New-York tribune., 1919-04-09
Love for Negro
Only yMotherly,
Says Mrs. Mott
Defendant in $4,000 Suit
Brought by Chauffeur's
Wife Says His Heart Was
White, as His Skin Black

Mrs Augusta L. Mott, Of Far Rock
away. sixty-four-ye -yearold defendant in
the $4,000 alienation suit which Mrs.
Julia King, negress, has brought, tes-
tilted yesterday in the Supreme Court
that her interest in Albert King, her
negro chauffeur, and husband of the
plaintiff, was motherly-and nothing
more.
Ex-senator Edgar T. Brackctt, Of
counsel for Mrs. King, cross examined
Mrs. Mott at length, laying particular
stress on letter which the defendant
admitted she wrote King. At the time
she wrote she was undergoing treat
mcnt at the beauty parlor of one Mrs.
Shearer and because of skin-peeling
process she remained with Mrs Shear
er. King was at Far Rockaway, whore
Mrs. Mott lived with her husband,
George i. Mott, retired lawyer.
The letter addressed to "My dearest
good boy" and subscribed "B. D."
which it was admitted by the defence
stood for "Baby Doll" was read into
the record in full yesterday. 1t read in
part:
'To answer your question about Mrs.
Snearer, don't think it is IN some
ways a bad idea, although it might
have peculiar look TO her unless it
only occurred few times am afraid
she might wonder and you could not
tell her too much. However, I can ex-
plain better when I see you next week
hope to be fit to see you by that time.
| am a fright just now Would not
see my grandmother.
Heart With Him, She Writes
II think when you come in town you
can make few inquiries at the garage.
Well, dear King, my heart is with YOU
every minute of the day, and I lnust
tell you that | am sad and lonely So
now think | had better close and get
this mailed. have said as much as I
dare. Hope you feel better and not too
lonely. With love and wishing all good
to you. r D"
Mrs. Mott also mentioned in her let
ter woman she met at the beauty
parlor. She said yesterday the woman
was Mrs. Gait. Also in her letter
the writer referred to Olga, Carrie.
Louise and other girls who had tried
to tear me to pieces" Mr.. Bracket
asked Mrs. Mott what she meant when
she said she had written as much as
she dared. ~ had written as fully and
freely as possible about Kings troubles
and didn't care to say" she replied.
Only Motherly Affection
Mrs. Mott said she and her husband
had genuine affection for King, who
was regarded as almost a member Of
the family He was sort OF major
domo or head servant about the house
IL had mothcrly affection for him u
said the defendant Counsel made ref
erence to her manner of addressing
the negro servant in the letter. eyes
and he was good boy" she explained
why did you so address him ?"
Because his heart was AS white as
his skin was dark. He served us faith
fully for many years and he was in
trouble"
Mrs. Mott said she saw her husband
while undergoing the skin pcelinq
treatment, adding ~ didn't mind him.
She had refused TO see King at the
time. Her sadness, about which she
wrote, was due to the i'll health Of her
husband who had lost the sight of an
eye, and she, too, was i'll. They had
decided TO leave the country and found
IT necessary TO dispense with the serv-
ices of King. She made it her duty to
try TO procure ii new job for him.
Anxious for Kings Future
II was very fond Of Kin@pnd |
don't deny it and was anAu4s for
his future, which looked vcry dark"
said Mrs. Mott. AS TO the term "Baby
Doll" she said It was merely "a pleas
antry. Asked whether she addressed
her other servants that way Mrs. Mott
said she sometimes called Jimmie, her
Italian gardener, dear boy" at
was" che aaid, "the expression Of II
lady Of over slxty years 10 "A colofod
lad, who though man in years yot
WAS IA boy"
Mrs. Mott war asked about some Of
the ezprcssions in her letter to King.
She said. II confoss IT wss foolshly