Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-11-02
WOODHOUSE ADMITS
SON COURTED
WOMAN IN D. C.
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Continued from First Page.)
serted and destitute. she asked the
. court for alimony and financial aid
from her husband pending outcome
of the suit.
A dramatic incident occurred in the
corridor OF the courthouse this MORN
ing. when the younger Mrs. Wood
house and the millionaire co-defend-
ant accidentally collided. With one
glance at the attractive young plain
tiff. the elder Woodhouse. who yes
terday swore under.oath that he had
never seen his daughter-in-law in his
life until the opening of this trial.
although she was born and reared
within fifty yards of his home. NUT
tered his apologies and hastily with
drew.
Banker OH stand.
The elder Woodhouse. who is mil
lionaire president of the Merchants
National Bank of Boston, and father
of Charles Douglas Woodhouse. OBJ
viously unnerved. and suffering ire
quent loss of memory. when recalled
to the stand just before adjournment
yesterday afternoon was forced TO
admit that he not only acted as host
to Mrs. Lillian Hendrick McClelland
of Washington on numerous occa-
sions, but lavished costly gifts upon
her.
Most of the visits made by the
beautiful Mrs. McClelland and per-
haps all of them. he admitted, were
made after his sons wedding, az were
fact that Mrs. McCIelland was ma
tron Of honor at his sons wedding, he
insisted.
When and where did you entertain
Mrs. Mc,Hellard"' demanded .Attor-
ney Warren T.. Austin. counsel for
Mrs. Durrit WoodhouSc.
Il do not remember" replied the
Admits Invitation.
Your honor. stated Attorney Aus
tin. this defendant suffers a most
extraordinary lapse of memory when
we get down to the real facts of this
case and ] must insist that he render
intelligent replies to my queries. al
ways remembering continued.
turning toward the unnerved banker
that he is under OATH"
Il am noting the witness attitude,
quietly remarked the court.
Then it was that the elder Wood
house admitted that he had invited
Mrs. McCleland TO his home several
times after 1920. MY son might
; have been present, I really do not
GucStioniuE
The millionaire also admitted he
! made valuable gifts to the Washing
ton woman during the time when.
II is alleged. his son was wOoing her
although still married TO the plain
tii.
After nearly half hour of per-
sistent questioning and after appeal
ing TO the court for assistance At
torney Austin secured Il list of the
gifts he alone made Mrs. McClelland.
Gave Rings and Car.
Numerous jewels and rings. valued
at $500 a set of seal furs which
the elder Woodhouse originally
bought for his own wife. one of his
valuable motor ears which he had
rciicensed in her name and other
articles of smaller value were in
cluded in the list.
q. Was there. at your Park avenue
home. any question regarding the
gifts which Douglas has made to
Lillian?
y. No. so far as was concerned
You thought i, perfectly proper
for your son. a married man with a
respectable and refined wife to make
gifts to this Mrs, Lillian Hendrick
McClelland;" demanded Attorney Aus
tin.
Yes replied the witness after some
hesitation
G. When did YOU first hear tina.
douglas had fiirted with Lillian to
such an extant that he had announced
an engagement to her, although he
was not then divorced from his wife?
A. ! never interfered with his mar
ital affairs. I thought he was quite
old enough to manage for himself.
Heard Of Engagement.
Q. Wasn't there a well defended
policy in your family in regard to the
| regulation of the marriage of your
son and daughter?
~ There was never any agree
mcnt or arrangement in any way
whatever
Mr.. Woodhouse denied ever know
ing of an engagement between his
son and Mrs. Mctleiland. The witness
said that he would not have inter-
tcrcd even if he had known that his
son. still married TO Mrs. Dorrit Van
peusen Stevens Woodhouse: had
promised to marry Mrs. McClelland.
Il have always considered Douglas
capable of managing his own marital
affairs" the father declared.
rs your son planning to marry
Mrs. McClelland at some future time?"
he was asked.
81 have heard that he is was the
somewhat sarcastic reply.
Mrs. Woodhouse. youthful and
beautiful. sat calmly facing her
father-in-law during his g-illing or
! deal. She wore a sump,uous mink
wrap and a taupe- embroidered jersey
sport hat trimmed with heavy satin
ribbon Her heavy silk sport hose
were embroidered with taupe CLOCKS"
to match her gown, and her pumps
were Of sand-colored suede and
/; leather.
. stopped Gifts to Son.
She smiled when her father-in-law
admitted that not until after he had
, read his sons deposition for a divorce
did he restore to him the siXty-tive
thousand dollar fortune which had
been held up since his marriage. Mrs.
Woodhouse also scored heavily when
her father-in-law testified that. al
though before their sons marriage
his parents had bestowed large gifts
Of money on him, they gave him moth
ing after his marriage.
A further sensation was caused by
the questioning of Mrs. Catherine
Pratt a kindly. motherly woman.
dressmaker. who postponed an opera
ton for appendicitis to testify for the
plaintiff She was removed to the
hospital from the courthouse at the
, conclusion of her testimony. Facing
the jury, the elderly lady related how
Lorenzo f. Woodhouse informed her
that his son. Charles Douglas Wood
house, because Of his miserable es-
capade" with his young wife Dor
rift. had been disinherited.
Mrs. Pratt who remained on the
stand nearly an hour and who suffer-
cd considerable pain during the cross