The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-06-12
CASE
D|SCL0SES ITS
TWO SIDES
Each Party Shows Up Weak
Points In The Other
EVIDENCE is NOT ALL IN
Mrs. Estabrook Made Good Witness
and Was Not Disturbed by
Cross Examination.

The habeas corpus proceedings in
the Estabrook case which has been on
trial at Manchester since Thursday
morning will probably come to close
late this afternoon.
All the parties directly interested
in the case with the exception or At
torney w. j. Meagher arrived in Man
chester Thursday evening There
we're the two interested parties, Ben
jamin n. Estabrook, Mrs. Nellie Esta-
brook, Mr. and Mrs. Emerson Esta-
brook. Miss Name Estabrook and the
| little girl, Lenora, Willard S. Barton,
uncle of Mrs. Nellie Estabrook and
Mrs. Nora Hacker an aunt of Balti-
more. Attorney K. c. Sanford OF Al
bany and Mrs. Sanford, J. X. Batchel-
der of Arlington, o. NJ. Barber and G.
A. Maurer of Bennington with the ex-
ception of Mrs. Emerson Estabrook
and Miss Name Estabrook, all put up
at the Battenkill Inn.
When court was called TO order
shortly after 9 O'Clock by Sheriff Fred
| Godfrey there was not half dozen
persons in the room outside of those
who came from Bennington, but dur
| ing the forenoon "A few curious spec
tators from among the village inhabi-
tants drifted in. The argument over
the admission of the judgment OF the
| New York Supreme Court in the d.
vorce proceedings did not prove at
all interesting and before the exami-
nation of Mrs. Estabrook had begun
the seats in the audience section of
the room were almost deserted.
Mrs. Estabrook and her aunt, Mrs.
Hecker. were conducted to seats in
side the railing The recently di-
vorced wife and ner former husband
sat with conferences tense and
white only an arms length apart.
Both showed evidence of the strain
under which they have lived during
the past few weeks.
Mrs. Estabrook was becomingly
dressed in black and wore a large
white straw hat trimmed with black
velvet and pink. Mrs. Hacker pre-
sented a striking appearance in her
long tan automobile coat and black
nat with its waving orange colored
ostrich plumes.
When called to the stand Mrs. Esta-
| DlOOh maui Ctl tACClltill NllutoS. olt
had regained her composure during
the legal argument by the attorneys
and was alert and confident. During
the cross-examination by Mr. Barber,
which especially in relation to the
handwriting of certain letters, was
severe she never lost her composure.
The witness testified that she was
married at Baltimore April 16, 1903
and that during the first two years of
| her married life she resided at the
home of Emerson Estabrook on South
street. Lenora, the daughter was
born there. Later she moved into the
Burgess house on the same street.
After she and her husband moved to
Troy they lived at No. 10 Twenty.
third street and later on 9th avenue
She resided at the latter place only
six weeks. Her husband broke up the
home January II, 1909. Since that
date she had lived in Troy had visit.
ed her mother in SALISBURY and
Mrs. Brownell in Bennington. While
living at the home of Emerson Esta.
brook her treatment by her husband
she said, was very bad. He was never
home at night and when her child
was only ten weeks old choked her
and on another occasion struck her in
the face with such force as to knock
her down stairs.
The witness testified that she drank
wine at card parties with her hus
band while living in Troy and named
a number of persons with whom they
associated in that city.
There was trOub Ja mito tba b,,o
band, the witness testified, upon her
return from a two months visit in
Baltimore and also on account of his
associating with other women. On
one occasion two letters written by
Mamie Collins desidence at Keene
N. H., dropped from his pocket. This
difficulty was adjusted by the writing
or letter to Miss Collins by her hus.
band breaking off the correspondence
The intimacy was, however. renewed
the witness testified
In relation to the final quarrel
which broke up the home the witness
testified that while shopping on Jan.
uary IL she met w. M. Bartlett 10
whom she had been previously intro.
duced near her home in Troy. While
on the street they were approached
py the husband who called ner vile
names said that he was d. glad OF
chance to get rid of her and that he
hau been waiting for a chance to dc
so ior some time. Later at the house
ne choked her until ner neck was
Dlack and blue. The child he took
IRON school and carried to the home
oi MS parents in Bennington.
Durlng the cross examination bv
Mr. Barber Mrs. Estabrook testified
IN relation to the letters of Mamie
Collins, which she said dropped from
ner husbands coat as she was hang.
ing the garment in clothes press
She was indignant but there was q
peter feeling after the writing of the
letter breaking off the corresnon.
dence. In August, however, She fond
an envelope addressed in the same
handwriting and, the witness said
Ben admitted" it was from Miss Col
ms. The witness had never received
letter from Miss Collins but had re'
ceiVed one from brother, John Col.