The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-12-12

While testifying in the Law and
Equity Court yesterday afternoon In
tho Walker -Ratcliffe $4,000 aliena-
tion suit, Mrg. Thomas Grant Walker.
who left her husbands side ten hours
after they were married. turned to the
Jury and said that IL was the attempted
marital kiss OF ber husband that
sounded the death -knell of the loYe
she had but lately felt for him. She
admitted that he had often kissed her
during their engagement and that she
had not objected.
But when, after the marriage cerc-
mony, Grant Walker placed his arms
around her and told her that she be-
longcd TO him. and that he had right
10 kiss her. she drew back, and over
her came the feeling. she said, that
she did not love him as a wife should
love her husband She said that the
revelation OF her changed feelings.
which resulted IN her leaving her
newly welded husband forever. came
To her at his home.
Could Not Remember the Ceremony.
In her narrative OF the events dur
ing their years OF acquaintance and
months Of courtship, in her relation OF
all the events Immediately preceding
the marriage, and Of the things which
occurred subsequent TO the ceremony
she displayed an accurate and appar-
entity. almost faultless memory. But of
the ceremony which made her in the
home of the Rev. J. Q. Stewart. ID. d,
bride she could remember nothing.
She knew only, she declared. that she
WAS being married. She could recall
not word OF the passages in the
Presbyterian ritual, nor a word OF her
responses. She didn't know what the
minister said. yet she told Mr. Wen
dcnburg that she was in possession of
all her senses.
Don't you remember promising and
covenanting 70 be unto him faith
full and loving wife," asked Mr.. Wen
denburg, repeating the passage.
u don't remember any OF the words"
she replied: and always She repeated.
Il don't remember any OF the words"
From Love to Revuision.
Mr. Wendenburg attempted vainly to
recall TO her mind some OF the pas
sages in the ritual. some of the incl
dents which took place as the minister
was Joining them in holy wedlock. but
she only shook her head and said that
she could not recall anything that oc-
Cured during those few moments
She was unable to recall whether she
placed her hand in Grant Walkers
hand, or whether he placed his In hers
She recalled definitely that her hus-
band attempted TO kiss her when they
were in his home, and that she knew
lHen tHdl she ClC not love MIN.
Mr.. Wendenburg sought to find other
reasons for her sudden change from
love to revulsion for her husband. but
she gave no other. II was only the
attempted kiss, she said. that brought
about the change.
In reply to Mr.. Wcndenburg she said
that her mother and brother, John
Ratclffe, came to see her in Pittsburgh
before Walker visited her. John Rat
cliffe had testified that he and his
mother went to Pittsburgh after Walk
er's visit. The girl was asked If she
could reconcile the two statements She
said that she hardly knew how to
answer the question. but that her
mother and brother did como before
Grant came.
Swore She Wrote Letter.
AS to the typewriter letter which
has become such a vital point in the
case because the plaintiffs alleSc that
It was written in Richmond by John
Ratcliffc and sent to her by special de-
livery. Mrs Walker swore that she had
written 1t in Pittsburgh at the dicta-
tion of Mr.. Pritchard. That letter and
another written by Mr.. Ratcliffe on his
typewriter, in which the plaintiffs
claim like defect In Il typewriter let
ter appears, were shown TO the jury
The letters were carefully scrutinized
by the members of the jury.
The courtroom was moro closely
packed yesterday than any pre-
ceding day. Many women were pres
ent; lawyers gathered around the bar.
and people stood in solid mass in the
rear Of the room almost to the door
They listened intently to the testimony
Of the bride, hanging or her every
word She went through her direct ex-
animation with but little prompting
froW her attorneys. and she told her
story well, speaking carefully and with
Il certain tcrscncss and crispncss of
words and manner that showed that
she had herself under complete con
troll.
Not Influenced by Family.
Under cross examination she did not
vary. At times sho appeared to be
cvasive. at others she repeated under
the grill statements made in direct ex-
animation, but often she said that she
did not remember. She denied having
been Influenced by any member Of her
family against her husband and when
often pressed for reason as to why
she did not inform them of her pros
pective marriage, sho said always that
she did not want them to know She
denied having said that her parents
had been unfortunate in their married
life, and sho stated that She had never
said that Frank, her brother, would tie
her if he knew that she was about TO
be married
On the other hand. she said that