Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1914-01-27
LOVING letters
FORM EVIDENCE
Alienation Suit Against J..
H. Pryor, ST., of Hamburg,
Grows Sensational.
BANKER NOT WORRIED
Frank p. Withers, of Memphis. Wants
100000 Because He Lost
His Wife.

NUN, Jan. LU.-I dlh
Withers, plaintiff in a 100000 alena-
ton suit against James H. Pryor, ST.,
of Hamburg, Ark, which is now be-
ing heard by Federal Judge Jacob
Trieber, was placed on the witness
stand this morning as the first wit
ness
The usual statements to the court
| were dispensed with. The suit al
leges that Pryor alienated the affec-
tions of Withers' wife, and asks $780,
900 as a heart balm. The answer
filed by the defendant alleges that
the suit is the result of conspiracy
between Withers and his wife, in
which they are attempting to obtain
damages from him.
In the first evidence it was brought
out that Withers' separation from his
wife was caused, or supposed to have
been caused, by scandal concerning
Withers This, according to Mr..
Withers' testimony, was only blind
or cover to hide the real cause.-the
alleged affection between Mrs. With
ers and Pryor.
After the separation Mrs. Withers
came to Little Rock from Hamburg
and stayed with her parents, it is
said, Mr.. and Mrs. Adams. During
the time she was here Withers came
several times, once in answer to a
letter from Mrs. Withers, notifying
him of their child's sickness.
Letters Are Introduced.
During the mornings testimony by
Withers, a dozen or more letters pur-
porting to have been written by Mr..
Pryor to Mrs. Withers and containing
avowals of love, endearing terms and
proposals Of matrimony, were read.
Other letters alleged to have been
written by Mrs. Withers in response,
and in which his love was reciprocal
ed by her, were read.
Withers testified that shortly after
his separation from his wife, he, be-
lieving Pryor to be a faithful friend,
consulted with him as to what course
to pursue in order to bring about a
reconciliation.
i Pryor advised Withers to not push
the matter, but to go to Mexico on a
proposed business deal, according to
Withers. Pryor also went security
for note for $1,000 for Withers, the
money obtained on the note to finance
the proposed Mexico trip, alleged
Withers.
The letters read this morning were
written between July 1, 1918, and the
latter part of August. 1913. Some OF
them related to a possible divorce be-
tween Withers and his wife, and one
from Pryor advised Mrs. Wfthers to
consult U. G.. Cohn, a Hamburg attor-
ney.
One letter written by Pryor to Mrs.
Withers when she was here, In part
said:
/ Dear, sweet Myrtle: You know
that love you with all my heart, and
If you love me one-half as much as
love you, there is no doubt about our
future happiness"
i Another letter from Pryor and writ
ten July 80, in regard to Mrs. Withers
getting a divorce from Withers, said /:
"You could not get the divorce now
until November, and then 1t would be
three months before could take you
into my arms and call you my own
wife,"
| Advised Burning Letters.
| According to one letter. Pryor was
evidently afraid Of getting into trou-
BILE, for he said: "Be sure and burn
my letters. and If Frank (Withers)
has any OF Them, get them; he might
cause me trouble"
In answer to letter from Pryor,
in which he avowed his love for her,
Mrs. Withers. in a letter. replied:
appreciate the honor Of being asked
to be your wife. and answer yes. But
| you are quite thief, for you stole
my love from Frank even before you
yourself knew It."
| The trend Of the letters was al
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