The Washington times., 1920-04-08

TO pay for the board and education OF
their son, Kenneth. provided Mrs.
Cumming would agree 10 send him
away to such an institution, but that
Mrs. Cumming had always changed
her mind. Mrs. Cumming admitted
that she had changed her mind "once
or twice." but that her reason for
doing so was her love for the boy.
1T tore my heartstrings out" she
cried, ito think OF sending him away
from me, when he was all that ! had
In the world. That's why, although
I tried to do II, something wouldn't
let me when the time came"
Be1rudges Her Money.
Upon attempting to show that Mrs.
Cumming had 'nagged" her husband
In much OF his illtreatment of her.
Mrs, Cumming stated that she went
after him for money because she and
her child were starving and that
whenever she asked him for money
he threatened to have her arrested
and put In jail.
: II own the courts In Hampton. the
judges, the police and the mayor" he
told her. "and IL you don't stop both
ering me for money I'll have you
locked UP In jail for good and never
let you out again" .....r-. .. ..
She told how. on one occasion, when
she, had asked him IL he could not
possibly let her have little more
than IS a week, that he called Mayor
Thomas Slater. "Tom." the witness
said her husband said: 81 want you
to lock this woman up for annoying
me-"
When they reached the police sta
tion Slater asked her why she both
cred Cumming for money instead of
getting money from her "other
man." said the witness. 1t was then.
witness stated. that she said II she
had a gun she would shoot them
both. ,.....
John weymouth. who at one time
acted as attorney for Mrs. Cumming
In the divorce proceedings which she
started against her husband. was
called by the prosecution. He at first
refused to testify, stating that any
revelations made to him by his client
were privileged communications"
which relieved him of the obligation
OF testifying. ft.N
wanted Early Divorce.
Judge Scott decided that the testi-
money was admissible. The lawyer,
then said that q few days after the
marriage Mrs. Cumming stated that
she wanted him to bring the suit for
divorce. 81 told her to put that in
writing, and she did," said the wit
ness. introducing the letter. as evf-
dence. 1t was dated March 81, I91 4.
and read Am now ready to enter
suit for divorce. Thankiig you for
your kind services. Il remain. very
truly yours, Mittie Jester Cumming"
Upon cross-examination by Attor-
ney Byrd, Mr.. Weymouth admitted
that he knew the contract was. "en-
tirely void and Illegal"
In putting a hypothetical question
% DR.. Foster, Mr.. Byrd consumed
more than thirty minutes in outlining
the circumstances of the case. at the
conclusion of which he sair: II want
you to tell the jury your opinion as n
mental expert. II the condition OF that
woman, under such circumstances as
+ have Just narrated to you, could pos
sibly ha been normal" ,,'
q. III she had gone through such "a
trial." said the physician" IL she had
been worked up, to that pitch her will
power was absolutely not under her
control. In that, condition a person
is liable to do almost anything. Some
people kill themselves. Some people
kill others. Some kill moro than
one"
That repeated criminal operations,