New Britain herald., 1927-02-01
Denies He Abused Her and De- clarS He Spent Money on
 Her LaYiShly
FRIENDS ALSO TESTIFY
 COUPLE SEEMED HAPPY

in Jesting Way By Ihose Nho
 Were the Butts of These Jokes
 Too Much Mother -in-Law, Hus-
 band Tells Court.
 Courtroom, White Plains New York, Feb. 1 (UP)-Edward West Browning, better known as Daddy, glorifier of American girls and Afri- can ganders, came forward today to let the world in on what, if anything, 1t doesn't already know about his married life with Frances Peaches Heenan.
 He took up the charges made by his wife, and denied them, one by one.
 The grey haired millionaire sat for an hour in the witness chair al the trial of his separation suit and replied to the ugly charges-and some of the merely amusing ones that his wife had made against him. His testimony was 8 study in con- trasts
 One moment he was accusing Mrs. Browning of having been his wife in name only. throughout their married career.
 The next moment he denied with equal emphasis that he was accus- toned to crawling on all fours, clad in brilliant pajamas and growing "woof, WOOL or anything like that.
 He told the court he never had been drunk in his life.
 He denied he ever threatened to kill his wife. -.
 He became excited, his eyes flashed and he arose from his chair shouting tits lie" when asked repellant questions with regard to his treatment of his foster daughter, 1o-year- r-old Dorothy Sunshine.
 The crowd in the courtroom heard a new version of the intimacies of the Brownings; and of the days and nights which followed; a version which painted Mrs. Browning as constantly rejecting the caresses of her husband.
 Study in Contrast
 Browning at times was com posed witness; at other times he would laugh; again he would be- come excited and fairly shout his denials, as his lawyers drew them from him one after another; and again his collar would irritate him and he would twist and pull at it. When he told how he had been called to the Heenan home when Peaches was severely burned by acid. mysteriously thrown. he be- came tender in his manner.
 He told with much feeling how he had offered his own skin for grating operation when doctors considered such a method of treat ment for Peaches burns.
 And his discussion of other in- cidents caused him at times to drop his voice and speak thoughtfully, as if desiring to tell no more than the lawyer demanded.
 Avoids His Wife
 Browning kept his eyes turned away from his wife as he walked to the witness chair. Mrs. Browning stared at him.
 What is your business" was the rst question.
 Real estate" he answered.
 To tN frnnh1a rryif h his collar right away and he twisted uncomfortably in the witness chair. He said he had met Peaches at a dance on March 5, 1926.
 He was about to leave the dance. he went on. when Miss Heenan" came up to him and asked him to dance.
 After the dance did she give you her telephone number?" "Yes, her telephone number and home address,
 How old are you, MT. Bra~ning" Browning again shifted nervously, looked at his lawyer and said:
 "Fifty-two.'
 His voice was low but at the same time was distinct. The court room was tense.
 Was Just Under 16
 Browning testified that Mrs. Caro- lyn Heenan, Peaches mother told him Peaches "was just under 16.' He told of giving them $500 on one occasion and $100 at another time and of his disappointment when Peaches did not seem to care to attend school.
 Browning had his luncheon brought to him In court and then resumed the witness stand for the afternoon session.
 He started with denial that he ever told his wife that he would buy Ter a Japanese princess as she had testified. He denied that he ever asked his wife to appear before him nude.
 Then the African honkins gander waddled figuratively into the court room once more.
 Peaches Meets the Gander
 Browning said Peaches first met the gander at a Staten Island lawn fete which they attended and asked that it be taken home to spend the weekend with them.
 ''The goose was in our apartment only a few minutes and then be- cause Mrs. Browning wanted to show it to her mother" he said.
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