The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-01-25
PEACHES ON
STAND TELLS
OF ROMANCE.
Browning's Young Wife
Sebs as She Describes
Wedding Night.
ANGRY OVER LAUGHTER
WitHess CurbS Mirth of Hus-
bands Lawyer.
By United Press

WHITE PLAINS, n. Y, Jan. 20
Frances Heenan Browning. the
sturdy 16-year-old wife of Edward
w. Browning, middle-aged dealer.
today told the story of the romance
which had made her nationally
known.
She appeared as her own chief wit
ness in the suit for separation which
she and Browning are now waging.
Attired In. blue and with blonde
curls peeking out from a close fit
ting hat, she answered the call of
her attorney for her to go to the
witness stand soon after today's ses:
sion of court opened. She walked
with steady step toward the witness
chair.
Mrs. Browning's recital was inter
, rupted suddenly after about half an
hour when she broke down while at
tempting to tell of events of her
wedding night. She was led from
the witness stand by her mother
while court recessed, and stood Sob
bing in her mothers arms back of
the jury box, seeming inconsolable.
She had just told of her wedding
to Browning and how they went to a
Bronxville, n. Y. Hotel, an exclusive
place, where a honeymoon suite was
awaiting them.
"I disrobed in the bathroom" she
said. "and then came out wearing a
nightgown and a negligee. into the
bedroom, where Mr.. Browning was,
wearing pajamas.
did Mr.. Browning say anything
to you?"
Angry Bridegroom
"He asked me to walk around
without any clothes on" she an
swered. II wouldn't do it and Mr..
Browning got angry"
What did you do then?"
Il went TO bed"
Suddenly she stared at Browning
and at Francis C. Dale, Browning s
lawyer.
II think that IL Mr.. Browning's
lawyer thinks this is SO terribly
funny he had better leave the room" q"
she exclaimed.
Dale ceased smiling, and as Mrs.
Browning broke into sobs her
mother led her away.
Describes First Meeting
Mrs. Browning said she first met
Browning at dance at a New York
hotel, March S, 1926. She had gone
to the dance with boy friend, -
she said.
When Mrs. Browning testified that
she was 16 years old. Browning sud-
denly arose from his seat, picked
up his hat and coat and the specta-
tors thought he was about to leave.
He strode arcross the room, picked
up handbag. and then returned to
his seat with 1t, rearranging his hat
and coat carefully. No one knew
what the gesture meant-if any
thing.
Previous to Mrs. Browning's APP.
pearance the court ruled in favor
of an open instead of a secret hear
ing of the case and DIR. Edward
s. Cookies, physician, had testified
that he had attended Mrs. Brown
ing previous to her marriage and
and she was a normal. healthy girl.
DR.. George w. Blakely. neurolo-
gist, who has treated Mrs. Brown
ing. was put on the stand. He tes-
tilted that Mrs. Browning "gasped,
foamed at the mouth. bit her tongue
and became unconscious. He said
that was after her marriage.
Counsel for Browning attempted
to show that these were symptoms of
epilepsy. but redirect examination
drew from DIR. Blakely an admission
that such behavior might be at
tributable to abnormal sexual life -
After the physician had COM
pleted his testimony Mrs. Browning,
having regained her composure,
resumed her recital.
Refused Demands
She described in detail events of
the wedding night, telling of Brown
ing's actions, the demands he made
upon her; OF her refusal and said
that he had told her that his at
torney had refused him he must in
sist on accepting her as his wife on
the wedding night. Despite his
pleadings, Mrs. Browning said, she
refused.
"As the honeymoon progressed. ."
she testified, Mr. Browning fire.
quently asked me 10 walk around
the room without my clothes on and
to sit unclaid at the breakfast table.
He would pinch me and pinch
me-" she said, "and he would poke
and shove me-"