The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-10-16
Prominent Witness in LOrimeI
Case Is Sued.
John c. Hsnning Wants $4,000
for Alienation.
WOMAN HOTEL CASHIER
WrOnged Husband Is Chicago
Street Car Conductor.
international Harvester Co. Nam
ager Calls 1t BlackmaiI.

Chicago, Oct. 16-Much interest was
taken today in the disclosure that Mrs.
John c. Henning, whose affections
Clarence 6 Funk, general manager %
the International Harvester company
is charged with having alienated from
her husband, is a former assistant to
the cashier of the Dutch and German
rooms in the Congress hotel here. Hen
ming himself was for several years en-
ployed as a checker in the same hotel.
Recently he has worked as a street car
conductor. He asks for $25, 900.
Mrs Henning is described as a strik-
Ing looking young woman of a pro-
nounced brunette type. Before her mar
rtage her name was Miss Josephine
O'Rilley.
Mr.. Funk denounces the suit as a
frameup, and says he does not know
either Josephine or John Henning. He
TESTIFIED before the Helm committee
and later in the present United States
senate inquiry that Edward Hines So
hcited $4,000 from him on BEHALF IF
the harvester committee to help re-
coup his expenses in putting Lorim q
over"
Since Mr.. Funk gave this testimony
the Lorimer contingent has shallow
ed him continuously and has assailed
him in various ways.
The attorneys who fled the Henning
suit and simultaneously fled a declara-
ton or bill of complaint-an unsual
proceeding-ar Daniel Donahoe and
have lorg been identified with Lcrimer
and the Lorimer crowd
The lawyers, while making no secret
of the fact the Funk named in the suit
is the same Clarence S. Funk who tes
titled against Senator Lorimer. decli7-
ed 70 disclose the identity of their eli
ent
No claim for damages ever was made
on Mr.. Funk prior to the time DOna
hoe & Hartnett filed their action.
A report last night from Mobile Ala,
said that the Hennings concerned in
the action are both in that city. liv-
ing together.
Funk Tells Strange Story.
The filing of the suit brough to light
a sensational incident in which a man
who has testified in the Lorimer case
figured
On July 8 last a young woman called
Mr.. Funk on the telephone She said
she was at the Congress hotel and was
anxious to see him. She asked that
he call without delay. Mr.. Funk re-
piled he would come and bring
friend with him. She protested, saying
she desired to see him alone, and ex-
pressed a Willingness to come to his
Office. She said she would call on him
Immediately.
There is a high settee in Mr.. Funk's
office, and on the advice of his attor-
neys, whom he consulted, a stenog-
rapher was concealed behind it When
the young woman was ushered into
the office she found Mr.. Funk alone
She is described as a beautiful poster
girl of about 9 or 20 She was neat
ly, though fashionably, dressed, and
appeared to be modest and under good
control.
She told Mr.. Funk her name, said
she formerly lived in Chicago, and
then arrated the following story:
L was i'll at my home in Denver. A
man telephoned he desired to see me.
I said he might call, but when he
came the nurse refused to permit him
to talk to me. then suggested he call
on a friend of mine.
when I recovered took the train
for Chicago. I saw a man swing on
the car as the train pulled out. He
was without baggage. This man APP
preached me on the train. He intro
duced himself as the person who had
telephoned to my house and regretted
not having seen me in Denver.
He told me his family had been
broken up by you, Mr.. Funk, and that
he wanted me to aid him in having
you punished. He then went on to
tell me about things you had done to
me- Funk has Wronged you he said
and want you to help me to punish
him for the wrongs he has committed
against both of u.s.
Il said I did not know Mr. Funk
and never had seen him. He insisted
Mr.. Funk had wronged me, which I
repeated was not true. When I came
me on the telephone. He said he was
friend of the person who saw me on
the train and would like to meet me
and take me for an automobile ride
I told him I did not wish to see him.
After thinking the matter over
thought you, Mr. Funk, should know
these facts
The young woman was cross exam
med by Mr.. Funk's attorneys, but per-
sisted her story was true. She left
the office and returned to her hotel.
Three days later a witness in the Lor-
inner case called on her at the hotel
and they went automobiling together.
Subsequently the young woman re-
turned to Denver. where she married. |
Mr.. Funk never has seen or heard |
from her since. The story she told is
particularly interesting, however, in |
view of the suit which Henning has
filed against the International Har-
vester official.
Has No Lorimer Connection.
Il wouldn't do Mr.. Funk an injus- |
tice," said Attorney Donahoe when q |
second request was made for the iden- !
tity of the Hennings.
But the defendant insists he does |