Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-19
BROkAW'S WIFE
DECLINES OFFER
HIDES FACE WHEN INVITED TO
\ DANCE
MILLIONAIRE SAYS HE INTENDS
FIGHT TO FINISH
Husband Declares Spouse Has Re-
jected Advances often Enough
and He viii Not Try
Any More
ASSOCIATED Pressi

lAhsOClhlSu AltF"l
NEW YORK, Dec. 1S.-Mrs. Mary
Blair Brokaw, the plaintiff. rested her
case today in her suit for separation
with almony of $780, 900 a year from
her husband, w. Gould Brokaw, and
the defense opened.
Prospects for u reconciliation bright
ened for a moment today when Attor-
ney Mcintyre rendered Mrs. Brokaw
an invitation to the next years cake
walk at High Point, N. c., the Bro
kay southern country place.
Brokaw smiled and his wife hid her
face in her furs. But in the recess
Brokaw defined his position as one of
frank hostility.
Mrs. Brokaw," said he. has reject
ed my advances often enough. l am
going to fight this to a finish and l
am well satisfied with its advance"
Mrs. II. Bramwell Gilbert, Brokaws
sister, testified in his behalf that he
and his wife were "a sweet, tender,
solicitous and loving couple
Mrs. Gilbert testified that Brokaw
was not a drinking man.
Mr.. Gilbert had an amusing passage
ut arms with his sister-in-law over a
point in her earlier testimony. Mrs.
Brokaw had refused to admit having
used a profane adjective as applied
to servants berth, in which she said
her husband made her sleep.
Coming around the ships deck I
met the plaintiff face to face. lifted
my hat and she exclaimed, I'll be
id If occupy that BERTH" testi-
fled Gilbert today.
Come to Her Aid
Members of Mrs. Brokaw's family
came to her aid today and distressing
occurrences in the unhappy married
life of the couple were detailed on the
stand by witnesses for the plaintiff.
Miss Elodie Blair, whose brilliant
eyes are every bit as captivating as
those of her sister, and whose wit is
declared to be as scintlllating, came
into court with Mrs. Brokaw today
and participated in the preliminary
conferences of the attorneys on the
petitioners side.
Her story was intended to supple
ment that which j. Bulard Blair, the
brother of the plaintiff. told yesterday
when he described hysterical mani
festations on his sisters part aftCr
she had been warned by BroNaw at
the table to cease looking at certain
man, and other disturbing happenings
due to disagreements between hus-
band and wife.
All the witnesses with knowledge of
the matter are dSheu ny phiS' bIO-
kaw's lawyers what they know Of the
Brokaw style of living and of Mrs.
Brokaw's income, presumably with
view TO showing that the defendant Is
able TO pay the substantial alimony
which his wife demands.
Case Is Rested
General surprise was caused when
Attorney Baldwin, for Mrs. Brokaw,
concluding his examination i
Bullard Blair. announced that the
plaintiff rested. 1t was assumed Mr..
Baldwin was holding his other Wit
nesses for possible rebuttal.
Blair's testimony had reference to an
incident In the Hotel Astoria, Paris.
He said he found his sister weeping
over the discovery that Mr.. Brokaw
had placed n censorship over her mail.
When Blair asked Brokaw the reason
for this, Brokaw declared there had
been a mistake and stepped over to the
hotel clerks desk and directed that
Mrs. Brokaw be given all her mail
when she asked for it.
Witnesses for the defendant were ex-
amined by Attorney Bush, Mrs. Bro
kaws personal counsel. Henry Knox,
an engineer. who was at the Brokaw
place at High Point. N. c., in the fall
of 1908, said the Brokaws seemed very
happy.
Everything was lovely until after
the New Year celebration party left.
Then he noticed a slight estrangement,
Brokaw at this time was taking sleep
ing tablets and was not well.
What the witness called childish
spats" became frequent.
II can't recall in my twenty-five
years acquaintance with Billy Brokaw
ever seeing him touch a drop of Ii
quor." Knox declared, "until the first
break occurred, when Mrs. Brokaw
left the lodge
The witness would not say that Mr.
Grokaw was drinking even then but
simply that he seemed "benumbed by
some grief"