Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-12-24
NEVER.
WAS DRUNK|N
HIS LIFE
DEFENDANT IN DIVORCE
SUIT TAKES THE STAND
Denies Striking His Wife; Using
Abusive Language; Admits
Using Shorter and UgIier
Word but She Used It First.


tBy Morning Journnr special Leased wirel
New York, Dec. 29-W. Gould
Brokaw whose wife is suing him for
separation with alimony OF $50, 600 a
year, took the stand in his own de-
fense today. lie sand his father-in-
law, Joseph NJ. Blair had threatened
to XIII him because he loved his wife
too much. When he told Mrs. Bro
kaw OF this she laughed and said
Don't mind father, Billy; he's
crazy"
Mr. Brokaw described the night
when his wife took poison. In minute
detail his lawyer led him through the
two years of their married life with
painstaking attention to the charges
of drunkenness, cruelty and abusive
language brought against him in the
testimony of his wife
IIrokaw made a good witness His
attitude was easy and his answers
We're ready and firm. Occasionally he
peered daintily through lorgnotte in
examining papers submitted to him.
Mrs. Brokaw was pale and muffled
in furs. Her head tossed scornfully
when her husbands testimony contra
dicted her own and she coughed con
stantly with "A nervous little hack
Brokaw said that he had never
been drunk in his life. THE times
when Mrs. Brokaw said | was drunk.
he testified, my face was flushed
from a long walk or drive"
lie had never struck his wife. Il
never struck anyone in my lifc,' he
swore. Mrs Brokaw knows could
not harm her"
He had admitted he had called his
wife a liar
Yes" he said. II called her a liar.
but not until she had called me Il
da AIMED liar. had been out and
when | came back bringing her flow
ers she accused me of meeting some
woman. | denied It, She said lied
and had to tell her the same
Brokaw said his wife had smoked
cigarettes before their marriage and
had promised him to stop IT, lie had
never seen her drink cocktails but he
had understood from the servants that
cocktails were taken to her room on
the sly.
"Wll YOU tell the court OF your
drinking agreement with your wife ?"
asked John r. Mcintyre, his counsel
"Ycs," answered Brokaw "We
wanted 10 mix ginger ale with aerated
water until it was the exact color of
champagne. ! wished to appear to
drink with my guests and yet not
drink. This mixture bubbled and yet
was harmless. / have used it for
years. | do not drink"
Mr.. Brokaw did not recall any scene
following an incident AT the table
when n guest had changed his wifes
glass so that she got real champagne.
If Mrs Brokaw drank champagne
she was the only one who knew it,"
he testified.
shown q list of Objectionable names
which Mrs. Brokaw said her husband
had applied TO her when angry, Mr..
lorgnette and said:
"Of course, | do not use such lan-
guage."
Tell MS what happened on the So
called poison night" directed Mr.. Me-
Intyre.
'On that night" complied the Wit
ness, II had tho Marquis Hcrmosc and
others To dinner. Mrs. Brokaw did
not come down. After dinner | went
10 her room and knocked. She did
not answer. Finally ! pushed in the
door She was furious. told her |
,nly wanted to kiss her good night and
left
when | came upstairs again Mrs.
Brokaw was not in her room. | could
not find her and got a nurse TO help
ne to search for her After a search
he nurse called mc from the other
md OF the hail. / got there Just in
line to see the nurse struggling to
AXE something out OF Mrs. Brokaw's
mouth. II was some kind of a white
.ablet I screamed. MY God. she Is
lead. "
Did you do anything to cause her
o take coison?"
Absolutely nothing .I
From the fact that Mrs Brokaw's
counsel for the first time bought a
complete set of minutes of the trial
records. which they have hitherto said
heir client could not afford. IL Is in
'erred that Brokaw win undergo
J. vigorous cros,-cXamination when
'ourt convenes tomorrow