The Washington herald., 1908-06-03
PLATT'S AGREEMENT
WITH WIFE Is AIRED
Details of Settlement Come
Out in Court.
SENATOR ALLOWS HER $4,000
She Also Gets TiOgn Lodge md
Other Property, and Agrees to
Drop Action for Divorce On Ground
of 1IiscOnduct-FactsD Developed by
Suit of Lawyers for Money.

New York, June 2.-The details Of the
agreement of separation signed on No
vembsr H. 1906. between United States
Senator Platt and his wife. who was Mrs.
Lillian Paneway. were revealed to-day
during the trial before Justice Ford and
a jury in the Supreme Court of a suit
brought by Mrs. Platt's lawyers against
the Senator TO recover moneys which they
allege they advanced for the payment of
some pressing bills incurred by Mrs. Platt
before the agreement was signed
1t developed that Senator Plat agreed
to pay his wife $4,000 in lieu Of all 'her
claims upon him, besides recognizing her
as the absolute owner Of Tioga Lodge,
the Senator's welI-known place at High
land Mills. in the Adrondacks, and OF
several other smaller pieces OF property
which he had decided over TO her while
they were still good friends.
Agreed TO Drop Divbrce.
In return, Mrs. Plat agreed not to
bother him any more with demands for
support She also agreed to drop her
suit for divorce. which she had already
begun In this county. and to institute no
other action for divorce against him. any
where or at any time, based on a charge
of misconduct. But she reserved the
right specifically set forth in the agree
ment. 20 sue him for divorce at any time.
in any State where other cause than this
is recognized as good ground for divorce
suit.
Mrs. Platt did discontinue her suit in
] NAH .NaH
lawyers are aware. she has not begun
any suit for divorce in any other State,
up 10 date.
Son the GO-betWeen.
The agreement also sets forth Just how
the $4,000 was to be paid to Mrs. Plat.
Frank B. Plat. the Senator's son. man
aged the settlement. ex-Judge Hatch act
ing as the official negotiator. and it was
recognized among all hands that the only
safe way 20 ensure that the money so
paid by the Senator would not be squan-
dered or diverted TO improper channels
would be 10 have the money paid over 70
trustee, who would dispense the funds
TO Mrs. Plat as he considered necessary.
Under the trust agreement, Mrs Platt
received $4,000 cash down, and Senator
Platt agreed to pay her $4,000 year. In
monthly installments OF SS33.33 each. for
FIVE years. These payments have been
made regularly 10 the trustee since the
agreement was signed
The bills In dispute which resulted IN
to-days action foot up between IS 600 and
$1,000. Mrs. Plat and her daughter were
in court all day. listening to the trial.
and Mrs. Plat herself occupied the wit
ness stand for a few minutes. She testi-
fed that she had incurred tie bills. which
her lawyers had paid, and that the
amounts were correct. She also testified
that she bad been paid the $4,000. GUt
that she did not consider herself re-
sponsible for those bills. believing that
the Senator would pay them.
Takes His Fathers Part.
Frank II. Plat, the Senator's son. was
the only witness for the defense. He les-
tilted that throughout the negotiate )ns
be had maintained the attitude that Mrs.
Plat was 70 get nothing more than the
agreement actually called for.
After hearing the evidence Justice Ford
directed the jury to return a sealed YER
dict, which VIII be opened tomorrow
morning. The jury reached a verdict be-
fore supper time and went home. 1t was
reported that the verdict was for the
plaintiffs in the full amount