The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-06-16
WITNESSES SAID
MRS. GOULD USED
MUCH LIQUOR
Trying Day For Petitioner in
Separation Suit
HAD PERIODS OF WEEPING
Actress Denies That She Ever Wore
Cast Off Gowns of Former Stage
Favorite

New York, June 16.-Howard
Gould's defense, that he was justified
in abandoning Mrs. Viola Katherine
Gould, opened yesterday with the
commencement of the fourth day of the
trial OF the action brought by Mrs.
Gould for a separation, wnich is In
progress before Superior Court Justice
Bowling. Four witnesses were exam
ined during the day all OF whom We're
or had been employees at Castle Gould.
For the first time during the trial
Mrs. Gould lost her composure yester-
day afternoon and for few moments
broke down and wept audibly while
testimony was beings given as to her
alleged drinking habits and use of bad
language. 1t was but temporary
lapse. however, and soon she was
again coaching her lawyer, Clarence
J. Shearn, as TO the line of question.
ing to be adopted in the cross exami-
nation of some particular witness.
Howard Gould was in court all day.
1t nad been expected that he would be
called to the stand but De Lancey Mic
oil, his COUNSEL, decided II would be
better to delay this action until some
of the other witnesses had testified
II is probable however, that Mr. Gould
will be called today.
Prior to getting down to business
for the day, Mr.. Nicoll gave out to the
reporters copies of letter he had re-
eeiyed from his sister, denying that
she had ever received one of Mrs.
Goulds discarded dresses, as stated
by tne latter in her testimony yester-
day This is Mrs. Charlotte Nicoll
Westerns letter:
1877 East Fifty.ninth st.
| My dear Dell: If the inclosed re-
fers to me 1t an absolute falsehood.
have never even seen the woman nor
do | know any of her associates If
she is under oath to tell the truth her
statement is gross perjury, and If this
is fair sample of ner testimony the
rest of 1t is probably as untrue. Such
an untrue statement in print is most
annoying. to me. and is there any
thing that you can do to her?
Charlotte Nicoll Western.
Mrs. Western is an actress and has
appeared in plays produced by Amelia
Bingham and David Belasco.
Torn with anger and extreme humil-
iation, alternately flushing with shame
sobbing or clenching her hands in ex-
desperation. Katherine Clemmons Gould
sat through trying ordeal.
1t was a day of testimony for the
defense, during which Mr.. Goulds at.
torney sought to bring out through
witnesses who had been associated
with Mrs Gould that her habits were
such that ner husband was justified
in leaving her. In the event of prov
ing this, the defense hopes to under
mine the charge of abandonment, the
only phase of the plaintiffs case which
has withstood the attacks of opposing
counsel, Justice Bowling having ruled
out the charges of cruelty and non
support,
Mrs. Gould having naively told In
her previous testimony what is requir.
ed of a woman in dress, witnesses for
the defense recited yesterday the in
dulgencies of the same woman of fas-
sion in the matter of alcoholic stimu-
lants, and told further. while the neav-
lily yelled Mrs. Gould buried her burn.
ing face In her hands, of certain re.
MAJ No anu OHNtISdllOuS HOl SAdCllN
in keeping with $500 gowns and the
palatial Castle Gould on Long Island
1t was during this testimony con
corning some of the alleged violent
and profane language, some of it as
related too strong to be printed with
propriety, that Mrs. Gould wept most.
Yet she recovered herself quickly and
at times coached her lawyer. refresh
ing his mind on certain incidents with
suggestions and reminders.
Specific statements that Mrs. Gould
had been intoxicated on various occa-
sions, that she called Howard Gould
you little hound" one night, that
once she was apparently so under the
influence of liquor that she staggered
against the bannister at Castle Gould,
that her maid brought liquors to her
room, including sometimes two cock
tails before breakfast, were among the
statements brought out as employees
OF the Gould estate related on the
stand their experiences with their for
mer mistress.