Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-03-16

arose.
On Dec. 10 he had signed memo
randum to the fact that ne mad DE-
stroyed the note. The statemen mt was
addressed to the law firm OF Pattan-
gall & Locke.
Mr., Lawrence strongly denied that
he had ever made any improper pro-
posals to Miss Lottie Derosier. After
Miss Derosier left the Lawrence
home she went to the Augusta house
| to work. Mr.. Lawrence testified that
on one occasion when an assembly
was being held at the Augusta house
he had missed Mrs. Lawrence dur
ing the dances. He had gone up
stairs in the hotel to the room OF
| Miss Derosier where he found MRS.
| Lawrence and Miss Derosier with
| two men who were stopping at the
hotel. They were drinking. He re-
membered that someone in the party
had asked him to have a drink. He
was afterwards indignant with Mrs.
| Lawrence because she had left him
during the dances.
| Mr.. Lawrence stated that he did
not know his wife had a second let
|
Goodwin, besides the letter which
Mrs. Lawrence had destroyed.
! After the Portland trip which had
| been testified to, he and Mrs. Law
renee had a complete reconciliation,
he testified. From that time his re-
Iations with his wife as to affection
and getting along well together were
as usual.
He testified that once Mrs. Law
Boston with him. and he had taken
Mrs. Lawrence's brother on the trip.
After the Jackman trip he had
found some things in relation to his
wife's clothing that aroused susp!c-
ion in his mind.
He denied that he had injured his
wife by throwing her against the
post office on the afternoon of Dec.
16, stating that he was not with her
on the time alleged.
With Mrs. Lawrence's testimony.
the evidence in the case was closed.
and the attorneys then argued the
case to the court.
Attorney Beane Argues
In opening his argument. Attorney
Emery Beane stated that he had no
desire to rehearse the testimony and
that he could not conceive how any
argument offered by either counsel
would have but very little weight.
He said that he had tried to present
the facts fairly and that all he could
now do was to state to the court the
contentious.
In regard to the libel of Mr.. Law
renee. he contended that the case
must stand or fall on the proof of
adultery between DR.. Kagan and
Mrs. Lawrence or stand or fall ON
the testimony of Perley NJ. Lawrence.
He then characterized the testimony
of Mr.. Lawrence and his witnesses.
Attorney43eane contended that the
visit of Mr.. Lawrence to the Office
of DR.. Kagan on Dec. III was the
elimination of the plan calculated
by a neuresthenic" to bring about
from a situation which was clearly
indiscreet and vet innocent but
which lent itself to his plan to set
him free. Attorney commented on
the fact that there was no witness
with Mr.. Lawrence to testify as to
what he found in the Doctors Office.
lie stated that he could not conceive
: how Mrs. kagan could give testi-
mony in the manner she did if mat
ters had been as Mr.. Lawrence had
claimed.
) In regard to Mr.. Lawrence's libel,
he contendcd that by the testimony
of Mrs. Lawrence and the admissions
of Mr.. Lawrence there had been
shown for the last ~ years a series
of the kind of acts that no one would
condonc. although Mrs. Lawrence
must under the circumstances with
her two small children and for the
sake of appearances continue to live
with Mr. Lawrence until it became
impossible when he publicly and
openly charged her with a crime of
; this kind.
Attorney Beane contended that I'M
der the plea of combination the law
should not be construed as strictly
|, against the wife as against the hus-
band, and that on account of the fact
of the children and other facts which
prevented her from withdrawing from
the household. it should not be con-
strued strictly. He commended that
the presumption of their living to-
gcther being conformation was open to
Irebuttal.
Argument of Attorney PattansalT
Attorney Pattangall pointed out
that the libel of Mr.. Lawrence pre-
scented the question of whether DR..
kagan and Mrs. Lawrence had been
shown to have improper relations on
Dec. 16. and that it rested on that.
The testimony which had been in
troduccd relating to the events on
Dec. 10 and Dec. is were received
y Attorney Pattangall. Relating to
the latter date. he said that the use
of the stethoscope by the doctor could
not in any way make j. necessary for
I'm to remove any of his clothing.
Attorney Pattangall stated that he
i'd not know by what authority At
tOrney Beane had referred to Mr..
Lawrence as neuresthenic. He
pointed out that to bring this action
was the only step open to Mr.. law
renee.