Evening star., 1922-11-16
WOODHOUSE FACES
CHECK KEv|DENCE
Bank Cashier Gives Test.
mony on Money Spent in
Washington.
Special Dispatch TO The Star.

thur W. Hill. assistant cashier of the
Merchants National Bank Of Bur-
lington, VT, was a witness yesterday
in the suit of Mrs. Dorrlt Stevens
Woodhouse for $4,000 against her
parents-in-law for, the alienation of
the affections Of her husband, Charles
Douglass Woodhouse.
In the language of dollars and
cents. as column after column Of fig
ures were read to the jury by Cashier
the records told the story of a gala
two months at the National Capital.
where Charles Douglass Woodhouse,
, the plafntins husband. spent $4,000
for jewelry. s717 for his hotel ex-
penses and $591 in cash gifts to Mrs
Lillian McClelland. He also spent
$1,000 as part payment for an auto
mobile and almost another $1,000 on
furs. flowers and fancy favors. While
| the heir to the Woodhouse millions
/ was thus alleged to be making ex-
! travasant expenditures in Washing
! ton his young wife was depending
upon her parents and relatives for
food, according to testimony.
| Locked Up Car.
| Young WoodhouSe ordered. Hill, as
cashier OF his fathers bank, to lock
up the garage, depriving his wife OF
the use of the car. she said he gave
her. and spent nearly $4,000 for a new
car to use in Washington for him.
self.
j Dorrit Woodhouse met Hill on
Spruce street. Burlington. at the time
| the garage was locked up, according
to Hills testimony. and declared that
Douglass was stealing the car. Il
am onto his bluff. He gave me that
car and now he has stolen 1t from
me-" she said.
| desperate for money" according
| to his own deposition. the husband
had gone to Washington to look Cor
u Job"
within a few days. according to
Cashier Hill. young Douglass wrote
requests to Mr.. Hill. He wanted a
new check book. he wanted his where
| abouts concealed from his wife and
he wanted his safe deposit box opened
in order that his checking account
might be backed up by $4,000
entire fortune. Cashier Hill. upon the
witness stand. declared that he at
tended to all these things for the son
of his employer.
| HILL testified that Douglass gave
him ''authorization OF attorney" and
that he kept track of the young heirs
affairs.
| IOtc many S9eckAs
Douglass wrote checks in Washing
| ton with such Zest that he used UP
several check books and had to send
to Hill for more.
Hill testified that the parents of
Douglass knew nothing Of his check
| ing expenditures. He said that any
checks he drew on Douglass account
were at the direction OF Douglass
! himself
Hill further testified, under Cross
| examination by the defense, that
| Douglass funds were in control of
Douglass himself.
None of this money. he repeated.
was paid from any fund Of Lorenzo
! Woodhouse. but all of 1t was included
! in Douglass personal checking ac-
count.
The bank president. Lorenbo E.
Woodhouse. was with his wife in
Florida all this time. Mr.. Hill de-
| on was forwarded to the vacationing
parents. according to the witness.
They never knew" said Mr.. HILL
! Dur ing the early spring OF 1920.
Hill testified. he was present at an
interview which he had arranged for
! purpose Of discussing the posssibili-
! ties of divorce from his wife.
Ignorant OF Divorce PrOceedinEs.
Both parents were also entirely ig-
| norant Of the divorce proceedings. he
said. and knew nothing of their sons
plans. They were at that time trav-
| cling in Florida and North Carolina
| and not in communication with their
| son. Hill testified that young Wood
houses personal fortune amounted to
I about $4,000 in various securities a
few months after his marriage
! An income Of about $2,4O0 a year.
exclusive of this fortune, was also
under Douglass absolute control, he
said.
! Hill also testified that neither Lo-
renzo Woodhouse nor his wife was
In any way responsible for the lock
| ing up Of their sons car to prevent
| his wife from using 1t.
Toward the close of the afternoon
! Hill testified that Douglass Wood
| house, through him, sent his wife to
| Texas. He sent her ((Dorrit) 5000 in
| cash and $500 in travellers checks to
go to Maria. Tex. to visit her cousin,
Col. r. r. Vandeusen.
During Woodhouse's visit In Wash
| ington. Mr.. Hill testified, he person
ally saw Mrs. Woodhouse and in
formed her of her husbands wishes
that she should leave for Texas.
Concerning this visit, Cashier Hill
testified that young Mrs. Woodhouse
said to him: Il know that I am being
| railroaded out Of the way, but I am
willing to 60"