The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-23
TRYING TO PROVE
INABILITY TO PAY
Brokaw Says Wife Demands
Too Much AIimony
FORTUNE HAS CWlNDLED
Attorney For Brokaw Declares That
Mrs. Brokaws Father Had Threat
ened Her Husband About
Behavior.

New York, December 22--w. Gould
Brokaw did not take the stands in his
own defense today as had been expected.
Instead his counsel continued to intro
duce testimony designed to show that
the demands of Mrs. Brokaw. who is SUI
ing for separation with alimony Of $780,
COO year. are unreasonable, in view OF
the husbands diminished fortune
John b. Mcintyre, Mr.. Brokaw's law
yer. explained that one Of his associates
who had the minutes of the trial, had
been detained and that the case could not
well go on with him. An early adj
Journment was. therefore. granted with
the understanding that Mr.. Brokaw will
testify tomorrow.
Mr.. Brokaw paced up and down the COR
ridor of the courthouse today, his lips
moving rapidly as II he were rehearsing
, the testimony he would be called upon
to give.
The illness of her mother, Mrs. James
A. Blair. who has been stricken with
pneumonia at her home in Westbury, has
given Mrs. Brollaw worry and deprived
her of the supporting presence in court
of her father. This, together with con-
tinued tales of cigarette smoking and
cocktail drinking which the trail devel-
oped, has served to break the splendid
poise which she 80 long maintained
John F. Mcintyre declared today that
Mr.. Brokaw, in his testimony, would not
deny that he had called his wife a lit
tie fool'' and a stupid idot,' and other
names (which the occasion demanded
but that 1t would be shown that there
had been abundant provocation for loss OF
temper on the part of his client.
The attorney declared also that he
would show that James Blair. Mrs. Bro
Brokaw to account IL the latters conduct
made Mrs Brokaw unhappy.
Much of the courts time today was
taken up with testimony Of North Caro-
linians called to show how Mr.. Brokaw's
wealth had diminished of recent years,
making his wlfe's demands for 10000 ALL
money unreasonable.
Mr.. Brokaw was to have taken the
stand at this afternoons session, but
when court assembled after recess Mr.
McIntire announced that important notes
necessary to the examination has been
: delayed In reaching Minola The lawyer
said he had no other witnesses ready
and asked that an adjournment be taken
for the day Adjournment was taken I'M
til tomorrow
Archibald III. Boyden. former mayor
Of Salisbury ". c., and Thomas J. Finch
manager Of Mr. Brol<aw's estate at High
Point. NJ c.. were witnesses. Mr.. Finch
described the lodge and its surroundings
He enumerated the stables. the kennels
and the refinue OF servants and game
keepers which Mr.. Brokaw has there and
then said he did not believe the whole
establishment, II sold now. would bring
more than $4,000 in open market Estimat-
ing the value OF the estate without the
improvements, Finch said II 10 not worth
more than 50 or = an acre.
Mr.. Boyden's testimony was t. show
that he had been q guest Of Brckaw at
the lodre on varfons occasions and had
never sss his host any wcrss Tor dr1nS1r
II would like to say emphatically," said
tho former mayor Of Salisbury, that
Mr.. Brokav vas the me0t 6ahkhtfu honf