The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-06
MRS. TATUM, ON STAND TELLS OF RIVAL,
BUT WANTS TRUCE WITH HUSBAND
Denies Charges Connecting Her
With Ottman-ShOws Strain
of Trial Ordeal.
CHALMERS AIDS HER

MiNgoLA. L. L., Jan. 5.--Mrs. Mary
Jane Tatum, 20 years old, told to-day
under Are Of cross.examlnation how she
met Jack ottman at Coney Island and
how sho subsequently became friendly
with him. but she vehemently denied her
husbands charges. Ottmsn. whose given
name Is Jacob. is named as correspondent
in tho divorce action brought by John c.
Tatum, twenty years Older than his wife.
Mrs Tatum has filed counter action.
Mrs. Tatum was on the witness stand
two hours and will be called again to-
morrow morning. She told a story OF
neglect by her husband and 20 far as
Attorney Max y. Stcuer was allowed to
question her she implicated her husband
and Mrs Nellie A. Chalmers, who. she
= said. had been her best friend.
Notwithstanding the alleged neglec.
and the fact that Mr.. Tatum is suing h.r
FOR divorce, she said to Terence J. Nc
Manus, her husbands attorney:
He has been good to me. don't deny
H. will go back with him IL he would
let me-"
Mrs Tatum denied in detail each one OF
the charges of misconduct in her relations
TO earlier in the day by her servants and
hose OF Mr.. ottmsn.
wife Tells Of First Trouble.
Tho matrimonial troubles OF the Ia
tums began in August 1913. according
TO the young wife. Then Mr.. Ta:um began
20 absent himself from their big country
estate at Great Neck. Later they lived
haitian hotels until they finally agreed
20 formally separate. Mrs Tatum going
10 tho Great Northern Hotel and Mr..
Tatum remaining az the Vanderbilt.
Mr.. Tatum then agreed to give her
$1,000 month, she said. Even after
this she wrote to him and te.ephoned
him often and dined with him at the
Awkwright Club. Every tint she made
any change she telephoned Mr.. Tatum
and asked his advice about it, she said.
Mrs. Tatum had been an interested
spectator in the casa up until $3.50 clock
this afternoon. She sat with her father.
James Macarthur. who looked bored. Yes
terday Mrs. Tatum came dressed entirely
In black except for some white fur at
the neck To-day when she expected to
take the witness stand, she wore light
brown, close fitting cloth suit, with
with black feathers.
Mink" Is Mrs. Tatum's pet name, and
to-day she carried a mink coat and mum
Her eyes were tired, and often she held
them closed with her fingers On the
stand she answered questions sharply and
was inclined TO argue with Mr. McManus
She was calm at the beginning of her tcs-
tinony. but plainly conscious of the fixed
gaze OF a crowded court room.
Her husband glanced at her sometimes
IIaN fath rata hiq 0nl n nj
found more interest in gazing out OF the
window.
Two rcd spots appeared on her cheeks
when she denied that the conduct of Off,
man and herself at the Roslyn cottage
had been IMPROPER. and she became so
fdgety toward the end OF her ordeal that
Justice Crane refused to allow her to
make letter -" to Identify her hand
writing until tomorrow.
Alone In Big House, She Says.
Mrs. Tatum said she was married In
February, 1909, and went to live at her
husbands estate at Great Neck. The As-
tate consists OF ten acres, a mansion and
numerous outbuildings. according TO her
description There she lived happily with
Mr.. Tatum until July. 1918.
They had little family difficulties, she
admitted. but nothing to speak Of She
was asked about Mrs. Chalmers
II have known her many years" she
said. she was my best friend"
She was asked to speak OF her hus-
bands conduc, beginning August, 1919.
"SIr. Tatum was in the habit OF stay
ing away" she said. He would go away
and not tell me where he was. | was
alone at Great Neck except for seven or
eight servants | telephoned him at the
Office and he said he wanted to use his
Yacht while the weather was good. lie
had yacht az the New York Yacht
Club dock. lie told mo to go to the
Martha Washington Hotel and live with
Mrs. Chalmers.
after he laid up his yacht went 70
live at the Martinique with Mr.. Tatum
He came there about three times Il week
until the latter part OF November"
"Did you learn in November that Mr.
Tatum had rooms in another hotel? she
was asked.
''Why. yes. said to him that this was
no way to live and We ought to start over
new Mr.. Tatum then brought his clothes
TO the Martinique and we went to live al
the Vanderbilt Hotel. lie homo for
six nights; then he stayed away.
I'VE would talk and laugh about IT,
We never had any quarrel"
Rented Ottman's Apartment.
Mrs. Tatum said she protested again
and her husband suggested that she &c
TO live in another hotel, 50 sha got tive
rooms and a bath at the Great Northern
She continued to telephone him and din'
with him at times, but she said he efuse,
% come back with her, lie allowed hel
81 900 a month At this time.
Then she told OF taking the apartment
at 65 Central Park West where witnesses
have said she lived with Jack ottman
This was on April /. 1913, abe said, anC
she told Mr.. Tatum about II at dinner a
the Arkwright Club lie took her back u
the Great Northern, but refused to -
inside.
81 told him was M she said, ant
wanted TO move to apartment.
told him that Ottman had this apartment
for playing cards with friends and aske'
aim II II would be good thing to hir
IT, He said. Yes, II you want to-
She took 1t for two months nj 1918
month She then told OF hiring IN
Roslyn cottage. and said her husband
had known of this transaction.
Mrs. Tatum said she had thought o
Ottman only az a friend. lie had neve
stayed over night at the Central Par
ghn nj htI ha N