The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-02-01
BROWNING NOT
CRUEL HUSBAND
COURT LEARNS
Tells Cf Meeting Peaches at
Sorority Dance and Giving
Money For Education

Courthouse, White Plains. NJ, Y,
Feb. l.--(R)--Edward West Browning
took the stand at :25 o'clock today
to deny his wife's charges that he
was a cruel husband.
Flushed, but apparently not very
nervous, the witness took his seat and
gave his age as SO. Since he was 16
years old, he said, he had been in
the real estate business.
His meeting with the then Frances
Heenan at the McAlpin hotel at a
sorority dance, was then described.
''Miss Heenan walked up to a
group Of people ! was with and after
she had been introduced to me, she
asked me to DANCE" Browning said.
AFTER the dance she gave me her
telephone number. She was 23 she
said at first, and gradually reduced
the age as l got better acquainted" )"
Money For Education
Browning said that he had given
the girl $500 and her mother $500
which was to be put toward her ed
ucation, but excuses were made that
she could not gain admission to the
schools, and preferred to 60 on the
stage anyway.
Browning said that he had legally
adopted Dorothy Sunshine" Brown
ing and had "had her since she was
q wee little mite."
The witness described the incidents
Of the acid burning, the first knowl-
edge of which he said was telephone
from Mrs. Heenan.
"When / arrived at the scene, 1
asked Mrs. Heenan what she had
done for her daughter, knowing that
she was trained nurse, and she
said. nothing" Browning said.
Browning detailed how medical at
tention was received and how he
called the police against Mrs. Hee-
mans wishes.
"Did you have anything to do with
this acid burning Of the girl!" John
E. Mack Of Browning's counsel asked.
"Only with securing help and medi-
cal attention." aswered Browning.
Paid For Her Care
Browning said that he had paid
Mrs. Mayer $50 week to take care
Of Frances in her illness and that he
had paid rent and even brought food
to the Heenan home.
Browning then outlined the p.
Children's Society threatened to put
Frances in an institution.
He added that Mrs. Heenan had
person who 'would make him a good
wife,"
ibid you ever strike your wife or
did she ever scream ?" he was asked
"No sir. No SIR" he said.
noto L. ~ ~ fisrc< vo~k nk - ,,,n~
ried life, following. the wedding at
Cold. Springs, were given by Brown
ing, who denied that he had struck
her or laid violent hands on her at
any time or had made improper sug-
gestiOns.
She Didn't Want Children
"Over seventy trips were made by
doctors vnd offered to give some
Of my skin for grating to heal my
wife's wounds" Browning testified.
But the physicians" hewept on, "de-
cided that the hurts were not in con-
dition for such an operation. I want
ed to have children and home of
my own. ! knew was getting on in
years. My wife gave several rea-
sons why she did not want children"
Browning described his attentions
to his wife which, be said, included
many theatre parties and the birth
dav party on which latter occasion,
he said. he had given her . valuable
gift Of jewelry,
IT used the subway and my wife
used the car" he said, 4when Rke
told me the doctors had told her she
needed to get out doors taore." N.
Browning ,dsscEihed thu spells"
lCe9taausd 8 49, t1leos)