The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-12-11
RADCLIFFE DENIES
FAMILY CONSPIRACY
To ALLEVIATE BRIDE
Did Not Write Letter to Walker
Wife Sent from Pittsburg.
Gives History of Mother
Dying Telegram.
Brother Of Mrs. Walker Chief
Witness for Defense in Alien
alton Suit of Man Torn From
Eride's Side Ten Hours
After Marriage.

with the defense in the $4,000
alienation suit of Thomas Grant Walk
err against II. L.. Radcliffe and other
members OF the Radcliffe family hav-
ing the presentation of its side of the
case well under way, the Law and
Equity court last night at 6 O'Clock
adjourned until 10 o'clock this morn
ing when John l. Radcliffe. brother
of Mrs Walker, who was abruptly
separated from Walker ten hours after
the marriage, will resume the stand
for the cross-examiEation.
A series of denials that the separa-
ton of the couple was brought about
by a conspiracy featured the afternoon
session.
Radcliffe Feature WftI.css.
Standing out among the afternoons
features wa1 the testimony OF John L.
Radcliffe, who sent the telegram say
ing his mother was dying, that halted
the honeymoon trir at Ashland and
brought the couple back TO Richmond
on the night OF April 25th. when the
separation began.
Mr.. Radcliffe told his story OF the
telegram. the return OF the couple t.
Richmond and the efforts made by
Walker TO inc uce his wife TO return to
him up to the time that the bride re-
turned Walkers rings and some fancy
work articles he had given her.
He denied knowledge of rhe type
written letter receivd by Walker from
Mrs Walker, sometime after she had
gone to Pittsburg, saying she would
not return TO him ard enF.osed the
check for $50 which Walker had sent
his bride 10 pay -her- expenses re-
turing to 1sichmnnd. i. was thus
letter that Judge Crump Tuesday
afternoon declined to admit in evil
dence at that time. though it may
be offered later during the trial.
Mr. Radcliffe declared he had never
seen the letter. 70 far as he could recol-
lect and that he knew nothing OF II
The plaintiffs COUNCIL had tried to
shcw this letter was written by wit
ness himself and sent to his sister In
Pittsburg by special delivery that she
naixht send 1t TO walker,
Courtroom Crowded
The courtroom was crowded all day
yesterday. members and friends Of the
two farIIIes and others having pack
ed into the room. The unusual In
teresf helms shown in the case gradual
~ Increased during the day and with
II there Increased the volume nj
speculation is to the real cause or the
separation of Walker and his wife be-
fore their frs. day of married lite had
passed
John L. Ratclife was the sixth wit,
ness heard during the afternoon. He
told of tho sending OF the telegram TO
Mrs walker while she was en- routs
with her husband Ia Washington. He
denied that there was any conspiracy.
He declared no one knew that he In
tande kening the telegram recalling
his sister. He said he felt that Il was
necessary 10 relieve the sllfferings OF
his mother, who sustained great ner-
vous shock when she received the news
Of the marriage, and testified that as
soon as he heard OF his mothers con-
istior he went to the telegraph office
and insisted that the telegram should
be delivered
He sent the telegram Immediately
after his sister. Alice, had called him
on the phone and told him that his
mother was seriously Ill. His telegram
to Mrs Walker read:
Your Mother Dying.
"your mother Is dying. / advise you
to return to my house at once"
He said that he insisted that Betty
should not bc accompanied To the Rat
ciiffe home &c see her mother by
Walker as the presence OF Walker In
the house might make even more
serious the condition of the mother.
Mr.. Radcliffe declared that later he
had told his sister that she might re-
turn to walker II she wanted to. He
said his brother. Frank, al 10 told her
she might 10 as she wished They
were told by Betty. he said that she
did not love Walker and could not
live with him.
They told her. be testified, that while
she could 60 to Walker at any time
there could never be any happy
medium between Walker and U.S."
Betty assured them both. witness de-
clared, that she had made an awful
mistake and that she could not live
with walker She wanted to go away
Raleigh and Atlanta were among the
cities she suggested she might go to-
The brothers told her she could go
f~onttuued on Third Pagey