The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1922-11-29
Mrs. Woodhouse Testified
Douglas Was "Very Pc
culiar Boy"
WHEN ASKED ABOUT
HIS AFFAIRS
No Threat to Withdraw
Financial Support
From Son

Burlington, Nov. 29-.sI would have
been very glad If Douglas would have
gone to work digging ditch" said
Mrs. Mary L. Woodhouse, wife OF the
millionaire banker, this morning. when
testifying az the last witness for the
defense in the million dollar alienation
suit in county court here. Mrs. Wood
house had been asked If she had ever
done anything to prevent Douglas from
earning his livelihood. The defense
stated that before closing its case they
would like to look over some exhibits
and recess was taken for that pur-
pose.
Mrs. Woodhouse, when asked il she
did anything to encourage Douglas in
his trip to- Nevada for the purpose Of
obtaining divorce, replied: Il GER
tainly did not. / don't believe in di-
vorces."
The story of the millionaire's wife
this morning was mostly to the effect
that Douglas had been very PEE
cuiar boy and had not permitted his
parents to know anything OF his af
fairs. He had resented any interference
by them whatever.
On first taking the stand. Mrs. Wood
house testified that the first she learned
of Douglas relations with Mrs. McC.el-
Ian was when the alienation suit was
brought. Attorney Darling then went
through the specifications in the dec
laration and Mrs. Woodhouse denied
all OF the allegations
She stated that Douglas was neves
told by her, and she. was sure by his
father, that in the case of his mar
riage to Dorrit, any financial support
would be withdrawn from him. "We
had nothing to do with it," was the
testimony. Mrs. Woodhouse testified
that Douglas had his own money and
managed his own affairs. She also
testified that Mr.. Woodhouse was as
anxious to have Douglas go into some
business and work up from the bottom
of the ladder as she.
Mrs. Woodhonse said that ON a few
occasions she had tried to talk over
matters with Douglas but he always
resented it to the point where she had
desisted. They would have liked to
have Douglas settle down and live a
happy life.
When asked bf Attorney Darling If
she ever did anything to break mp
the relations between Dorrit and Doug
las, Mrs Woodhouse replied; my con-
science is clear on that subject. L new
er did anything by word or deed whish
served to spoil their happiness"
Mrs. Woodhouse, on cross-examina-
tion, stated that she was not I'M
pressed that anything out of the ordi-
nary was taking place in Washington
when Douglas brought Lillian McClel-
Ian to the apartments of herself and
husband and introduced the woman to
them She admitted that later when
all the young people were at Chatham,
she thought it would be nice to invite
Lillian over for the week end as she |
was in the vicinity.
The witness testified that when |
Douglas left Hunters home and went
into the Canadian woods she saw signs |
Of his being under any great mental |
struggle.
Yesterday afternoon the plaintiff in |
its examination Of the witness made |
a considerable point of presenting a
check, written by Mrs. r. f. Van Deu-
sen and which was claimed TO have l
been cashed in the Merchants National
bank in September, 1919, just before
Dorrit went to New York at the time
Of the marriage. The check was drawn
for 5000. The only testimony regard
ing any business transactions which /
had taken place previously were re-
garding meeting in the directors
room and all the.employes of the bank
had previously testified that they
rashed no check at that time.