Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-05-19
SHE ASKS FOR ABSOLUTE DIVORCE
Says Marriage Cenemony Was Per.
formed in New York Hotel in 1901.
IN EVIDENCE
Letters from the Aged Senator Also
Submitted to Court.
CONTAIN TERMS OF ENDEARMEET
one of Them Refers to Her as ssNFy
Little Bride 20 Be'-HistOry OF
Suit Filed Here is
Gone Int.

/ sun n
Gone Int,
| NEW YORK. May iS-Mae Cstherine
Wood was on the witness stand all day
/ testifying in her suit for absolute divorce
I from United States Senator Thomas c.
/ Platt before Justice O'Gorman in the su-
/ preme court In support Of her assertion
that she had been secretly married to
Senator Plat at the FIFTH Avenue hotel.
I November g 1901, her counsel introduced
in evidence a marriage certificate, which
I she said had been handed her hy the min
lister who performed the ceremony and
/ copies Of a number OF letters alleged to
have been written TO her by the senator
addressed In terms OF endearment On
1 cross examination Miss Wood told how she
! came 70 give up the papers and letters she
! relating to Senator Plat. alleging that she
did so under duress and was compelled to
sign a receipt for $4,000 IN settlement OF ell
her claim against the senator. Miss Wood
| in her suit named as correspondent Lillian
Janeway. who Senator Piatt married in
1913 Senator Platt was not In court to-
day.
Senator Denies Allegations.
Miss Wood in her complaint declares that
she was married to Senator Platt IN this
correspondent in her suit Mrs Lillian Jane
way, who was married to the senator in
4 1908 In his answer to the complaint the
senator declares that Miss Woods al
legations that he married her about Noven-
Der g. isn. in New York are absolutely
false.
The plaintiff never made any claim to
me that she was married to me until De-
cemher. 1905" says Senator Plat in his
answer, nor did ever hear OF her making
any claim OF marriage prior to that time.
except that in June, 1906. an article ap-
peared in Chicago newspaper containing
an Interview purporting to come from her.
in which she stated that such marriage
had taken place and that article was ac-
companied by a picture OF alleged fac simile
Of a wedding certificate containing my
name in association with the plaintiffs"
| The senator declares that the certificate
reproduced in the newspaper was a forgery
He charges that since 1905 Miss Wood has
tried 10 get money from him by threats
ttai she would sue him for breach OF prom
ise Of marriage.
Miss Wood gave testimony IN the
suit today. The young woman was
smsrtly attired and seIf-possessed She
Identified copies OF several letters
which she said were received by her from
Senator Platt They were mainly of an
affectionate nature. but in several there
were interesting sentences on other Af-
fairs. In one communication was the
phrase:
Your letter has cheered me up so that
am almost reconclled to Odelrs election.
picture Of the senator was shown.
upon the back Of which was written, ITO
my little wife" Telling how this was writ
ten, Miss Wood said:
the time ne held my hand and part Of the
time / held his hand We wrote II to-
gether. The words little wife" were writ
ten by him, / think.
Miss Wood said that the senator came
TO her room in her hotel with two men
and that he formally acknowledged her
as his wife before these men.
Senator Platt was not in court today.
First Promise to Marry.
Miss Wood was the first witness. She
testified that Mr.. Piatt first promised to
marry her at Manhattan Beach. He said
the marriage must be secret, as he was an
old man" and added. Il 5emurred and told
him that he knew nothing about me. but
he said he knew all my past life. -
Miss Wood said she had two letters from
Senator Plstt, but that one Of them was de-
manced from her by J. Martin Miller and
another man in October 1903, and that she
had never seen It since. Her counsel showed
the witness a typewriter copy Of a letter
and she identified il as containing prae-
tically the contents OF the missing letter
II was Offered in evidence and admitted
despite the objections Of John 3. stanch-
field. Senator Platts counsel. The copy
as dated Friday. November s. 1901, and
read in part as follows:
My Little Bride-to-Re: I have usda
all arrangements. You are not 20 say any
thing 70 anybody. You are to obey nv
the SSte Yoa YmpSi5yb i be hen snsS eo[S g
! and have room l5s / am an old fool, but
YOU shsll never regret this step. Lovingly.
(Signed) TON.
Told 10 Await signal.
Another letter Of the same date was Of
fered in evidence. in which the writer ad-
vised Miss Wood that he would not reach
> the hotel until after o'clock and that she
was TO 90 to her room and await signal
from him.
The witness said she waited as directed
, that Senator Platt came 10 her room with
two men; that he embraced her and in
troduced her TO the men. Il took his
E hand" said Miss Wood. and one OF the
men began the civil ceremony by saying.
} you take this woman to be your lawful
welded wife and you take this man 10 bo
Z your lawful welded husbandg"
Miss Wood said that Plat gave her a
wedding ring and she displayed the riAg
Z In the court II bore no inscription. She
declared that she thought the man who
2 performed the ceremony was a minister,
and that he gave her a marriage certifi-
cate. Tnis alleged certificate was Offered
4 IN evidenCe.
Following the ceremony the witness said
she remained al the hotel for three days
and then returned 20 her duties. The mar
riaEe. she said, was not made public, be
cause Mr.. Platt wanted IL TO be kept secret
I He would not let me have a lady friend
even" said Miss Wood. for" he said
what two women know is no longer
I secret He wanted me 10 live IN tho
0 next room 20 him and say that was hl.
q secretaTy. but ] refused"
2 Several copies OF letters alleged to hav,
5 beer written by MT. Plat were then read
e by Miss Woods counsel They were ad
e dressed in terms Of endearment and signet
Z / Your Tom"