New Britain herald., 1925-11-17
Plaintiff Denies He Ever
Asked Girl Her Color
and Admits That He
Swore to Lie When He
Signed Bill of Particu-
lars-Al Jolson Injects
Bit of Comedy Into
Hearing.

White Plains, N. Y, Nov. IT Up
Leonard Kip Rhinclander was In
fatuated with Alice Beatrice Jones,
his Negress bride, pursued her with
In q few weeks OF meeting her and
took the initiative in their relations
although at first he had no inten-
tions of marrying her.
These admissions were made to-
day by the wealthy scion Of an
aristocratic Huguenot family In a
long series of contradictory answers
under cross examination by Lee
Parsons Davis, counsel for Mrs,
Rhinelander, in Rhinelander's an
nulment suit.
Admits Infatuation
A series Of questions on a letter
sent by Leonard to his future wife
in September 1921 brought out the
story of his infatuation. The letter
was the first Of mass Of missives
that Mr.. Davis has threatened to In
troduce. 1t told of young Rhine
lander's loneliness and was filled
with many endearing terms.
Are these the terms a man would
use If he were not in love with a
woman" asked Davis.
II was infatuated with her and
enjoyed her association" Rhine
lander responded.
! Admits Taking Initiative
Young Rhinelander admitted that
he had taken the initiative in the
| love making but insisted that he
had had no experience with women
before.
when you were playing with
this girl, Davis then asked. "did you
have marriage in mind?"
NO" said Rhinelander In low
voice.
His First Thrill
Mr.. Davis asked him about the
period Of love making bringing the
admission that Leonard had Rugged
and kissed Alice the first time he
had her In his automobile. 1t was
! the first time, Rhinelander said
thai he had ever had such a thrill
many of the details brought gasps
from the crowded court room,
When did you first fall in love
with Alice?"
"A few weeks after ! met her"
That wasn't a very long period
! FOR d girl to pursue you, was IT.
No"
"You pursued Alice?"
Il did"
Played Cards With Negro
Davis also brought out that Leon
ard had played cards with Robert
Brooks and his wife Emily al
though he knew Brooks was a Ne
gro and Alice's brother-in-law.
so you were willing to associate
with colored people If they were
Alice's relatives?"
yes" said Rhinelander.
Rhinelander also admitted that
he did not want the impression tc
bemade that he lacked brains. as
! Ild'l uStIl SuSSt0lN' Ny ms tOuHo'l !
AL JOlson Called
Al Jolson, black faced comedian
took the witness stand and denied
that he had ever seen her at G
summer resort in 1922, as she hat
represented in q letter to Rhine
lander.
Jolson took the stand in the mids'
of ross-eXamination of young
Rhinclander at the request of Isaac
n. Mills, the plaintiffs attorney
Jolson denied that he had been witt
Paul Smith, in the AdirOndacks, a
the time that Alice wrote Leonard
she had met him and found hin
some fiirt with the girls"
CAP Has His Troubles
"I never in my life even saw
either the defendant or the plain
tiff" said Jolson. Il was In Atlantic
City at the time she wrote she saw
me. I've had enough trouble abou
this already. My wife doesn't tall
to me. Now maybe I'll be able It
eat breakfast at home tomorrow"
AS the crowded court room burs
into laughter, Lee Parsons Davis
Mrs. Rhinelander's attorney, aros'
and explained that Alice's reference
10 Jolson was really to another maj
who had been nicknamed "Al Jol
son" because of his wit.
Alice Where Art Thou