Los Angeles herald., 1910-06-17
.LUCY'S LOVE NOTES
SURPRISE PECKHAM
Wife of Realty Broker Offers Let
ters from Fair Steno-
grapher as Evidence

Mrs. Ada S. Peckham sprung sur
prise on her husband, George c. Peck
ham, in Judge Hervey's court yester-
day when he commenced his divorce ac-
ton against her, by Introducing two
letters written to him by his former
stenographer, Lucy c. Harper, while
the latter was visiting in Arizona.
The letters were of an intimate ma
ture and revealed something more than
friendship between Peckham and his
stenographer. They began with Dear
est" and the writer sent him several
thousand "l1isses.'' The introduction
of the letters followed the testimony OF
Miss Harper, who declared that there
was absolutely noting intimate in her
relations with her former employer"
Peckham is a prominent real estate
dealer in Los Angeles, and his family
affairs were brought into the limelight
several months ago when Mrs. Peck
ham attacked the stenographer, Miss
Lucy Harper, in her husbands office
and charged her with being too friendly
with Peckham. Mrs. Peckham is said
to have made these charges against the
|
to have applied harsh names to Miss
Harper.
WIFE JEALOUS, is CHARGE
Peckham then filed suit for divorce
on the ground that his wife was in
sanely jealous without reason and
treated him cruelty. She is contesting
the divorce action and is asking sepa-
rate maintenance, on the ground that
her husband has been unfaithful to her.
On the stand in court yesterday when
the trial commenced Peckham testified
as to his wife's alleged cruelty and
jealousy. His attorneys asked Judge
Hervey to exclude reporters, spectators
and witnesses from the court room be-
cause of the alleged sensational nature
of the testimony. In view of the prom
inence of the contestants and the ma
ture of the evidence, Judge HerVey
complied. The court room was reopened
to the public later in the proceedings.
Ernest Peckham, a young son OF PECK
ham by a former marriage, testified on
behalf of his father. He declared Mrs.
Peckham had called his father a pup
py-dog," a 10y rider and other ap-
pelations of like nature. On being
examined by the defense the boy ad-
mitted that his father had been at
tentiVe to a Mrs. Van Loan, that the
latter had given his father birthday
party without Mrs. Peckham being
present, and that Mrs. Van Loan and
his father had frequently gone on pic
MICS to Hollywood and the beaches.
TEsTIFIEs FOR FATHER
Ralph Peckham, another son of Peck
ham, testified along the same lines.
He admitted that he went out automo-
billing with his father and that the lat
ter went to visit Mrs. Van Loan. He
I in
his father made the visits. Efforts were
made by the defense to show that
Peckham moved into the Netherlands
apartments about the same time that
Mrs. Van Loan moved into them.
Lucy Harper, the plaintiffs former
stenographer, was then called to the
stand She was queried regarding the
affair in the office when Mrs. Peckham
attempted to beat her. She said Mrs.
Peckham had entered the place, ana
after charging her with being her nus
| bands paramour, had struck her in the
face with her purse. Peckham rusheu
in and tried to stop her, said the VII
ness, and his wife turned on h1m also'
with the purse as weapon.
| Miss Harper was asked directly as 10
her relations with Peckham. She de-
| clared that they were simply those of
an employer and employe. Later the
two letters secured by Mrs. Peckham
| from her husbands desk were shown TO
her. She turned red when she saw
them and Peckham turned pale.
Asked if they were written by heri
she replied in the affirmative, ana they
were introduced as evidence. Attorneys
for the defendant objected to their be-
| inc read in court, and the judge sus-
| tained the objection. After further tes-
timonv by Miss Harper the trial was
| adjourned until this morning