The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-25
SORD|D DETAILS OF MARRIED LIFE TOLD BY MRS. PATTERSON Is Subjected to Three Hours of Merciless Cross
 Examination BREAKS DOWN, AS
 SHE TELLS STORY Several Discrepancies in Her Story Are Brought Out by
 Special Prosecutor
 Benson


 trial for the murder of her husband, told on the witness stand, Special Prosecutor Benson this afternoon directed three hours of mericeless cross examination. The state brought out several discrep- ancies.
 The chief points of her story that were attacked were the assertions that her husband beat and otherwise abused her physically and the charge that he had sold her for $500 to her former admirer, Emil W. Strouss. Chicago millionaire, with whom she made a trip to Europe.
 The mask of imperturbablity that Mrs Patterson had worn throughout the early days of the trial vanished. Twice she wept while at other times doubt, scorn and indignation held her
 Reviewing her early life in Sandoval ILL, Prosecutor Benson wrung from Mrs Patterson an admission that when she was about IA years old she had been expelled from school, but not for immoral conduct, as he had intimated. He then endeavored unsuccessfully to get Mrs Patterson to admit that she had lived at resort in St. Louis.
 MT. Benson led over the story of her entered Denver sanitarium. A letter written June 13 1911. was handed Mrs Patterson. It read in part:
 My Dear Little Pet-Yours received Now, you must not worry and feel there is a report by on you, for there is not I take all the responsibility on my own shoulders. You will be happy when you step into your own little bungalow. Just be happy, Gertie. and the way to be happy is to know that you have got the best little loving helpmate and wife in the whole world. Lots of love, and trust me. I am true all the time. Are your"
 On the instance of the trip to Europe with Strouss the prosecution sought to get from the witness that just prior to the trip she had urged her husband to get into some business for himself and that negotiations were pending for his purchase of a half interest in a Chicago printing establishment for which she was to give him s1500 which she said she had inherited from an estate that had just been settled.
 To all questions on this point Mrs. Pat terson returned positive denials or a qualified Not that I remember"
 Didn't you tell Charlie Patterson that MT. Strouss was like father to you; that he had you educated and that he wanted you to go to Europe with him because your knowledge of French would be of value to him in buying goods?" asked MT. Benson.
 q did not,'' she shot back.
 Didn't he beg of you on his pended knees not to go?"
 'He did not.'
 Didn't you receive a telegram from him in New York before you sailed beg ging you not to go?"
 'Yes, after he had the s15O0."
 Didn't he say that he had discovered that Strouss was a scoundrel and that things were not as he had been led io believer
 ''No."
 And when you and Strouss reached Paris you found a letter from your hus- band in which he said that if you did not return at once he would follow and fNiii Nco anu t-liOOoSt lOO.
 Yes"
 And strouss gave you 5000 and sent you home?'
 Yes"
 That Strouss and Mrs. Patterson kept up correspondence and that objection on Patterson's part to any further rela- tions with her former admirer were points the state sought vainly to establish. Mrs Patterson was shown a letter addressed to herself and signed "E. w. S." She said that it did not seem to her to be il MT. Strouss handwriting.
 The story of the witness girlhood oi her meeting with Strouss when she was 16 years old, of his taking her to Paris to study, of her return to Chicago with him for the next five years were brought out remorselessly under cross examina- ton. These points had been avoided ir direct examination.
 Three months after she met Strouss Mrs. Patterson said she and Strouss sail ed for Paris, where he put her in a board ing school.
 Were you travelling as his wife?' "Not then"
 Mrs Patterson probably will be or the stand much of tomorrow. Portions of Mrs. Patterson's testimony this morning led the court to instruct his bailiffs to exclude all minors Much of the testimony of Mrs Ger. trude Gibson Patterson was unfit for pub lication. It is said he was nearly dead with consumption. Mrs. Patterson sait she had nursed him until doctor ordered her to take a. rest. She visited him, how. ever, she said, and one day he exclaimed If you don't come back and nurse mt I'm going to sue that Chicago man.
 He patted the witness afterward, said ths | ttf,nc 4l.- here that will fix you.'' He drew a razor and said, "I'll kill yol as sure as I live.''
 In July, 1911, witness said she filed z suit for divorce and went to live with hel parents in Sandoval. H. My husband kept after me for money saving he wanted to go west for hi l health." narrated Mrs. Patterson. "Nher
 l told him had none, he said get it.'" 1 The Chicago mllionaire's name wa.
 referred to. Mrs. Patterson said she re fused the request and he beat her Later
 she said, she wrote to Emil Strouss O | Chicago and he sent her $500 with whici
 she and her husband came to Denver While they were still living in Chicago
 witness declared, Patterson by threats 1 compelled her to sell an electric runa bout for which she got $600. She declared she turned this over to Patterson. Sh,
 added she sold the car rather than appl,
 to Strouss for the money which her hus band at first desired her to do. It was while they were in Chicago tha l Patterson insisted that she secure nor,
 money with which he desired to pur chase property. Mrs. Patterson declared she would apply for no more, whereupoi she testified her husband exclaimed, '' think I'll sue that man for money" | Mrs. Patterson said she then confessed