Omaha daily bee., 1914-06-07
RAPP'S LETTERS TO NONNIE
Diva Presents Endesring Missives in
Her Divorce Case.
CALLED HER THE "oNE WOMAN
Numerous Bits of Testimony of spicy
Character introduced and Crowd
is Deeply Interested I'm
the same.

CHICAGO, June 6-Letters teeming
with words of affection and testimony
concerning association between william
Rspp. 1r., and Mrs. Catherine E. Dean
in her New York home were presented
today in the hearing of the divorvs suit
of Madame Schumann- -Heink against her
husband, william Rapp, jr.
Miss Frances ]. Ashton, an auburn
haired nurse, who for five months lived
in Mrs. Deans apartments, was Ques-
toned, and her close acquaintance with
the doings of Mrs. Dean and Rapp kept
the attention of the crowded court room
and apparently were Of intense interest
to the diva, who listened intently. A
letter, identified by Miss Ashton as hav-
ing been sent by Mr.. Rapp to Mrs. Dean,
was introduced in evidence.
Some OF its sentences we're.
Dear Nonnie: This morning brought me
a wlndfall-three letters from you and
q postal from my sister.
You are just simply 'Nonnie." God
watch over you and keep you. l do not
pray, but that wish is as near prayer
as l can come.
am falling in love with you all over
again and long to have you at the head
of my modest little home, where your lit
tie heart and hands would control every
thing.
Another letter said:
Dearest Nonnie: Please sign 'Nonnle'
any not Katie Anyone may use the
name Katie, but Nonnie is to be secret
and sacred. l look UP to you and wor-
ship you and am entirely, your Billy"
The One Woman.
The closing words of another letter read
by the attorneys were:
You are the one woman who can give
mo happiness, once my soul is at peace
with itself. Your darling, Billy"
over the objection OF the counsel for
the defendant, a letter was introduced in
which Rapp asked Mrs. Dean to write a
forcible letter to Madame Schumann-
Heink and to threaten her with suit
for damages IL the diva coupled Mrs.
Deans name with that of Mr.. Rapp. In
the letter Rapp gave an outline OF the let
ter which he wished to nave written 20
Madame Schumann-H -Heink in Chicago.
A letter. couched in similar language
and received by the singer from Mrs
Dean, was later introduced.
Miss Ashton told of having seen Mrs.
Dean kiss letters which she said were
from her Billy"
What did you see Mrs. Dean and Mr..
Rapp do?" she was asked
Il saw them hold hands; they kissed
each other and sat in each others laps.
was the reply.
Rapp Wore Apron.
In her Written. testimony one witness.
Mrs Elizabeth Hauk. who said she had
often seen Mr.. Rapp at the Dean apart
ments, replied to a question. rs Mr..
Rapp fat or thin?," by saying mot so
thin-just nice"
She also said she had frequently seen
him ''out walking with Pluto, Mrs,
Deans dog"
Pluto, the dog, also appeared in the
deposition of Lillian Schmidt daughter
OF the Dean apartment owner, who told
OF being hired by Mark Harrison. the
actor, who was said to have also been
frequent visitor there. to take the
dog out for exercise.
The girl testified she saw Rapp at the
Dean apartment wearing an apron and
fixing the stove. She declared that Mrs.
Dean asked him to buy some meat and
called him honey
Once" said the girl, Mrs Dean
showed me a letter from Mr. Rapp.
She kissed the letter and l pretended l
did not see it. She let me read the let
ter. don't remember what it said but
1t ended your faithful Billie"