Evening star., 1939-03-29
Bride Threatened
To Go 10 Reno,
Stinson Testifies
Declares She Created
Scene Two Days
After Wedding

A wedding trip alternately stormy
and tranquil that ended in separa-
tion soon after the return to Wash
ington was described in District
Court today by Joseph Whitla Stin-
son, as he continued his defense of
the suit in which Mrs. Lola Crounse
Stinson seeks annulment on the
ground that she was drugged and
tricked into marriage.
After their marriage at Bar Har-
Dor, Me, in September, 1887, the
middle-aged attorney and artist
told Justice Oscar R. Luhring there
was a scene within two days while
they were motoring leisurely south
ward. Without warning or excuse,
the husband said, his bride threat
ened to take her chauffeur and drive
to Reno.
Mr.. Stinson said he took the
colored chauffeur, Collins, aside and
told him he had to get this family
back to Washington" and Collins
was to take orders only from him.
The chauffeur, Mr. Stinson testified,
told him Mrs. Stinson had been
having those spells for years and her
late husband, William Livingston
Crounse, had gone through them
until his mind finally broke under
the strain.
Mr.. Stinson denied that Mrs.
Stinson had been wife in name
only. The marriage was normal at
first, he said, contracting his wife's
testimony that it never was more
than nominal union.
Row Over Gold Cloth Dress.
The bride seemed very happy on
the wedding trip except for her oc-
caSional outbursts of temper, Mr..
Stinson said.
While they were stopping at the
st. Regis Hotel in New York between
October 4 and s, he said, there was
violent row over dress of gold
cloth which he wanted her to buy.
Instead of taking the dress, he ex-
planned, she insisted that he buy
q bookcase.
The day after they gave a cocktail
party at the hotel for few friends,
the husband recalled, his wife charged
him with overdrawing the bank ac-
count over which he held power of
attorney, and she Immediately tele-
phoned the bank in Washington and
had the power revoked. When they
returned osWashington, he added,
she went to the bank and confirmed
this revocation in person.
During his recital of his brides
alleged actions. Justice Luhring
interrupted to ask: What was the
matter with her?'
Il can't say, your honor Mr.
Stinson replied.
Tells of Violent Dispute.
Giving his version of the violent
dispute at the CrounSe home on
Wyoming avenue about october 9,
Mr.. Stinson said: She came down.
stairs in a very great frenzy and
said she was going to get rid of me. ="
Mr.. Stinson denied that he
stepped on her feet, as two servants
testified, and said he merely tried
to stop her from telephoning
friend at that time and warned her:
IF you keep on like this you'll end
up in the insane asylum"
Mr.. Stinson admitted he provided
in will, later revoked for Miss
Jessica Shoemaker, who is charged
with conspiring with him to bring
about the marriage. He said he had
arranged to leave her $4,000 out of
the trust fund which Mrs. Stinson
had set up for him and which was
abrogated after their separation.
After he received final separa-
ton settlement of $4,000, Mr.. Stin-
son said, he arranged for Miss
Shoemaker's salary of $125 month
to be paid for year and gave her
an automobile, feeling that she had
been treated very unjustly in re-
turn for really noble service" to
Mrs. Stinson.
Giving Justice Luhring his version
of the summer the couple spent at
Nova Scotia before the wedding, Mr..
Stinson yesterday told of several
times he packed his bags and started
to leave. Each time, he said. Mrs.
Crounse persuaded him to change
his mind.
She was jealous, he said, of some
girls at the summer colony who were
art students and watched him as he
did water colors on the beach, and
she caused several public scenes, he
testified.
Cites Letter Episode.
The husband baked the last time
only three days before the wedding,
according to his account This was
while he and Mrs. Crounse and Miss
Shoemaker were at hotel in Bar
Harbor awaiting the five days notice
required to obtain marriage license.
Mr. Stinson said registered letter
in a feminine hand had arrived for
him that day while he was out, and
he had it when he and Mrs. Crounse
dined in the main dining room of the
hotel.
"She was a little piqued because
I had not told her about the letter."
Mr.. Stinson said. II handed her the
letter and told her to read it. There
was, besides, the matter of a small
tip to the waitress"
Mr.. Stinson said his fiancee was
angry, and when they went upstairs
with the nurse, he said: "Pepita
what is the use of going on with
this? can't stand any more. Where
is any happiness promised?"
Mr.. Stinson said he went to his
room and a short time later there