Evening star., 1922-11-21
|S|STER SAYS WIFE
| OF GRAHAM CRIED
Mrs. Derby Describes Scenes
Following RUNAWAY"
Marriage.

Mrs Hilda Portner Derby sister of
Mrs. Augustus L. Humes testified this
, afternoon at the trial before Justice
| Hitz and jury in Circuit Division 1
| of the 100000 heart balm suit of
Lieut.. Lorimer C. Graham against
Augustus L. Humes, wealthy lawyer
of New York
I Mrs. Derby has the distinction of
being called as witness by both
sides in the litigation. She was one
of the first witnesses to be sum-
moned by Judge Wright, represent
! ing the plaintiff, who proved bv her
that Mr.. Humes had ACCOMPANIED her
fand her sister, then Mrs. Graham. as
far as Chicago on the way to Reno,
New. to secure divorce from Lieut..
Ora ham.
Mrs. Derby told the jury about the
marriage of her sister to Lieut.. Gra-
ham and said the sister deplored the
| fact that the wedding had been a
RUNAWAY affair and cried over II.
| Later Mrs. Graham complain to the
witness OF the conduct of Graham and
said he had struck her in the face
on one occasion. Mrs. Derby had a
room in the Graham apartment and
| shared the household expenses she
said. She narrated u number of quar-
|
of clothing.
Tells OF Summer Trip.
Referring to the summer at Spring
Lake, n, J.. in 1918, Mrs. Derby told
of an incident when Graham. the wit
ness and others, including Mrs. Mary
e. Glcnnah went on an auto trip in
2 small car to the Rnss-Fcnton farms
Mrs. flennan. she said, was the last
to enter the machine. explaining that
she could sit on Graham'S lap.
Mrs. Glennan occupied this posi-
ton roth on the way to the farms
and on the return trip. the witness
said. There was dancing at the farm
and Mrs Derby said Mrs Giennan
| would not dance with any one but
Lieut.. Graham.
Attorney Wilton ]. Lambert con-
quoted the examination of Mrs. Derby.
tDeposltions of other witnesses were
read to the jury by Attorneys Ru-
dolph Fl. Yeatman and William f.,
Leahy' associated in the defense.
Denies Alleged CourtsIrip.
Judge Wright in his cross-cxarni-
nation of MIR. fIumes tried to get
the witness to admit paying court to
| Mrs. Graham while sh,. and the chill
dren were s"journlng at Spring Lake
\. D.. IN the summer Of 1918. Mr.
tunleS had stated he had visited the
then Mrs. Graham on several oc-
casions.
IN lGe sly or seven visits to the
Graham cottage at Spring Lake" in
CURED Judge Wright. "on none Of
these occasions. suppose YOU did any
tcourting of Lieut.. Grahain's wifc?"
No. l did not" responded Mr.
Humes.
"N5?' queried the lawyer.
No. certainly did not" answered
the defendant
And after the marriage, after
1914. we can assume you did no
Courting of Lieut. Graham's wife,
asked Judge Wright
No. absolutely not" was the
reply.
Lieut.. Graham's lawyer then asked
the defendant If he was in love with
| Elsa Portner before her marriage
20 Graham. To this IIumcs replied
that he had never asked her to marry
him then. When pressed for more
direct answer. the witness declared
he was much attracted to her bu;
| had not reached the point of asking
for her hand.
| Did Not Advise Divorce.
Humes declared on his direct exami-
nation, that he never advised the seek
ing OF divorce. ard that he learned
| TO love Mrs. Graham as she lay i'll in
Il New York hospital after she had re-
turned from Reno with her decree. II
vas during her conVaieScencc that he
proposed TO her. ITumes avcrred
/ "A word Of acknowledgment when
encouragement meant everything to
her, was the first step in my romance