The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-05-18
HER HUSBAND
 EVEN DRANK
 WITCH HAZEL

4
 Declaring that her husband, Louis R. Hall, prominent New York brok- CT with a residence in Greenwich, would not leave liquid untouched in the house, Virginia Whiting Hall. also of Greenwich, was the plaintiff, this morning, before Judge Ralph Wheeler in the Superior Court, asking for divorce on the ground of intem- perance and intolerable cruelty. The husband has entered a cross complaint of infidelity. but does not mention CO., respondent.
 Mrs. Hall was the only witness call ed during the morning session. Her suit is being looked after by Attor- neys Cummings and Lockwood of Stamford. Most of the facts in the evidence she read from diary, which she had kept since Jan. 1, 1907.
 Starting with May 1907, she con- tinued almost to the present day, stating facts to show that Hall was constant drinker, and often abused his wife.
 "He would make us all very nervous when he ate at the table, said Mrs. Hall. flA
 ..He would flourish his knife and fork and make other gesticulations, which were disgusting"
 "I was always ashamed of him, when there were guests at the house, she continued. He always acted just like a foolish drunken man would act.
 The vile names which MT. Hall hurled at Mrs. Hall were mentioned in court but are unprintable.
 At one time he called Mrs. Hall, a vile name, the meaning of which she did not know.
 A few days later, she said, she ask ed him how to spell the word. After wards she looked it up in the diction- ary, finding it's true meaning. On June 24th and 18th, 1907, Hall was unable to go to his business in New York because of his helpless condition. On that latter date Mrs. Hall said that she found he had broken into her and pearls, and pawned them in New York. He denied this, however. saying,
 "I can do whatever I want with your things, you are no good any way.''
 On June 26, they went together to Rye Beach for dinner, where he be- came so drunk that he had to be helped from the table by a number of his companions. When he came home she remonstrated with him and received. she says. a good shaking up, and black and blue arms. Again on July he was drunk and began to abuse her. When she tried to scream he gagged her with a pillow, and punched the muscles of her limbs.
 During all of this time Mrs. Hall said she was denied any financial privileges by her husband. He would not give her cent to go to the stores but just enough to pay her car fare. Often times, she said, she had to bor- row what she could from the servants. On Nov. g, while ascending the stairs in her home after seeing her husband, come into the house intoxicated, he r., 1~aI E1rrv, it at her. The heavy heel, she said, hit the end of her spine.
 Ever since that date she has suff- cred considerably from the injury. Drs Murray and Parker, specialists in New York, whom she has consul ted, have told her that she must sub- init to an operation, before she can be relieved of the pain. At present she is unable to walk without pain. Two months after. this incident their last child, a girl, was born.
 ''Mr. Hall,' said Mrs. Hall, want ed children, but he was very furious because the last child was girl"
 About MT. Halls drinking proclivi- ties. Mrs. Hall said: 'It was impos- sible to have a thing in the house. would hide bottles of liquors, but he would always manage to find them. It was impossible to have witch hazel, wood alcohol or any of those things in the house. He even drank the bottles of Ponds Extract. All over the house would find those little pesky flasks which he would throw away"
 One day in January, 1909, Mrs. Hall said she wanted to go to New York to tend her mother, who was seriouly ill. Her husband would not let her leave the house. and, te prevent her, stole and hid her clothes. She. however, did manage to get away, and when she called him on the phone he used such terrible language that she had to ring off, On Feb 15. 1909 after returning from a wedding. at which h chad be- come intoxicated. he abused his wife. Mrs. Hall said he tore off all her clothes, even her underclothes. and al so her shoes. The shoes were exhib- ited in court They were practically new affairs, but the uppers were hang ing loose at one side, having been rip ped almost off. Mrs. Hall said that she hid the shoes in her closet be- cause, she said, "I didn't want people to know that he treated me so and that I continued to live with him un- der those conditions"
 In March. 1909. Hall purchased an auto. though Mrs. Hall said that both she and the children were without clothing. In May, 1909, both went to a dance. After the dance there was an argument, during which Mrs Hall was struck in the eye by her husband 'I had often heard people speak of sec ing stars" said Mrs. Hall. 'sbut it was the first time ever saw then.''