Norwich bulletin., 1914-06-25
DEFENDANT ON STAND FOUR HOURS
John Donovan Gave Testimony in His Own Defense in SIander Suit--Wrote No Anonymous Letter. Wanted to Get Rid of Mrs. Church Claimed Mr. Craney Had Harmed Him.

Ing and MrS. Cnurcn came down the stairs and Dr. Lewis saw her.
 MT Donovan testified to several oc- casions when he was charged by both Mir. Church and Mrs. Church with cir cuTating reports about her Once Mrs. Church called him a vile name on the street and on visit to the Church home he told MT. Church about the alleged scene in the Craney office. Mrs. Church was present when he told MT. Church about this
 f-a In the course of MT. Donovan's tes- timony he tried hard to tell about his acquaintance with Mrs. Church. but objection was raised by the counsel each time1hnd the court ruled out tes- timony along this line. telling the jury that anything in regard to Mrs. Church as regards guilt had nothing to do with this case.
 MT. Donovan told of the arranged meeting in the Elks home with George P Madden and Craney. The matter was talked over briefly and MT Dono- van said MT. Craney did not deny the story If the scene in the Craney office and appeared that he wanted to keep the matter away from MT Madden. MT. Craney would not agree to see George Bruce about the matter. Noth- ing came of the interview
 On later occasions MT. Donovan said he was so much bothered by MT. Cra- ney trying to hear what MT. Donovan was saying to men that Mir. Donovan had to make a complaint to City At torney Hall. He told of other minor trct'bles with MT. Craney.
 Then the attorneys showed him a lot of letters and postal card exhibits in the case.
 Afternoon Session.
 MT. Donovan resumed the stand again in the afternoon and was showr a number of exhibits by Attorney D- Church one month after the alleged meeting between her and MT. Craney on July 3. 1s12, in Mr. Craney's of flee was admitted by MT. Donovan, but he said the envelope produced in court was not the one in which he sent the letter. He denied all knowledge oi a letter written on July IT, 1912, and also said he never had anyone write letters or postal cards for him tC MT. or Mrs. Church He also denied writing any of the postal cards ol letters signed May or Mary. The witness said that any letters or card: which he sent to Mir. or Mrs. Church were written by himself.
 He was shown a batch of fourteen empty envelopes, which were the ones which Mrs. Church had said were the ones which contained letters too scan daIous to be kept. MT. Donovan saiC the addresses on the envelopes were 1T lk. what had been In the letters.
 He was asked if he had ever writer anything derogatory about the char acter of Mfr. Church and he answered that he had. He was asked the samt about Mrs. Church and he answered that the letters were here to speak fol themselves. but he mentioned one un. savory term which he had applied tS her.
 MT. Donovan testified that on sever. al occasions in letters he had urged Mrs. Church to admit to her husband the truth of the accusations that MT Donovan made against her.
 One exhibit after another was showr to MT. Donovan. who told to whom he sent those which he admitted writ ing. Some of the exhibits were posta cards addressed to John Donovan. Tht defendant denied writing these. but ht admitted receiving them and sending them either to MT. Craney, MT. or Mrs Church or George Madden
 He admitted writing a letter to Mrs Church on a letter head of the statt highway commissioners office, which spoke of a meeting in the Alice build ing.
 No One Promised to Keep Him Posted
 One postal card signed by May sait the writer would keep MT. Donovan posted on every movement made by Mrs. Church, but MT. Donovan answer ed in reply to the question of Attorne, Barnes that he knew of no one wht ever made that promise to him. Abou @ number of the letters MT. Dono van described in brief the circum- stances that caused him to writ' them.
 He admitted having addressed tn, return envelope addressed to J. Donovan in which was a letter from John Charon of Woonsocket.
 The witness said he wrote to CharoI to find out about the truth of tn, statements made by Bruce and Harri. about Craney. And the question whicf the witness was asked referred to MT Donovan's statement is a letter to MT Church that he would not reveal the name of Mrs. Church in the hearing before the Federal court where MT Donovan was fined $100. MT. Donovan testified that he had kept the promis, and had not revealed the name of the woman.
 Wrote With Left Hand.
 MT. Donovan was asked to explain what his purpose was in writing tC the plaintiffs sister and he said it was with the idea that MT. Craney's people might keep him away from Mrs Church and keep Mr.. Craney iron getting into the same trouble with hel
 
 to MT. Craney's sister, the witness said he had written with his left hand In regard to a letter which spoke O MT. Church being on a drunk, MT Donovan said he had sent Mir. Churcl $20 at that time but the money ha, been sent back to him.
 MT. Donovan was shown a bunch of five letters, without signatures which he said he did not write, and h, testified that he had not written an onymous letters to MT. and Mrs Church. but he might have failed t sign some letter.
 Advised to Talk Louder.
 The voice of the witness grew s' low at times that it was difficult tt hear and Judge Shumwaay advised him to talk so that the jurors coult hear, as they were to decide the cas- on what evidence they would hear.
 Saw Mrs. Church Mail Letter.
 The concluding question of Attorney Barnes was meant to show that Mrs Church wrote to MT. Craney before