
The Senator said that he first learn
ed that Miss Wood claimed to be his
wife from a Chicago newspaper, he
thought, in 1903.
Did you ever give the plaintiff a
wedding ring?"
s,."1 never gave the plaintiff we'd
ding ring In my life"
The lawyer handed the sena tor tn e
alleged marriage certificate. and the
Senator said that he never saw the
paper before In his life.
"Did you on the night OF November
3; l9o1, hand that paper to the plain
IT never did"
number Of letters alleged to have
bten written by the Senator to Miss
had written any of them. The Sem
ator declared positively that he had
never maintained improper relations
with the PLAINTIFF.
iendearins name than Katy cali her
dearest?'" asked Mr.. LeBarbter
4 don't believe I ever did,
Why did you send Miss Wood vord
to y. occupy certain room in the Fift,
It don't understand why T did fl, a
told her to await my signal because
! was going to take dinner with her,''
Not in His Suite. M
!, The Senator said he could not re-
Iment, hut was certain Miss WOOD aid
not, stay with him In the suite that
night He said he was not in the
Avenue Hotel. He could not recall
Whether his secretary, Mr.. Howe. Wa 8
at at the I hotel on the night Of November
2; l10l, nor could he say whether
Irremained q licensed minister willie in