The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1909-12-30
MRS. COUNSELMAN TO testify
Second Wife of Chicago Broker to be
Quizzed as to Her knowledge of
Fraud in Securing the Separation in
the Chicago Courts


The hearing on the Counselman di-
vorce muddle was resumed in Judge
Chetlain's court in Chicago Wodnes
day and the sensation of the day was
the calling of Mrs. Clara French COun-
selman as a witness. She was to
take the stand just after the opening
of the court Wednesday afternoon.
Theodore Abel registry clerk of the
Kenosha postofice told the whole
story Of the forgery of the name of
Mrs. Lulu M. Counselman at the Ke-
nosha post office at the hearing in the
case ON Tuesday afternoon and the
Kenosha postofice clerk was on the
stand for more than an hour and was
subjected to rigid cross examination
by the attorneys for Counselman.
Abel's story was practically the same
as given out in Kenosha when the
forgery of the receipt for the register
ed letter was first discovered. Before
Abel was called Willis Counselman
and Lawyer Thackaberry were on the
stand and they made efforts to shift
the blame for the case on each other
and both appeared in very dangerous
light. When Abel was called to-the
stand he held whispered converse
ton with Judge Chetlain and told him
of the restrictions of silence that had
been imposed upon him by General J.
II. Stuart, chief inspector of the post
osa dero~' @ept. but the court direct
ed him to take the stand and tell his
story. Abel proved an excellent wit
ness. He told of receiving the regis
tered letter addressed to Mrs. Lulu M.
Counselman but was unable to recall
whether the address was in long hand
or typewriting.
He said the letter must have reached
Kenosha ON the 4:05 a. m. train or the
morning of November II, becau he
found it at the postofice WI he
went to work at 1880. He llno Mrs.
Counselman had been at the SAL rum
and dropped notice of the lettc ar
rival in the sanitarium s priva BOX.
Some time between $3.50 az % a.
M, woman came and asked ii there
was letter for Lulu M. Counselman, -
he testified. "She said that was her
name. l asked her where she was
stopping and she said at Pennoyer. 1
asked her where the letter was from
and she said Chicago She signed the
proper name to the registry book and
the card, and l delivered the letter. .
Had you up until that time shown
her the letter?" asked Mr.. Moses.
81 did not, replied Abel CATER
I gave it to her I told her about send
ing the notice to Pennoyer and she
answered That's all right, tear it up
when it comes back -
The witness said he was unable to
state whether she was accompanied by
any one or whether she came on foot
or in a conveyance, and that she did
not open the letter in his presence.
That was as far as the bar associa-
tion cared to 60 with the witness, be-
cause of instructions from General
Stuart it is said, and Attorney McNab
for Counselman, took the witness and
had him acknowledge that he handled
fifteen or twenty registered letters
that morning.
edo you remember my first visit to
Kenosha?" Attorney McNab said
forcibly.
eyes" answered Abel.
'lDo you recall Gen. stuart's first
visit?"
eyes. "
"And I was there previous to Gen.
Stuart?"
''Yes.'
"And you recall my second visit,
when had Mrs Counselman and her
sister along?"
eyes. -
told you we were just as anxious
as the government to solve the mys-
tery?"
"I don t remember"
Well, describe the suspect as best
you can.
She was a woman of some educa-
ton about 80 years old, neatly dress
ed, neither stout nor thin, average
height.
Do the names of Thackaberry, Lo-
REM 6 Reed suggest anything to you
or refresh your memory9n
"No, those names were not men.