The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-12-11

washington society seems TO nave
found the answer at last in the $780,
900 suit brought by Greham against
Humes for alienation of his wife's
affections. heard in District Of Co
Iumbia Supreme Court.
Elisa Portner's eiopement. with
Graham was rather a disappoint-
ment to her friends in Washington
society. These had expected her to
marry New York millionaire who
had been a persistent sutton for her
hand"
This comment ten years ago Gre
ated a social mystery after the elope-
meni Of Miss Portner. beautiful
Washington debutante and friend of
Mss Helen Taft. with Lorimer c.
Graham. young. wealthy. and at
tractive.
Mrs. Graham is now Mrs. Humes,
having divorced the former naval Of
ficer In Reno and married the New
York man on April 2, 1921.
Graham in his suit accused Humes
of alternating the affections of the
then Mrs. Portner Graham. The COM
plant recites a tale of romance be-
ginning before the youngest Of the
Portner bellies secretly married
young Graham in Baltimore on
March %. 1911.
Mr.. Graham swears he and his
wife lived happily until June s. 1917,
.svhen he entered the navy az an en-.
Essd man and was assigned to duty
al - Brooklyn navy yard. Two
daughterA now seven and four years
old. respectively. were born to the
Graham. has testified to friendship
between. Humes and Mrs. Graham
before the latter's marriage. The
fact that Miss Portner had become
Mrs. Graham did not cool the ardor
Of Humes, according to Graham.
While he was on duty In Brook.
Ign. Graham asserts. Humes paid de-
voted court to Mrs Graham, show.
erins her With flowers. works Of art.
costly gems and other. articles Of
personal adornment. Specifically
mentioned are a gold cigarette case
set with diamonds and q diamond
bracelet.
SUES FOR HEART BALM.
The ''heart balm" suit opened
Nov. %. II was one of their two
children, Lieutenant Graham testi-
fled. who Informed him of Mrs.
Graham's alleged relations with Mr..
Humes. He said that he was with
his family at Spring Lake. N. J.,
during the summer Of 1917.
He took the children with him to
the store, he said, when one Of them
said "Hello!" to Mr.. Humes. He
had never seen Humes before. the
naval officer testified. When he
upbraided the child for speaking to
q stranger. Lieutenant Graham
said. the child replied:
"Why that man is around the
house all the time-I know him."
The beautiful Mrs. Humes denied
the allegations of her former hus.
band.
at Is cruel and unjust for any
one to say that Mr.. Humes had
anything to do with my divorce
from M. Graham"
Cruelty. she says. cooled her love
toward Graham. She would have
brought the suit II she had never
seen Humes, the former Washington
/. belle declared.
81 am. Of course, greatly sur
prised that Mr.. Graham should have
!. brought this unfounded suit against
Nv husband, and that he should
have made such false statements
apdit mo and the facts connected
wh my divorce from him.
W{FE'S DENIAL.
III do not understand how Mr..
Graham could possibly say he did
dot know / was going to sue for a
divorce until he was informed Of 1t
by a friend in New York. 1 wrote
him early In October. more than
two months before my suit was
filed. that l had definitely. decided
upon this course. He was also
served personally with a notice.
"Just before the trial Mr.. Graham
came to see me and talked with me.
but neither then nor at the trial
did he claim any OF the things he
states in his suit against Mr.. Humcs,
"He empbyed lawyer but the
case against him was 80 strong and
clear that the Judge granted mo the
divorce.
AT the trial Mr.. Graham, through
his lawyer, did not deny my charges.
though his lawyer was present In