New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-05-12
WOMAN'S FRIENDSHIP
WITH MR.. HOE DESCRIBED
First Husband Says She Met
Maker of Presses in Effort
to Get Him a Job.
WANTED TWICE TO SUE HOE
But Wife, Who Now Sues Estate
for Bonds and Securities,
Stopped Him-Got $40, 900
in End to Drop Case.

| johnson Johns began her suits against
the estate Of Robert Hoe, part Of whose
| library has just been sold for nearly
81 900, OO0-one for 100000 worth OF
bonds and stocks and another for $780,
600 mortgage. all Of which she said the
printing press manufacturer gave to her
in his lifetime-there is on record dei1-
mite and explicit story Of the meeting OF
/ the plaintiff and Mr.. Hoe and of what
| followed
| Before the plaintiff became Mrs. Johns,
the wife OF lawyer In this city she was
the wife OF Louis F. Brown, OF Kentucky.
| He obtained divorce from her on the
been for some time the friend of Mr..
Hoe and, as she sometimes was called,
/ his ward. In her suit TO prove the
ownership OF the mortgage in question
| the Hoe executors obtained an order
from the Supreme Court to examine
Brown as a witness for the defence be-
| fore the trial Of the action. He was ex-
amined. and his testimony was filed
| yesterday in the County Clerks office.
This record throws light on the rela-
who is an attractive woman, and, as ap-
pears in the testimony. has such an ap-
| pealing manner that after one conference
| between her and Brown and the latter's
| lawyer the latter remarked that she had
| him "going" for while. and that he
was not sure whose attorney he was.
Brown told in his examination that he
engaged James Slattery. lawyer. of
| Maysvilie, KY. to sue Mr.. Hoe for the
alienation Of his wife's affections, and
by paving Brown $4,000.
! The late John G. Carlisle. former Sec
rotary Of the Treasury, was Mr. Hoe 5
| legal representative in the negotiation
leading up TO the settlement of the case,
which took place at Washington. Brown
held out for 10000, and it was the
earnest pleading Of his wife that induced
his to accept $4,000.
One Suit MAS Abandoned.
| Once before Erown had decided 10 sue
Mr. Hoe for taking from him the love
and affection of his wife. He was better
| fortified then for a court fight, accord
| ing 10 his testimony. for he had a box
| full OF letters written by Mr.. Hoe to
Mrs. Brown. But he gave up that suit
also az the fearful and eloquent appeals
of his wife. whom he met on the street
after he had consulted lawyer.
Then he got back the letters that he
| had already turned over to his lawyer
and gave them back 10 his wife. Mr..
and Mrs. Brown we're married in July.
1895. in Lexington, ny. They have a
daughter Claudia. who is about fourteen
years old She is in the custody Of the
mother by the consent Of Brown, given
when he got his divorce.
At the time Of his marriage Brown was
the Chesapeake &; Ohio ticket agent in
Lexington. They lived there together
until 1900. when the couple came to New
| York Most of the incidents that led up
10 the divorce took place in 1908.
Claude w. Johnson, father of Mrs,
Brown. was the director of the Burea IL
Of Engra wing in Washington at that
time. He obtained job with r. Hoe 6;
Co., in London. Mrs. Brown did not
want to be separated from her parents
and she thought Of the plan to obtain
from the senior member of the firm a
situation for her husband. II was while
on that mission that she first met Mr..
Hoe. According TO Brown. Mr. Hoe was
much impressed by his wife and eX-
pressed his sympathy for her, promising
at the same time that he would try TO
help her she again saw Mr.. Hoe about
Browns going TO London. and on that
visit her pleas and tears won over the
wealthy maker Of presses.
Brown Discharged in London.
NJ Hoe arranged tEat Brown and his
wife should go 10 London. Brown was
employed there by Mr.. Hoe for about
wear when. through Mr.. Johnson, he
was informed that his services were no
longer needed. He never knew the rea-
son for his summary discharge, Brown
testified. and il made his wife angry
He was thrown on his own resources.
with nothing TO do, and his wife char
acterized Mr. Hoes action In bringing
them TO London and then discharging
Brown as bad business"
she was angry clear through" he
said. Mrs. Brown planned TO talk mat
tiers over with Mr.. Hoe. She invited him
to her home for luncheon, telling her
husband TO withdraw with their daugh-
ter when Mr.. Hoe arrived, which he did.
During that interview there came up the
suggestion that MIR. Hoe furnish house.
OF which Mrs. Brown would take care.
He hired a house at No. SO Brunswick
Square. paid his board and also paid
Mrs. Brown, who lived there with her
husband and her child, for her services.
Brown said that he was opposed to
that arrangement from the beginning.
Later, through Mr.. Hoe, Brown got a
job with a printing ink concern in Lon
don. lie said that he never saw any
conduct between his wife and Mr.. Hoe
that was open 10 censure.
Mrs. Brown and Mr.. Hoe used to go
out to buy art objects for the press
makers collection, Brown said. She had
an artistic taste. and she helped Mr.. Hoe
TO buy all of his fine furniture. She used
to meet Mr.. Hoe in the lower part of the
city.
When Mr.. Hoe came back TO the
United States he wrote many letters to
Mrs. Brown. Some OF them he addressed
TO her home. but others he sent TO her In
care Of the banking firm of Brown. Ship