Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-04-18

stopping. He testified that Mrs.
Richards acted unnatural towards
him and as he went on to tell Of GER
tain conditions he had observed as
pertaining to Mrs. Richards. he was
suddenly interrupted by Mrs. Rich
ards, who was sitting in the rear of
the court room. He testified as to
matters which led him to believe
Mrs. Richards and Larlee were not
conducting themselves properly.
Mr.. Richards identified his wifes
handwriting in certain letter
written to Larlee. which was read
by Attorney Davies. The writer
wrote that she loved him and res
pected him as the finest man in the
world.
Concluding his testimony. Mr..
Richards said that he does not use
profanity.
Other Witnesses
Mrs. Mary Il. Riley who resides on
Peaks Island, testified that she had
lived in the vicinity of Mrs. Richards
and knew her by sight. She had
seen young man come there at the
Richards house to pass Saturday
and Sunday, but she couldn't tell If
he stayed in the house. The young
man was % or 26. He would go
there on Fridays, and she would also
see him on Sundays. She said she
did not know for what purpose he
was there. She did not see him there
at nights at any time and could not
rccollect as to the time she had seen
him, there. Witness admitted that
she did not want to testify in the
! case, and she said she had told At
torney Davies that she wouldn't
testify as to anything that would
| help him as she did not know of
| anything.
Mrs. Mary Mckiell, who lives
summers at Peaks Island, testified
| that Mrs. Richards youngest child
was not we'll kept, was dirty and
| looked as if it didn't have the atten-
| ton it should. 1t was her impress
sion that Mr.. Richards was very
fond of his children.
Cross examined. she said she saw
the youngest child every day-more
| than she wanted to.
Mr.. Richards Continues
| Recalled to the witness stand. Mr..
! Richards testified after his return
from Perth he found he was affected
with a certain disease. He told Mrs.
| Richards he wanted nothing more
to do with her. He frequently eX-
changed letters with his children,
| IF rIc q has o.
ceived from them has been decreas-
ing. April Z, 1922. he received the
| last letter from his oldest daughter,
Pearl. He had written to them
every week.
| Attorney Davies then offered in
evidence a number of letters that
! Mr.. Richards. had written to his
children for the purpose of showing
MIR. Richards affection for them.
Attorney Davies read a letter that
| Mr.. Richards had written to his wife
! in which he had said that she had
broken UP the home 50 he did not
feel the responsibility towards her,
but he would send her $50 a week
! and the rent.
Cross examined by Attorney Lib
| by, Mr.. Richards said that when he
! visited Mrs. Richards Christmas 1920
| there were no blows struck. When
he visited in April he was ordered
from the place. On another visit she
had told him he could not see his
children and she struck him in the
face, making his nose bleed. He
had taken notes of events. having in
mind the protection of the children.
In 1921 he bought from his savings,
| $1,000 of stock in a Maine publishing
concern.
Haven't You complained of your
physical condition for the. last six
| or seven years ?" asked the attorney.
mo, I haven't" said the witness.
Since his marriage to Mrs. Rich
ards in 1905 he had not had relations
with other women, Mr.. Richards tes
titled. He testified as to prescrip-
! tions he had received from various
physicians. He has not lived with
! Mrs Richards since February 1919
when she broke up the home. He is
a travelling salesman and his income
| last year was $4,000. He was on the
road most of the time.
He said he had never struck Mrs.
Richards blow. although on two
| occasions he had hit her with his
| open hand.
! On redirect examination, Mr..
| Richards repeated the language Mrs.
! Richards had used which caused him
! to hit her with his open hand. She
| had attempted to hit him with a
clothes wrnger and had sworn at
him, according to his testimony.
Dispositions Read
| Attorney Davies read the testi-
mony of DR.. II. F. Mcintosh of An
| dover, n. B., which had been given
at the former hearing in, Cumber-
| land county. He had treated profess
sionally Mrs. Richards and the baby,
and he had testified as to his ex-
| animation Of Mr.. Richards. The
doctor had treated Mrs. Richards for
! a certain disease.
The testimony Of Mabel Greene
was offered by the libellant and was
| read by Attorney Davies. Witness
was 4 resident of Perth, n. B., and
conducted the hotel where Mrs.
Richards and her children stopped
part of one summer. He had given
testimony regarding having seen
Mrs. Richards in the room of Muir
chic Larlee at the hotel.
Deposition of N1urchie Larlee of
! Woodstock. n. B.. which was taken
in the case of Gertrude Pearl Rich
ards VS.. James Richards in the Cum
, berland county court was then of
| fered by Attorney Davies. Mr.. Lar