The Detroit times., 1908-06-12
DEFENSE AssAlLs|
CREO|b|t|TY Of
FLORENCE FOss
WITNESS TESTIFIED PLAINTIFFS
PASSED AS MRS. HOLMES
YEARS BEFORE MARRIAGE Ac
coRplNG TO HER CLAIM.

The defense in the sensational
breach or promise case OF Florence
Fcss against David A. Brown. tho
coal dealer sprang a surprise Thurs
day morning when. as the first wit
ness. they introduced William PAIL
ing, watchman for the d. U. r..
and who lives at No. 81 Columbiarst.
west
Falling testified that in. 1852 and
tine year following he lived in Wood
vile. Mich, where he was freight
agent fo the Chicago & West Michi-
gan railroad. and while there knew
Florence Foss. the plaintiff.
Did you know her well?" he was
asked.
Yes. She came to the station sew
eral times a day. She worked Juse
across the street.
Where did she work."
"ln the Michigan Lumber Co.'S store
OF which her first husband. Holmes.
was manager"
When did she first live with
Holmes as his wife,"
In 1888"
Wasn't she little girl in short
dresses In lSS3?'
mo, she was fully developed wo-
man"
This testimony was OF especial inn
portance for the defense, as the plain
tiff had testified Monday that she was
married to Holmes I'm 1887. while tho
bill OF complaint. in her divorce case
said the marriage was in 1889. Miss
Foss testified that while living In
Woodvlle she was girl In short
dresses. That the plaintiffs attor-
reyf is-were surprised was shown by
the vigorous manner In which they
objected 10 Paftfng's testimony and
endeavored to have his answers ex-
cluded.
Miss Foss was on the stand for a
few minutes Thursday to give further
testimony. She was asked II she
knew Falling, and denied ever having
/ Detroit for Is years.
The first witness Thursday morning
was Miss Susan l.. Merritt, aged IL
years. who for over 40 years has lived
in the house at No 500 Fifth-st. The
plaintiff roomed there In 1900, and
Miss Merritt testified that she fire.;
quently saw the defendant there.
Twice, she said. she had been intro
duced 10 him.
The old lady answered questions
promptly. and several times offered
lengthy explanations. When She no.
ticed that her talk was causing amuse-
ment. she excused herself with the
statement that she had never been In
court before, land | will not likely
be here again because I'm years
old"
Three witnesses for the plaintiff
were sworn who testified that Brown
was a frequent visitor at the home
OF Miss Foss. and while they were all
sure they saw him often. they were
unable 10 Ak the time. Some saiu 1t
was In 1900 and others had IL as late
as 1904 or 1906 Miss Merritt said he
drove a horse and buggy. while the
others said he came in an auto. Will
| liam Tews, a young man, Mrs. Me-
Kee and Mrs. Della Flint were among
those who were sure they had seen
| Brown there many times.
| Miss Foss then took the stand and
was asked II she identified Failing.
She took good look at him and then
said she had never seen him before.
Were you not known as Holmes
wife IN 1SS3S4 she was asked.
Il Hidn't live with him until was
mars I'D TO him. she answered.
How many times were you married
to him?"
"Only once that remember"
What was the first year you lived
with him."
Il can't remember"
Were you his wife in 1883? An
swer yes or no."
81 won't answer either way"