Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-05-19
MAE WOODS SUIT
AGAINST 7. C.PLATT
Begins In New claims Marriage
With Him on Nov. 9, 1901, and
Now Sues For Absolute Divorce.

| New York, May 1S.-Mae Catherine
Wood was on the witness stand all day
today testifying in her suit for abso-
lutte divorce from United States Sem
ator Thomas c. Platt before Justice
O'Gorman in the supreme court. In
support Of her assertion that she was
secretly married to Senator Platt at
the Fifth Avenue hotel Nov. 8, 1901,
| her counsel introduced in evidence a
marriage certificate which she said
was handed her by the minister who
| performed the ceremony, and copies of
| letters alleged to have been written to
| her by the senator. containing terms
| Of endearmCnt.
! On croas-examination Miss Wood
| told how she came to give up the pa
pers and letters she possessed relat-
! ing to Senator Plat. She alleged that
| she did so under duress and was COM
| PEELED to sign a receipt for $4,000 in
settlement of all her claims against
| the senator. This she said, was the re-
suit of representations made to her in
| the office of A. H. Hummel in this city
| in the fall of 1903.
| Miss Wood in her suit named as
correspondent Lillian Janeway, whom
| Senator Plattt married in 1903. Sena-
tor Platt was not in court today Miss
| Wood was under cross-eXamination
when court adjourned for the day.
| In his answer to the complaint
| the senator declares that Miss Woods
allegations that he married her abou:
Nov g. 1901, in New York, are abso-
I,,ka folc he ma Ia
any claim to him of a marriage to
him. until December. 1905, and that
since that time Miss Wood has tried
to get money from him by threats
| that she would sue him for breach of
promise of marriage.
| Mae c. Wood was the first witness.
Answering questions by her counsel,
| Charles E. LaBarber she said that
| Mr.. Platt first promised to marry her
at Manhattan beach. "He said the
marriage must be secret as he was an
| old man." added the witness. Il de-
INJURED 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 Flatt but that one of
them was demanded 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 letter
and she identified it as containing
practically the contents of the missing
letter. 1t was offered in evidence and
admitted despite the objections OF
John B. Stanchfield, Senator Platts
counsel. The copy was dated Friday,
Nov. 8, 1901, and read in part as fol-
lows:
my little bride to be: I have made
all arrangements. You are not to say
anything to anybody. You are to obey
my instructions implicitly. enclose
card to the hotel. You will he there at
a o'clock and have Room 15S. am ar
old fool but you shall never regret this
step.
(Signed)
LOVINGLY TOM"
Another letter of the same date was
offered in evidence in which the writer
advised Miss Wood that he would moi
reach the hotel until after o'clocs
and that she was to, go to her room
and await signal from him.
The witness said she waited as di
rected, that Senator Platt came to he
room with two men, that he embraced
her and introduced her to the men. g
took his hand" said Miss Wood, ant
one of the men began the civil cere
mony by saying "You take this wo
man to be your lawful welded wifi
and Won take this man to be your law
full welded husband?"
Miss Wood said that Platt gave he
wedding ring and she displayed tn
| ring TO the court It bore no inScrip
ton. She declared that she though
the man who performed the ceremon
was a minister and that he gave he
a marriage certificate. This allege
certificate was offered in evidence. Fol
lowing the ceremony the witness sal
she remained at the hotel for tire
n DAVIS and then returned to her duties
y The marriage she said, was not mad
public because Mr.. Platt wanted it t
be kept secret. He would not let m
tell lady friend even.'' said Mis-
Wood. 'for he said What two wome
= know is no longer a secret He want
ed me to live in the next room to hir
d and saw that | was his secretary but
Il refused
Miss Wood said she received grea
. many letters from Mr.. Platt but som
Of them We're destroyed and some wer
III given to A. H. Hummel in 1903 an
that she had since seen what purport
ed to be copies of them in the Office
the clerk of this court She had trie
to recover the originals but had faile'
Miss Wood said she did not retain M
Hummel as her attorney but whe
questioned by Mr.. Stanchfield, sh
stated that he acted as her attorne
after that. IITEE-'sItfIAE
III several copies of the letters wei
then read by Miss Woods counse
t.They were addressed in terms of er
III dearment and signed Faithfully 20,
Tom"
In a letter from Washington, date
UEAyox,o,phar 1QOt Uas the nhraSa eYOl