The Washington times., 1921-11-29
No
STRANGER
IN HOME,
SAID TOT
Ex-Wife Smiles When Letter
"Endearingly" Prefaced "Pie-
face" Is Read.

Lorimer C. Graham, naval lieu
tenant, today took the stand IN his
suit for 100000 brought against
Augustus L. Humes, New York at
torney, for alienation of his former
wife's affections, now Mrs. Humes.
Tells Of Courting Elsa Portnor.
Attired in a natty blue uniform, the
naval officer was sworn as a witness
shortly after court convened this
morning and related the story of his
courtship of pretty eighteen-year-ol
Elsa Portner.a q member Of the Port
nsr family OF, washington and Vir.
gfnia, and of events that led up to
her trip to Reno. New. In the latter
part OF 1918 to obtain q divorce.
For the first time during the trial,
which began yesterday morning, Mrs
Humes made her Appearance in court.
She was neatly dressed, wearing a
blue cape trimmed with fur collar,
and chic little blue hat trimmed with
gray. She sat at the counsel table
between her husband and M. e.
Hardy, New York attorney, who is
associated with Wilton j. Lambert and
Rudolph Yeatman as counsel for
Humes.
Called Ex-Hubby 'Pie-Face."
During Graham's testimony she
watched her former husband intently,
and smiled broadly when Attorney
Daniel Thew Wright read q letter to
the jury, alleged to have been written
by her to Graham before she divorced
him, In which she addressed him as
'Pie-Face."
In referring to his alleged elopment
with the eighteen-year- old schoolgfr,
Lieutenant Graham said that he went
to Annapolis. where Elsa had been at
tending weekend party, and started
to bring her home to Washington.
They got on q Baltimore train instead
OF Washington train, Graham said,
and did not discover the mistake until
they were nearly to Baltimore.
While having luncheon In Baftt-
more, Graham testified. he said to
Miss Portner, How about getting
married?'
I'VE sat there a little WHILE" said
Graham. and just before luncheon
was over she said she was willing;
so we went down to the clerk of the
court and got out a license"
Had q Soda On Honeymoon"
Graham said they were married by
the Rev. Father Gavin and the couple
then came to Washington, the girl
going to her home and Graham to his
THAT evening we went out riding"
said Graham. II don't think there
were any moving pictures. but
think we went out and got some
soda, and she went home again, and
the following night I went around
and called on her at the home Of her
sister. Mrs. Meredith. made arrange
ments for our wedding trip, and left
that night.
Lieutenant Graham remarked dur
ing his testimony that he was e1-
ceedingly fond Of his two children
and they Of him. In fact, he stated,
one of them almost wept herself
sick when he went away to Norfolk
to take UP bis duties there.
Was No Stranger to Child.
In regard to his meeting with
Humes, Graham said he saw him at
Spring Lake. N. j., where his family
had taken n cottage during the sum-
NOR OF 1917, while he was on duty
at the navy yard at Brooklyn, N. Y.
He was on his way to the store to
get a paper, he said, when one of the
children said Hello" to Humes.
After chiding the child for speak
ing to stranger. Graham said the
child remarked. why that man 10
around the house all the time-I
know him"
1t was at Spring Lake, Graham
stated, that he first noticed his wife
becoming indifferent to him.
"I told my wife," he said. that
she was having q better time at
Spring Lake than / first thought,
after the baby told me about Humes
being around no much"
Graham thon related that while he
was on duty at the Brooklyn Navy
Yard he received a message request
ing him to visit the office Of Mr..
Hardy, an attorney. Upon his ar
rival at - Harby's office, Graham
slated, he WAS handed . note f>om