Norwich bulletin., 1916-01-28

Providence, R. l., Jan. 27.-The first
serious break in the marital relations
of the late DIR. c. Franklin Mohr and
his wife, Elizabeth F. Mohr, who is
charged with having hired two negroes
10 XIII him, occurred at the time she
told her husband of her friendship for
man named Samuel A McDougaI,
who is now a minister in Pictou Nova
Scotia.
Broke Down and sobbed.
This statement was elected from
Mrs. Mohr during a severe cross ex-
animation this afternoon by A/Crney
General Rice. Step by step the prose-
tails of Mrs. Mohrs life. Occasionally
during the examination she seemed
confused as to dates and facts given
IN her direct testimony and several
times broke down and sobbed.
Tried to Have Minister Unfroeked.
1t was in 1912, she said, that she first
told DR.. Mohr about McDougall. The
doctor. she admitted, was incensed and
went to Nova Scotia to try to have the
minister unfrocked. The attorney gen.
eral then reminded her that in her di-
rect testimony she said that her hus-
band had gone ito the provinces to
sec a friend"
THE doctor was under the Influence
of drugs" said Mrs. Mohr. He asked
me if 1 preferred McDougall to him.
and 1 told him that the way he was
acting thought McDougall would have
liquor"
Was Known as Elizabeth Blair.
At the time she met McDoueal1. Mrs
Mohr said she was known as Elizabeth
B air. sSffes denfed- 7t7fat she told the
doctor that she had left Providence to
go to Boston because of notcriety
caused by her friendship with Nc
DOnRan She nnI1Id
with .McDougafl, she said. because the
difference in their religious beliefs
made 1t impossible for her to become
minister's wife.
the doctor about McDougaIl, the attor-
ney general brought out, that Mrs.
Mohr and her husband had a falling
out and that he began to correspond
with Miss Emily Burger, who later be-
came his secretary and who was seri-
ously wounded at the time the doctor
was shot down in their stalled auto
mobile.
Came from Ireland to Norwich.
Recounting her early life, Mrs. Mohr
said she was born at Belfast, Ireland
and was brought to this country by
her people. who settled in Norwich,
Conn. Later they went to Taunton.
1he witness appeared a little confused
when asked when she was born. She
replied that she was born Feb. 9, 1880,
and was "a years old, but later cor
rected this testimony by saying the
date was 1882. She said she was the
youngest of ten children. Her father
died when she was IL years old and
her mother in 1907. Through choice
re ther than necessity she began work
at the age of II, learning the millinery
trade in a Taunton shop, where she
remained for three or four months.
Tells Where She Worked.
tMra M0hr aoid bo$ che rvorlra5 aIso
for three months in variety store in
Taunton and that there was no special
reason why she left the millinery store
and the variety store after only three
months service. Later she was en-
ployed about q year in O'Gorman's
| store at Providence and thereafter was
buyer of art goods for Pitts-Kimball
IL Boston. She stayed at the latter
place several months and left because
she had not been feeling well. She
Mohr in March, 1902, against the
wishes of her family.
Wished to Board in a Convent.
Witness said that the doctor, who
vas then living in Providence, wished
her to marry him, but her folks would
not give their consent. She went to
| New York and obtained position in
"the New York Millinery store" on
West Twenty-second street. She was
there not quite three months. She
wished to board at a convent on West
Seventeenth street, but was unable to
get accommodations there and found
rooms in the same street.
Confused About Certain Dates.
Mrs. Mohr here explained that she
had been confused about certain dates
| mentioned and that she went to New
York IN March, 1908. The doctor Wis
tied her there only once and that when
he came to marry her. She had met
Kim through Anna Spencer, a buyer at
O'Gorman's.
Went to ksith's.
Didn't you go out evenings with
Anna Spencer and have a good time ?"
the attorney general asked.
81 went to Keith's."
She admitted she lived In the same
house with Anna Spencer in this city.
Common Law Marriage.
Did you contract a common law
marriage or rftual marriage in New
u left It to my husband"
The witness said she was past 20
whom she was married.
day7"
"I certainly do.r
'It says In your divorce petition Won
were married on or about May Is,
;. "Yss; but my attorney knew it was
when you brought that divorce did
you not intend to prove common law
marriage IN New York ~
81 did not"
Didn't you tell your attorney Won
Were relying on common law mar
Wanted to Be Married by PrI.ss.