New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-19

and that prior to the alleged seduction
the plaintiff was of good moral charac-
ter, chaste and virtuous.
"Oliver Osborne" Traced.
Mr.. Slade said that the place where
the alleged improper con,uct occurred
was not included in the complaint, be-
cause it would be evidence, and all
that was required were the material
facts upon which the action is based.
The alleged seduction took place out
of the state, he declared. In account
ing for the letters which Miss Tanner
addressed TO Mr.. Osborne at the Nav
York Athletic Club, her counsel said
that during conversation with the girl
Mr.. Osborne had let drop the remark
that he was a member of the club.
"Miss Tanner went to the club ard
was told that there was no Oliver IS
borne in the club, but that James W.
Osborne was a member" said Mr.. Slade.
"Then Miss Tanner went to the ONCE
of Mr.. Osborne and waited outside
him. She identified him as the man
who represented himself to be Oliver
Osborne"
Mr.. Osborne promptly filed his an
swer TO the complaint, making a gen
eral denial of all the allegations made
against him. He set forth that he
did not have any knowledge or in
formation sufficient to form belief
as to the allegations made by Miss
Tanner that she was or is Of good NOR
al and chaste character, and finally
denied that he knew the plaintiff or
had ever seen her.
When Mr.. Osborne was informed OF
some Of the things Mr.. Slade said in
regard to the case he said:
Il have no possible fear OF this
case at all. l am not the only man
in the city who has been worked in
this way There is not ghost OF a
chance Of this woman getting one dol
lar out Of me. / am not interested
in the Christmas Eve date. That has
been attended to. But | would like a
bill of particulars as to the time and
place when | was supposed to have
taken this young woman to a neigh
boring state.
81 don't know, but the idea has oc-
Cured to me that some one may have
been following me around and seeing
where / went, but because | might
have been in some one place at GER
tain time il does not necessarily follow
that Miss Tanner or any other young
woman was with me. This matter
will be sifted TO the bottom and be
tried in the open. want the pub
lie to know that l invite inquiry from
every direction into this affair. / give
nv word OF honor as a gentleman that
have never seen Miss Rae Tanner in
my life"
Mr.. Osborne told how Miss Tanner
wrote him the Dear Oliver" letters,
having received the first one last De-
cember, and found a bundle OF them
in his box at the New York Athletic
Club later In recent one, he said,
she inclosed a photograph of himself,
evidently with the idea of impressing
me that she knew me and had me in
her power" In some of the notes she
referred to him as having been in Bir-
mingham, Ga, and Santa Rosa. Cal.
Mr.. Osborne said he had not been in
either city.
According to Miss Tanners counsel.
the defendant represented himself to
his client as the son OF wealthy
ranchman of Santa Rosa. and that he
(Mr. Osborne) was attached TO the
Department of Justice in Washington,
but had been transferred TO this city.
Mr.. Slade said that Miss Tanner had
four sisters, all unmarried. She had
left her home at 952 Aldus Street. The
Bronx, he said, in order TO avoid all
the publicity and annoyance she could.
She was in a highly nervous condition,
he said, and needed quiet and rest.