The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-09-20
John Tiernan Takes
the Stand Today.
Wife Finishes Story of Trickery
and Deceit.
CAT CALLS GREET P0ULIN
PandemOnium Breaks Loose as
Defendant Takes Seat.
Charged by Mrs. Tiernan as
Father of Her Baby.

South Bend, Ind. Sept. 2o.-Cat
calls and misses greeted the entrance
of Harry Poulin in court today as the
hearing of the Tiernan-Poulin pa
ternity case was resumed.
Pandemonium broke loose as the
men accused of being the father of
the November "love baby of Mrs.
Augusta Tiernan, wife of Prof. John
P. Tiernan of Notre Dame university.
feet and jeered. Women gave vent
to pent up emotions by vituperative
outbursts.
Pou1in seemed greatly agitated at
the demonstration and quickly gained
a seat by the side of his wife, with
whom he talked until the noise had
subsided.
The morning session was occupied
by legal argument. No testimony was
given. Attorney Samuel Parker, for
the defense, sought to seal the lips of
Professor Tiernan, who was on the
stand, from giving testimony as to the
legitimacy of the child born to his
wife.
The objection was sought under the
Indiana common law which prohibits
the husband from testifying to such
legitimacy.
Question Is Raised.
The particular question over which
the objection was raised was put to
Professor Tiernan last night by Prose-
cutor Jellison.
Were you, during the months of
February or March, 1921, intimate
with your wife?" was the question.
Professor Tiernan stood ready to
answer in court today, but Judge Du-
comb reserved decision on the objec-
ton raised until Attorney Parker had
submitted his argument.
Do, T.
authorities. cited a case in regard to
an innocent offspring, Mrs. Tiernan
broke into tears.
Following Professor Tiernan's story
today, if permitted, the prosecution
was to call Mrs. Harry Poulin, wife of
the defendant, to the stand.
Husband to Testify.
The sordid story of trickery and de-
ceit wrung from the trembling lips OF
Mrs. TiernaH in her court action to
prove that Poulin is the father of her
taken up by her husband, Prof. John
Tiernan of Notre Dame university
today.
With Mrs. TiernaD's story of her
Illicit love romance with Poulin COM
plete, even to the most intimate mari
tai secrets, Prosecutor Floyd o. Jelli-
son was expected to establish, thru
the testimony of the husband. whether
the Tiernans lived together as hus-
band and wife during February and
March OF 1921-the '1ove months"
during which Mrs. Tiernan testified
she kept her clandestine tryst with
Poulin.
If the court permits, the professor
will confirm his wife's statement that
they did not live in the marriage rela-
tion during those months in an eff
fort to prove that the lin months old
~
his child.
Wife's Story Told.
Mrs. Tiernan has already explained
how she tricked/h her husband into be-
lieving that the babe was his own.
Thru binding tears, she told a story
of carefully planned deceit. She went
to him on April 2, she said, after she
knew she was to become a mother.
and then on April 10 she told him OF
her condition.
All went well until. as Mrs. Tiernan
said, she was snubbed by her lover.
Then her love for Poulin turned to
hate and the woman scorned. deter
mined to make the man pay as she
had paid in the heart aches over her
lsin.,
Cried All the Time.
'I was crying around the house all
the time was preparing dinner" Mrs.
Tiernan said. speaking of the Sunday
when Poulin is alleged to have
snubbed her "Just before we were
going to sit down to the table, Mr..
Tiernan asked me what the trouble
was.
I'll couldn't stand the agony any
longer and L told him.
The baby is not yours
! ''He said, oh, my Cod and fell face
downward on the floor"
The witness was trembling and sobs
choked her voice. Less than ten feet
away sat her husband, nervously Bit
ing his lips. glancing furtively at his
wife
up to that time he had treated the
baby as his own, had always thought
of it as his own?' questioned Attorney
Samuel Parker for the defense.
Almost Killed Him.
yves" stammered the mother.
''It almost killed him. He got up,
; grabbed his coat and hat and left the
/ house. He said he was going to find
Poulin."
It was not believed that the prose
eution would complete its evidence
today. Professor Tiernan will be on
the stand much of the day. it was ex-
pected. Perhaps Mrs. Poulin, who is
standing by her husband in the de-
at today's session. She has been sub
poenaed by Prosecutor Jelison-
Last night in answer to questions
Mrs. Poulin declared the world will
soon be allowed to hear their side OF
the case"
She also reiterated her detemina-
ton to stand by her husband Ito the
finish"
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