Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-03-09

the ground Of cruel and abusive treat
ment. After Mrs. Hoxie had returned
from Lowell she did not see her hus-
band again before the divorce. Mr..
Hoxie gave her $500 with which to leave
the farm and later he sent her $500.
That $1,000 was all she received from
him..
Plaintiff testified that now she has
no money or property and she cannot
earn much dressmaking on account of
having to take care of the children.
She said the money she earns Is not
| sufficient to take care of them and she
owes bills and has no money with
which to pay them. When she had re-
ceived the money from her husband
she was obliged to use it in the care Of
her family.
Upon REORGANIZATION by Attorney
Morse, plaintiff testified she did not
like living on the farm and she wanted
| her husband to go back with her to
Massachusetts. Plaintiff said she did
not want divorce from her husband
but she thought by putting an attach
ment on the place he would stay at
home.
| Plaintiff on redirect identified let
ters she had taken from Mr.. Hoxie's
desk after their divorce.
Joseph e. Harris Of Oakland. cashier
of the Messalonskee National Bank,
testified that he knew Miss MeIvin's
signature and he identified the sigma
ture on letters that were introduced
into the plaintiffs evidence.
Mrs. Sarah f. Rogers of Waterville
testified that for time Miss Melvin
had apartments in the same building
in which she lived, Miss Melvins
rooms being on the second floor. Wit
ness had seen Mr.. HoXie coming into
| the house had seen him on the stairs
and had seen him coming out OF Miss
Melvins room. Witness said Mr.. Hoxie
continued to come there during all the
time Miss Melvin was there and dur
ing the last part of the time she was
there Miss Melvin told her not TO say
anything if anybody asked any ques-
tons.
Defense
The defense was the general ISSUE
that Miss Melvin had never alienated
Mr. Hozie's affections and that long
before Mr.. Hoxie first met Miss Melvin
he had ceased to have affection for his
wife.
The first witness for the defense was
DR.. Carl II. Witherell of Augusta, for
merly of Oakland. He testified regard
ing his several examinations of Mr.
HoXie, who was nervous, trembling and
complained of headaches. His condi-
ton might have come. the doctor tcs
tilted, from anxiety, worry, overwork
or lack of proper food. Witness stated
that when he recently examined Mr..
Hoxie he found his condition improved
and Mr.. Hoxie did not complain of any
headaches.
Miss Grace Z. Melvin of Oakland, the
defendant, testified that she is in the
hotel business and now owes $500 on
the hotel. She first met Ralph Hoxie
Nov. /, 1914, when he and his brother
came there on business matters. She
knew nothing of Mr.. HoXie's register
ing at the hotel as man and wife. He
had never stopped over night at the
hotel but he had told her of his trouble
with his wife. Witness testified that
she had had no improper relations with
Mr.. Hoxic. She stated that she liked
him and she said Mr.. Hoxie is now
working at the hotel. She had never
wife.
Ralph L. Hoxie Of Oakland testified
regarding coming to Maine to live. from
Massachusetts, and he said that he and
his wife quarreled most Of the time. He
said that Mrs. HoXie was cross most of
the time and would not get the meals,
although he provided all that was nee
essary. The evenings were not pleas
ln
always talking about Lowell. Mass. He
had refused to go back to Lowell. Mrs.
HoXie had complained about her neigh
bors. Witness said that he thought his
stomach trouble was caused by Mrs.
HoXie's manner of getting meals. He
had paid her money when she left him.
Attorney Morse then read the con-
tract between Mr.. and Mrs HoXie at
the time of their separation. Mr. HoXie
testified that he was going around man
aging his merry go-round and Mrs Hox-
lie had told him that If he would give
her $1,000 she would be glad to 60 away
Mr.. IioXie said he never had improper
relations with Miss Melvin and she had
never tried to prejudice him against his
wife.
James Hoxie Of Clinton, a brother Of
Ralph HoXie. testified that he had Wis
tied his brothers farm at Canaan and
found the house untidy and the furni-
ture packed up. He testified that there
was always trouble between Mr.. and
Mrs. Hoxe, and he said he had had
trouble with Mrs. HoXie. Witness tes-
titled regarding a change for the worse
in Ralph Hoxies physical condition.
Mrs. Annie Luce of Canaan testified
that Mrs. Hoxies house was dirty. and
that Mrs. HoXie treated her husband
kind of cool and would scold him. And
she stated that Ralph Hox.e got sick
OF home and his health broke down.
Mrs Lily Hoxie of Clinton, mother
of Ralph HoXie, testified that she had
loaned Ralph money with which to buy
his farm. Ralph and his wife had been
married about a year when they came
to Maine to live. Witness noticed a
change in Ralph physical condition,
his hand became shaky. And witness
testified that Mrs. HoXie always quar-
relied with her husband, that Mrs. Hoxie
did not get his breakfasts, and she said
she never went in there but once when
the dishes were washed,
At the close Of her testimony the ses-
sion was adjourned.
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