Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-06-11
MRS. HOLMAN IN
TEARS AS COURT
HEARS LOVE NOTES

Hartford, Conn. June 9.-The love
letters of Elizabeth y. C. Holman were
read to the jury in the United States
court yesterday afternoon and caused
n tremendous sensation. They were
written to Mrs. Holmans present hus-
band when she was still the wife of
the Rev. .Cranston Brcnton of Yonke~s,
whom she is now suing, with two
others, for $4,000 damages for an al
legged conspiracy to imprison her in
the retreat for the insane at Brattle-
boro. VT.
When Mrs. Holman's letters were
read to the court the author wept bit.
terly, while her former husband sat in
the witness box watching her. He
testified that the letters were written
by the plaintiff while she was still
his wife. He said he was secretary of
the New York State Social Service
commission of the Episcopal Church
and made a general denial of Mrs
Holman's accusations.
Among the letters was Mrs Hol-
mans Note Of Passion" marked ITO
be opened and read on the night of
May TO-" An excerpt from its fol-
lows:
81 long so for you that | am half
afraid 10 see YOU | long so to give my
self to you-to &c all yours at last-that
hardly dare think of our Green Woods
Tonight. then, you are mine. and mine
alone. The home ties behind you--the
open road ahead Of you-and time
enough-and the whirls OF fresh air to
ease the beating head and heart-to lis
ten at last to the want-the poor want
Of the hoy-that comes with the spring
and the earth is awakening without fear
Of the telltale color of the cheeks-caus-
ing comment ana criticism"
Under date of May II, the next day, the
then Mrs Benton wrote her present hus-
band from the Wayside Inn, Sudbury,
Mass.
"Oh! Babe. Babe and earnest lover
tenderest mate-passionate. pure soul that
love l have just read the first of thy
love notes.
Dear God, dear God In heaven to
come in out of a long day in the sun
and ar-the awakening earth a green
picture in my eyes--and to find you watt
Ing for me In the fun tide of your pure.
swift. all conquering mans passion Oh,
Ernest, my man, | have sensed this
mood in us both all the springtme. Now
we keep together emotonally every step
of the way. O, my beloved, you know
that You are my life and my hearts
blood and thy desire in my honor.
Another tiny love note will 20 to thee
tomorrow night. ! love you more than
all; more than know; and | am eternally,
thy wife. BETH"
One of Holman's replies began thus:
blessed little sine qua non, My own dear
little Honey Girl-my pure one-my sweet
child-my modern Madonna-my beloved
Pearl of Purlty-my passionate Pandora
who can hardly keep her little hands from
the cover of the boX-my worshipful Won
der-my heroic Helen-my own brave
Bess, the complete fulfment of all my
hopes, Joy, fears, desires aims and ends
embracing, as you do all fearful tender
ness, all frollcsome fun, all that stands
for gentle gentleness. tender tenderness.
loving lovingness and that rare and heart
full understanding that understands. you
who are a quaint and winsome chld-pure
and passionate maid, wonder wife and
perfect mother-csscncc OF truth and dis
tilatlon of dearncss-T love thee, love thee
SpA GAA NNu w Wu1QA WNgthy OF thee"