The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-03-30
NEY
a PERJURY
ss Brute, - as De
opposing Attorney.
Ter Hand, he Wig
Defends Major
dOn's Character.

INT OF the long pending, bit
Fought. many-sided Tenney-Ten-
1ivOrce case began before Judge
knan in the Chancery Court
bnday morning. William L.
oyall opened for Mrs. Tenney. fol-
Sewed by L. q. Wendenburg for Mr..
Frenney. MIR. Royal will also close.
Those who have expected the case
TO develop sensations have not had
their expectations disappointed, and
the court officers said this morning
that they could recall no case in the
records of Richmond courts that is
similar. While almost everyone is IA
miliar with IL &c some degree, a brief
synopsis may make a complete under
standing easier.
Mrs. Emma Schoomaker Tenney,
about two years ago, sued George ..
Tenney for alimOny, later charging
the suit TO one for divorce. Mr.. Ten
ney filed cross bill, asking for alb
solute divorce and naming Major Z.
C Gordon, an ex-minister and mem-
Der OF prominent Georgia family. as
correspondent Two other men are
mentioned by Mr.. Tenneys side,
though they are mentioned only Incl
dett.,i.A. 50 far as is now known.
s;estot> charges are also brought
against ar. Tenney, though the one
OF greatest Importance is said to be
based on an occurrence that has been
cOndoned. and Is. therefore, OF no
weight
The couple was married in 1888,
and the allegations involving Major
has one daughter. Mrs. Aleda Tenney
Bunch wife of Tillman Bunch, of
South Carolina. Mr.. Bunch is a for
mer officer OF the United STATES Navy
and n relative Of Senator Tiliman.
Mr.. Tenney is president of the At
lantic Bitulithic Company. and is re-
puted to be very wealthy man. He
is about dfty-ene years old, and his
10 n
but an attractive looking woman, even
today
Major Gordon is now about sixty
five; when he met Mrs. Tenney he
was about forty-twO.
Mrs. Tenney has sister who mar
ried into the, nobi1ty-the Countess
Won Krakow-and the social promi-
nence OF the family in many States
has lent the case additional interest.
The suits have been pending since
1903 and different features Of them
have caused several hearings in court
The evidence-all dOcumentary-is
so voIuminous that il is not likely that
Judge Grinnan will announce mis- de-
CiSion in less than month
AFR. Royal began by notifying Mr.
Wendenburg that he would ask the
court to allow Mrs Tenney $1,000 for
attorney fees.
.He acknowledges, he said. that
he has $4,000 a year Income.
Mr.. Royal then said Tenney was
an "unblushing perjurer who would
swear to anything" He added that
he would show Mrs. Tenney to be the
victim Of a villainous conspiracy ana
again eXcOriated Tenney.
Mr.. Royal mentioned a letter writ
ten to Tenney by one Mary Horn.
which IS referred to in more detail
later. The letter is very ccmpromis-
ing.
The lawyer then read from state
ment OF Mrs. Aleda Tenney Bunch. re-
Il
Mr. Royal then read from an al
fidavit OF Countess Won Krakow that
Tenney had declared he would get
n divorce-that he would furnish the
criminal evidence against himself foI
that purpose. The countess. said Mr.
Royal. told him that Emma Cher sis
teri had done nothing. and he repeat
cd that me would get a divorce.
me had Mrs. Tenney." said AIr.
Royal. traced Ivy Pinkerton detec-
tives. The daughter" continued Mr..
Royal. told her mother that her
father offered to furnish evidence 70;
a divorce; that he would furnish her
SIS a month il she got the divorce. j.
she did not try she would not get q
cent The mother refused"
Mr.. Royal then told OF Mrs. Ten
ney's entering her husbands trunk
in the Richmond Hotel and securing
1909
The lawyer then said he would dis
cuss Tenney's cross bill. charging Mrs
Tenney with adultery.
But before 1 do this" he said. u
wish 10 speak of Tenney. the per-
Jurer." lie said that he had never
thought OF getting a divorce until he
had had conversation with his
daughter in California
The proceedings were here inter-
rupted for a few minutes to allow
M Wendenburg To appear in the
Hastings Court and ask for the post
ponement of a murder trial in which
he is counsel.
He had no purpose of getting
divorce" said Mr. Royal and then
he read from a letter TO Mrs. Tenney
from Mr. Tenney. which said he would
not live in the same house with her
Judge Grinnan interrupted with n
question, and Mr.. Royal said he was
illustrating the character Of this
perjurer"
He then read a letter alleged 30
have been written. by Mr.. Tenney. this
letter, 10 a woman. announcing that
the writer had seen another woman
he wished TO marry. and would. if
she was willing and he could, get a
divorce.
This" said Mr.. Royal. lis the
man who had not intended to get a
divorce"
He then read a letter from. Mr..
pney TO his wife in California, say
EnkaS willing for either to get a
np6l who did not in