The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1914-06-08
Conspiracy Suit Unfolds Ex-
ceptional Chapter of
Heart Interest
LIKELY TO LAST
ALL THIS WEEK
Expected that Brattleboro Witnesses
Will Be Summoned Social Promin-
ence of Principals Creates Wide In
terest in Remarkable Case.
Especial to The Rcformer.)
HARTFORD. Conn. June

Especial to The Rcformer.)
HARTFORD, Conn, June s.
\ more distinguished east Of charac
ters probably never has been engaged i
in staging a trial in Connecticut than
in Mrs Frederick Ernest Holman 5
$4,000 conspiracy suit against her for T
mer husband Rev Cranston Brenton, /
Or. Oliver G. Smith and Dr. Paul
| Waterman, now on trial in the United
States district court here. The trial, I
which consumed the greater part of
last week, was resumed this forenoon,
when the deposition Of the plaintiff ;
mother. Mrs Curtis. was taken up
where it was left Friday night,
Parties in the Case
The plaintiff, Mrs. Holman, who was
formerly the wife of Rev Cranston
+ Brenton, was in her girlhood DAYS one
/ Of the prominent young women in
I Hartford. Her intellectual attainments
/ were unusual aud her talents were un-
questioncd She possessed great poet
ical genius and, even before her school
days were over literary critics had
paid her high honors and had predict
ed for her a future of distinction. In
the girlhood OF Elizabeth Alien Cur
tbs there was no cloud to bedim the
sky.
Rev. Cranston Brentou, another of
the alI-star cast Is man OF brilliant
mind. At the time he married Bessie
Curtis lie stood high among churchmeu
and among educators. A future as
bright as that of the woman who be
came his wife was predicted Tor him.
Then there are DR.. Oliver c. Smith
and Dr. Paul Waterman. both men
with years of professional accomplish
! ments behind them, both socially prom
inent and highly respected With such
5 personnel involved. it is only natu-
7 raj that a remarkable interest is being
/ taken iu the proceedings which have
) been in progress the past week and
/ which probably viii last out the great
er part Of the present week.
What Mrs. Holman Alleged.
Mrs Holman alleges in her suit that
her former husband, Dr. Smith and DR.
Waterman conspired to place her in
7 an insane asylum and did place her iT
the Retreat at Brattleboro; that she
I was kept in captivity until her will
was broken and in order to secure hel
release She was forced to make a writ
Q ten confession of alleged misconduct
with Frederick Ernest Holman. Thi,
confession was used in the divorce
proceedings and undoubtedly had
powerful bearing ON the outcome q
the case.
Mrs. Holman has proved herself a re
markable witness in many respects. Sh,
!. is a frail little woman, but at al time
Is alert, never taken by surprise by am,
sudden turn in the interrogations o
n the lawyers for the defense. Her an
IS swers are short and crisp. She seldom
I'M wastes words On one or two occasion
It. She admitted having said what sh
40 did not intend to say or to create
III different impression from what sh
lit meant to create But at such time
c- She shows eool-headedness and doe
~ not become confused.
: Alleged Conspirators" Watchful
4 The alleged conspirators ar
b- watchful of the proceedings. Or. Smit
ho and Or. Waterman have been presen
ty all the time until Friday, when the
p- felt It was safe for them to be ava
eh while the dispositions were being dE
ed posed of Professor Brenton sits mo,
re of the time at the table with his Law
cd wears and Keeps busy taking almost
cd many notes as any of the lawyer
Now and then he has a suggestion t
al make to his lawyer, but his face is a
IN ways as immobile that of his TO
M mer wife. While the dispositions wel
be occupying the attention OF the cou
Is Friday afternoon Professor BrentC
g drew back from the table and i'd
~ twirled a pencil IN his fingers. Mr
ne Holman and Mr.. Brenton often prot
i. each other 5 eyes, and when they
~ ~, the look is one of hostility and utt
~ distaste.
no Mr.. Fitzgerald, counsel for Mrs. He
"a man, refuses to say how many mo
me witnesses he has, but ii he should re
her this afternoon and Professor Brentt
went to the stand it is doubted if Il
lawyers would finish with him befo
Wednesday night. DR.. Smith and /
Waterman would probably consume
day Thursday if not longer.
1t is likely that the defense W
los have witnesses from Brattleboro to
fute Mrs. Holman S story as to the i
ture of the place where she was co
Lu- fined, and the nurse, whom Mrs. II
Sat man has spoken of as being with t
res party when they took her to Bratt
the boro, may also be called. How ma
ERE others viii he called cannot be p
him dicted, but the outlook is good for
IN solid week 5 work on the ease befc
yed it is ready to 90 to the jury, for t
ill, arguments of counsel will probably /
z. be very brief.