The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-12-10
Prominent Attorney, Core
spondent in Divorce Action,
Makes Good Impression on
The Witness Stand.
WARM WORDS ALMOST
LEAD TO A "MIxUP"
After Two Witnesses Had Tes-
titled that Freeman's Char
acter Was Bad-Testimony
OF Correspondent.

In InlS HOTHlHB SeSSlOH VI the CIT
cult court. evidence introduced in the
divorce case Of Franklin Owens YER
sns Mary Melissa Owens. in which
Perry J. Freeman, a prominent attor
ney, is named as correspondent. was
very favorable to Mr.. Freeman.
Mr. Freeman, who was called to the
stand by the defense, yesterday after
noon, did not complete his testimony
on direct examination before adjourn
ment was taken and was on the stand
again this morning until after IL
O'Clock. The general trend of his tes
timony was in denial of the alleged re
lations between himself and Mrs
Owens.
The testimony was brought to a halt
at noon today, after James Elmer
Rhoades and William Russell, two
well known men, testified that the
character Of Perry j. Freeman was
bad. Attorney Keller wished to intro
duce two other witnesses to testify to
the same effect, but Judge Fox said
that It would not be necessary. Ar.
rangements were made for the argu.
ments to take place tomorrow morn.
Ding.
Hot Words Exchanged.
Just prior to the close OF the case
today, attorneys Keller and johnson
had warm words and it appeared as
though they would come to blows,
Judge Fox finally restored order.
Mr.. Freeman, in his testimony be-
fore Judge Fox this morning testified
IN part. as follows:
On the occasion that Mrs. Owens
was present in Mr.. Johnson's office
with Mr.. Freeman. the witness asked
Mrs. Owens to state to Mr.. Johnson
why she was bounding him. She re
piled that she was in critical condi
tion, blaming Mr.. Freeman. He ask
ed her to look him in the face and tell
him whether she ever had immoral
relations with him, and she finally re
piled in the negative. Mr.. Johnson
told her that she would only get her
self and Mr.. Freeman in trouble and
advised her to discontinue her actions
She replied that she intended to gel
even with Mr. Freeman, according tc
the witness.
A Letter is Shown.
At this point several letters in Mr.
F'reeman's possession, which were al
legged to be written by Mrs. Owens
were admitted as evidence but not
read. One. however, was given tc
press representatives and 1t was filled
with such vile denunciations Of the
witness. that not even an intimatior
of their contents can be published
Mr.. Freeman concluded his testimony
on direct examination by referring tC
a letter which Mrs. Owens is alleged
70 have written to a member OF the
witnesses family, in which reference
was made to his alleged relation with
her and eight other women. On re
quest of the recipient of the letter
Mr.. Freeman destroyed it. Other mem
bers Of the family received letters
from Mrs. Owens. according to the
witness.
On cross-examination Freeman testi
fled, in part, as follows:
Had Trouble With Hart.
He asserted that he and Dick
Hart. now of Indianapolis. had trouble
once over a newspaper bill, and a sec
ond time over a card game, in which
Hart said he would whip him If he
had two arms. Mr.. Freeman said he
gave Mrs. Owens an Item subscription
in August, 1906, in the interest of hel
husband, who was in the contest
The witness testified that in June
1905. he went to Jesse A. Bailey. form
er chief of police, and complained
about Mrs. Owens visiting his office
He said that she continually called a
his office and wanted to talk politics
On the Sunday evening. last June
when Mrs. Owens called at the Free
man home. South Twenty-first street
the witness said that she pretended
fainting. He said that she struck hin
twice while he was carrying bundl,
OF music. He dropped the music ant
grabbed her by the throat and. he salt
in his excitement, he may have chok
ed her. After he calmed down from
the excitement. he felt her pulse ant
found 1t regular.
A Revolver Was Found.
He said that on Tuesday following
this incident. . member OF his house
hold found revolver. near ros,
bush in his yard. He said that it wa.
not weapon belonging to him or an,
member OF his family. and that h,
never saw it before He intimates
fConfinued on page Seven