The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-07-01
X. d. Smith, Y. M. C. A. Clerk,
Correspondent in Divorce Suit.
Wealthy Leavitt Family Airs
Troubles in Court Room.
HUSBAND MADE A THREAT?
Resents ROOmer Helping Wife
With Washing and Ironing.
Father of Defendant Was Well
Known Topeka Merchant.

K. D. Smith. clerk In the Y. NJ. C.
A. named as a correspondent in an
answer and cross petition by Harrison
Leavitt, son of former wealthy To-
pekan. spent the entire morning in
, Judge George H. Whitcomb's court to-
day explaining his admitted friend
ship to Mrs. Hattie B. Leavitt, 1881
Jackson street. Leavitt has a life in
terest in considerable Topeka property
left by his father. the late S. L. Leav-
itt, who at one time owned the War
rem NJ. Crosby store and who is cred
tied with being the first man in To-
peka to own an automobile.
Smith was a roomer in the Leavitt
home, and. he admitted on the wit
ness stand that he had been called by
telephone by H. Ward Page. Leavitt's
attorney, and told Leavitt might shoot
him. Smith admitted he helped clean
the house with Mrs. Leavitt. helped
her do the washing in the basement
prepared broth and buttered toast for
her while she was i'll. took her to the
picture shows and to the parks and
made himself. in the words of Leav-
tits attorney, "A Servant in the
House."
Smith Explains 1t.
q
Leavitt. 81 defy any man to say there
was anything improper in my conduct
Mrs. Leavitt let me have my rooms SO
month cheaper for helping her
Leavitt told me it was all right for
her to go to the picture shows and he
| didn't object because took her broth
and buttered toast when she was ill"
Leavitt's attorney asked Smith IL 1t
were not true that after the death of
his wife Mrs. Leavitt carried him food
| to his room at 1014 Van Buren, street
where he lived before moving into the
Leavitt home. Smith admitted it.
| Also on cross examination he admitted
that Mrs. Campbell. the landlady at
the Van Buren house, spoke to him of
talk on the part of neighbors. Mrs
Campbell was in the court room.
Drove Away Blues.
"Yes. she did," replied Smith, "and
1 told her it was no more than right
someone should take an interest in
me and brace me up while I had the
blues.
And" he burst out vehemently,
Mrs. Campbell told me 1 was her
| first friend and I had cast her aside"
Partly rising from his chair. Smith
pointed to Mrs. Campbell and cried:
Yes you did say that, Mrs. Camp
bell"
Husband Plays Solitaire.
Smith told the court he had remon-
strated with Leavitt for cursing his
wife and had been told it was none
Of his - business" Smith claimed
| Leavitt didn't work and smoked mis-
pipe and played solitaire most of the
time
Smiths testimony occupied the en-
| tire morning. There are several other
witnesses. Mrs. Leavitt filed a petit
| tion for a divorce charging Leavitt
| with habitual drunkenness and with
cursing her and questioning her char
| acter. She demands 81, 500 permanent
| alimony and undivided interest in
property in the Leavitt name in
! Wichita
/ Leavitt in his answer and cross petit
ton admitted he had been a drunkard
| at one time, but declared he had
| stopped drinking and then related the
| Smith episode as a reason why a di-
: vorce should be granted to him, rather
| than to his wife.