Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-06-15

Referring to the abandonment charge
he said that Howard Gould left his wife
in July, 1906. but offered to return on per-
fectly reasonable terms, one of which
was that she should abstain from intoxi-
eating liquors. Mrs. Gould, he continued.
refused.
During the foregoing argument Mrs
Gould became faint left the court room
and did not return. Then her counsel,
Clarence Shearn. began argument against
the motion of the defence to dismiss.
1T is cruelty" he affirmed. for hus-
band, without Justification to accuse his
wife of being bad character or to en-
terrain against her. without cause. reflec-
lions against her honor.
What kind of a conspiracy was Mr..
Nicoll engaged in." he asked. when he
got habitues of saloon to work IN the
purpose of proving Mrs. Gould woman
of bad repute? That was the acme of
cruelty. Howard Gould's attempt to have
his wife pledge herself not to drink, in
itself constitutes cruelty"
1t was this clause in the agreement
that the husband asked the wife to sign
be fore he would consent to live with her
again tHdl MIS- 1ouiu Hiooe
objected to.
What" she exclaimed earlier in the
day during crOsS-examlnation. nave
me sign myself a drunkard? Never!
Inasmuch as the abandonment charge
only is to be considered tomorrow,
there will be no further mention Of
Buffalo Bill, Big" Hawley. the for
mer convict, or Ed Sholes. the reputed
gambler. But it still leave the ques-
ton of Mrs Gould's alleged Indulgence
in intoxicants.
Whatever bearing the events of tn"
day viii have on the ultimate decision
i'm the case hOnOrS We're about even in
the verbal battle between the cross
examiner and Mrs. Gould. Both sprung
surprises The lawyers most pertinent
and apparently embarrassing thrust
was the exhibition of d faded, old
fashioned photograph of a young wo-
man sitting on a white horse with the
white canvas Of circus tent in the
background.
Mrs. Gould turned dull red when
it was shown but she would not iden-
tify the photograph as one of herself.
nor would she swear that it was not.
She thought it was Hardy fat enough
for mo-" This picture was introduced
to show if possible Mrs Gould's for
mer association with Buffalo Bill :
show. She had denied on the stand
that she was in any way connected
with the Wild West, though she had
admitted that she travelled at times
with Col. w. F. Cody and daughter.
and that he was her manager.
In retaliation for the picture Incl :
dents Mrs. Gould made one cutting re-
tort to her inauisitor Mr.. Nicoll had
been asking the witness about he.
gowns, how many she wore, how often
she wore them. and what became of
them. They were given away, Mrs.
Gould testified.
"Onc of them" she shot in. "was
given to your own sister, who is on the
stage l have aided many poor girls
to get stage engagements by euuippins
them with my discarded gowns"
Did it become herr" was Mr.
Nicolrs only rejoinder.
AS was the case Friday most of to-
day was taken up in questioning Mrs
Gould concerning her lavish expendi-
lures. How many frocks to wear a
day. how long it took to dress. and the
declaration that it was Very bad
taste to wear gown twice, were
among the interesting fashion hints
IN the testimony. The name of Dustin
Farnum, the actor, was again brought
in, and George Gould testified how he
instituted an investigation Of an al
legged marriage of the plaintiff before
she became his brothers wife.