The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-10
MRS. COOPER REPLIES1 TO HUSBANDS CHARGE
Disclaims All Impropriety In His
 Suit For Alienation

Grim tragedy relieved now and then by naive comedy ruled the drama In Judge C. B. Smiths division of circuit court Friday as Mrs. Francis Riley Cooper revealed her relation. with her husband in the suit of D. B. Cooper Northern Methodist preacher against B. NJ. Holcombe, dairyman, in which he seeks to recover 32o.0o0 for alleged alienation of his wifes af- fections. Now crying, now laughing, now flashing with fire, now apparent ly broken and helpless under cross examination. Mrs. Cooper told her story before crowded court room of curiosity seekers, cynics and men about town.'
 Grey eyes, brown bobbed hair. youth and beauty-wearing a jaunty green turban, and green ear bobs and clothed in green dress>and black cape, Mrs. Cooper. who recently won a divorce from her husband on a cross petition. made an appealing figure. huddled against one arm of the witness chair in which she seemed lost.
 She began her story by telling of her marriage with Cooper and ended by identifying letters she had writ ten him before they were married. when she was 15-year-old girl But between the time she began and the time she ended she related more than her share of chapters from the book of experience. Most of the attack of the plaintiff centered on her actions and letters written by her since she left her husband, January 6, 1922. She denied vigorously allegations that she had behaved improperly with 1oicombe or any one and fought with all her might when allusions were made to such relationship.
 At other times she replied patiently to questions reiterated by the plain tiffs attorneys. It was when letters referring to her infant daughter were read that she gave way to her feel inss, hiding her face in her hands while her body shook with sobs. A climax came when c. NJ. Edmonds. tattorney for Cooper, in reading a let ter she had written to her husband year after their marriage in- advertently read reference to her unborn child.
 Object" shouted c. P. Beddow, at torney for the defense
 "Sustained,'' ruled the court.
 70. don't don't she sobbed. Then she raised her head and turned to Cooper, who sat behind his attorneys.
 Have you no more respect for our daughter than that" she flung at him between clenched teeth. He glanced at some papers on the table in front of him. For once during the day even the cynics were touched.
 Once she grew belligerent. T wish were a man for just once in my lie; I'd like to fight this out, fist to fist Then she broke again.
 Why don't you kill me and be done with it." she walled Again her mood changed-she looked at Cooper. Hes done more to drag me down than he ever did to save a soul" she whispered hoarsely.
 The plaintiff failed to get in evil dence the fact that Mrs Cooper had Iremarried while the divorce suit was pending on appeal. She admitted. however, that she married John Will liam Lane. Jr., in Atlanta. January 29, 1923. She claimed she did not know of the appeal and thought she had right to remarry. Her decree granted September 27, 1922, denies her thisright until the appeal is deter mined.
 Cooper closed his case shortly be- lore Eoon Friday. J. A. Pruitt credit man. for Louis Saks Clothing com 1 pany. testified Holcombe paid him Tby check a s250 bill incurred by Mrs. Cooper