Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-10-14
AGED PHIlANTHROPlST At
TEMPTING TO SHOW WIFE IS
SEEKING HIS MONEY.
CHARGES SHE DESERTED HIM
FOR PURPOSE OF sUEING
Mrs. Coffin on Witness Stand in Sep
arate Maintenance Suit Alleges That
Properly Provide For Her Needs
Other State News.
pecial to Times Republican.

Special to Times-Republican.
Fort Dodge, Oct. li.-Final argu-
ments in the Coffin mainten-
ance suit must be given before Judge
Albrook at Webster City Monday, as
the judge wished to adjourn court this
noon after the testimony was in, to go
home for Sunday.
L. S. Coffin, the defendant, who was
IN the stand yesterday afternoon, con-
Guided his testimony and cross-examin-
alton at a night session last night. He
reiterated constantly his predominant
pQrpose to please his wife and make
her happy. and said all criticism vas
to improve her. Admitting he spoke
angrlIy and hastily at times. he said
he always apoIogizeG. He admitted on
Observation-Disclosures that he sent her
money after she lief, him. thinking 10
hush her up until two years passed and
he could get a divorce for deseruon
if he wished. The testimony this morn
ing tina Mrs. Coffin called him
an old fool. and sand he might ne
brought home dead any time and she
would not care. was denied by plaintiff.
Fort Dodge. oct. 1.-THE effort Of
defense in the separate maintenance
suit brought by Mrs. L. S. Coffin
against her husband, the we'll known
qhilanthropist and temperance WORKER.
is being directed TO show that Mrs
Coffin wilfully deserted her husband
for the purpose Of suing him to obtain
a portion OF his property.
Daring the cross examination Of Mrs.
Coffin, it seemed to be the purpose OF
the attorneys for Mr.. Coffin. to gain
testimony which would show that there
was nothing about Mr.. Coffin. his as
sociates or his home h a the plaintiff
liked. 1t was also their purpose to
bring out evidence that Mrs. Coffin
had deliberately planned TO leave Mr.
Coffin and sue him 10 obtain money.
Some of the testimony resulting from
these questions seemed to create some
doubt among the listeners as to wheth-
er she did or whether her actions were
merely the wise r~recautica and result
Of business like ability or her part to
provide for herself. contrary to COM
mon practice among women in such
cases. many times unfamiliar with
business methods.
MIR. Coffin Tries to Hear.
Mr.. Coffin, the aged defendant, has
sat during the entire trial, near the ex-
amining attorneys and the witness
stand. He has almost constantly been
az attention with q trembling hand
to his ear. as he e~ndeavors to hear
! questions and Part of the
time, out not often, he sat without eff
fort to neal and appeared almost doz-
ing.
Thursday afternoon the opening tes-
tinlony was taken IN shorthand by a
s~tenographer TO be Transcribed for him
to read.
Mr.. and Mrs. Coffin themselves are,
Of course, the chief witnesses in the
case. The defense is depending on him
almost entirely 20 assist their side OF
the case. Mr. and Mrs. RoulstoA. ten
ants at Willowedge and Mrs. AcClel-
land Of the ". G. T. L, will also tes-
Iity.
For the plaintiff there Will be many
witnesses. Besides Mrs. Irwin, he
daughter, there will be Mr.. and Mrs.
Robert Rouls,on. William L~ennihan,
Arthur German, Edward Brink and
Mrs. Wise, Of Des Moines. a w. c.. T.
L. officer. Lindsey Thompson is also
-
listed as a witness.
To Prove Fermentation.
To bring evidence hat she planned
her action ahead Of time, Mir. O'Con-
nor asked Mrs. Coffin if it vas not
true thai Mr.. Coffin wished her to buy
a round trip ticket when she went to
Detroit after their marital troubles
and she ~assented. They purchased one
way tickets. Mrs. Coffin saying that
her daughter bought them. She also
did not tell him when she would be
back.
,air. O'Connor also emphasized the
fact that she came to town the after
noon before her departure in tha eve
ming, without telling Alr. Coffin size
would not return and also that at
the same time she had made arrange
ments for the transfer Of all her per
sonal property to the station, prepar-
atory to her departure. He also laid