Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-03-23
COURT THREATENS
To JAIL MAN WHO
ACTS AS LAWYER
Walter Cullen Becomes Bolster
Gus While Defending His
Own Divorce Case.

Walter J. Cullen. of Elizabeth, a
strapping big freight conductor on the
New Jersey Central railroad, VINO
stands considerably over six feet IN
height, was the cause of great excite
ment today in yice-Chancellor Stevenss
court, where he was being sued for
divorce. He was not represented by
counsel, it being said that many law
yers in Elizabeth had been retained
and had thrown over his case because
of the surrounding circumstances.
AS the different witnesses were being
examined Cullen would approach the
witness chair and shout a cross-1lre
of questions at them, which the court
construed as an attempt at brow
beating, and promptly rebuked the
man. But rebukes did not seem to nave
any effect until the court threatened
to commit him to Jail.
'If it were not for the fact h you
are trying your own case and have no
knowledge of the rules of this court, |
should have lone so long ago. said the
vice-chancellor. But I'll have no more
of it."
At another time Sergeant-at-Arrls
odyIG udo " tdhC lux iAtoAi W 1~
and force him to sit down. All present
looked for an outburst at this pro-
ceeding, with the defendant using his
apparent great strength, but instead he
subsidized.
Mrs. Cullen, who lives with her w
daughters at 525 Elizabeth avenue
Elizabeth, was placed on the stand by
her counsel, George Schmidt, n said
IL. -.A~i1.1 A,o1,C+ 90 1SQh
She said her husband was in the habit
of drinking and gambling, but she DID
not mind this so much as she did his
attentions to one Hannah Griffin, a
domestic in the home of a Mr.. Lut-
herring. She said she a been told
by different parties of Cullen being
seen with the Griffin woman, but 1t
was not until July %, 1909, that she
saw them herself.
HE had been threatening the lives
of my daughters n myself on that
day, saying he would shoot us. l swore
out a warrant for his arrest and with
Detectives Carey and Dowd n Po-.
lice officer Mccormack we went to
the home of Mr. Lutberring and found
them together"
At this j%uncture Cullen, who had
been taking notes in a furious manner,
jumped to his feet and in a oud man
ner demanded to know If she was sure.
He continued to yell and threaten dire
results, and for some time the raps
of the courts gavel could not be heard.
When Mrs. Cullen said it took the
united efforts of three men to take him
to jail Cullen laughed boisterously.
Finally, when given an opportunity OF
questioning his wife, he approached
closely to her and asked.
Nov, don't you think the best thing
to do in this matter is to effect a recon-
Citation. IL this matter comes out III
court it will be terribly disgraceful."
He was admonished by the court that
this was not a proper line of question
ing. Turning to the vice-chancellor
and lifting his right hand high, he de-
clared:
81 solemnly swear that | am not
guilty of the charges this woman makes
against me-" With this he subsidized for
a time.
Again when a Mrs. Sloan was testi-
flying he insinuated that she was not
telling the truth, and asked the court
to make her take an affidavit that her
statements were not lies.
Are you sure? Are you sure" he
demanded. Remember, l am going to
take this case III or a perjury charge
and you had better tell the truth" AS
he said the last he became thoroughly
enraged and shook his fingers close TO
the witnesses face.
When Cullen took the stand III his
own behalf he admitted going TO the
Lutberring house with the Griffin
woman, but stated that it was for the
purpose of securing food and clothes
that his wife deprived him of. His
statements were so disconnected n
so full of venom that the court cut
him short and old Mr.. Schmidt to pre-
pare his decree.
On a charge made by his wife, Cullen
was committed to the county Jail in
default of $700 bail, and languished
there for five months before being tried.
He pleaded non vult and was fined
$50. 1t is said that he has been ar
rested on other charges. and only on
Monday last was told by Police Judge
Mahon to get out of town within two
hours