Evening star., 1939-03-31
Threat 10 Sell
Share in Trust
|To|d at Trial
Stinson Was Highly
Nervous, Former
Attorney Testifies

after his marriage to the former
Mrs. Lola Crounse had gone on the
rocks to sell his interest in the
trust fund she had set up ito the
underworld" his former attorney
and longtime friend, Harold NJ.
Marsh, testified today at the trial
of the wife's annulment suit before
Justice Oscar R. Luhring in District
Court.
what was his condition at the
time?' asked Carroll l.. Beedy, at
torney for Mr. Stinson.
HE was in highly eXcitable and
nervous condition. Mr.. Marsh said.
The trust fund, established before
the marriage, provided lifetime
income from certain securities to
Mrs. Stinson and would have gone to
Mr.. Stinson in the event of her
death.
Mr.. Stinson was asked about the
'underworld" reference when he was
on the witness stand. but said he
could not recall having made such
a comment, adding that he never
knowingly had any contact with
the underworld"
Divorce Held Not Valid.
Mr.. Marsh, key defense witness,
testified as the trial proceeded with
new alleged ground for the annul-
ment added to the complaint today
by Mrs. Stinson's attorneys, Alvin L..
Newmyer, and A. K. Shipe. This
was the charge that the Reno di-
vorce obtained by the first Mrs.
Stinson six months before Mr.. Stin-
sons marriage to the wealthy Mrs.
Crounse was not valid in the Dis
trict. Judge Luhring said he would
pass on the question later.
Attacking the charge that Mrs.
Crounse was drugged into the mar
riage by an alleged conspiracy of
Mr.. Stinson and the widows nurse,
Miss Jessica Shoemaker, Mr.. Beedy
asked Mr. Marsh about cocktail
party given at the Crounse home on
Wyoming avenue in the spring OF
1897, a few months before the we'd
ding. At that time, according to
Mrs. Stinson's version, Miss Shoe
maker was giving her medicine con-
stantly and she was in bad health.
The witness said he attended the
party and would describe Mrs.
Crounse as gay hostess
Was she in mourning?"
"She was not said Mr.. Marsh.
Mrs. Stinson leaned over her at
torneys and said in a voice audible
throughout the courtroom:
II was"
Her former husband.( { William Liv-
ingston Crounse, had died in the fall
Of 1885.
Described Conferences.
Mr.. Marsh described conferences
with Mrs. Crounse in the spring Cf
1887 regarding the trust fund ana
denied he ever observed anything
unusual about her condition.
Three days before the wedding,
which took place at Bar Harbor, Me,
September q of that year, Mrs.
Crounse telephoned him from the
resort to his home in Washington
at II pm, Mr. Marsh recalled. The
attorney said Mrs. Crounse wanteo
him to 60 to Bar Harbor and take
charge of joe" meaningfi Mr. Stin-
son, explaining "he had gone off in
car" and she didn't know where or
why.
More than a month later, when
there was a conference at the
Crounse home to discuss the sepa-
ration of the Stinsons, the lawyer
said, Mrs. Stinson charged Miss
Shoemaker with visiting Mr.. Stin-
sons room at night, but withdrew
the accusation and apologized when
the nurse demanded a retraction.
Months later when he encountered
Mrs. Stinson. Mr.. Marsh added, she
still blamed Miss hSoemaker for al
legly breaking up the marriage.
Advised to Leave House.
At the conference when the sep
aration agreement was discussed
Mr.. Stinson was advised to leave
the house, Mr.. Marsh said. The
witness said the husband had no
money at the time and Mrs. Stinson
gave him $40 and invited him to
stay for dinner. but he declined and
went to hotel.
Mr.. Marsha said Mr.. Stinson went
to London on his advice after the
husband had received $4,000 under
the separation. The lawyer ex-
planned that Mr.. Stinson was in such
nervous condition he thought he
could recuperate better far away
and perhaps resume his writing and
painting.
Went Solely for Divorce.
Justice Luhring remarked during
the trial that it was obvious the first
Mrs. Stinson had gone to Reno solely
to obtain a divorce, and the record
showed she had remained exactly
the six weeks required by Nevada
law to establish a residence.
Mr.. Stinson, it was brought out,
filed an answer to his first wlfe's
complaint and was represented by
counsel when the hearing Wes held
At Reno, but did not contest her suit.
He said he never had discussed the
divorce with her, and when they
broke up their Washington home in
September, 1896, and she went to
New York, he did not know her in
tention.
"But you knew when she went to
Reno she had gone there to get
divorce?" Judge Luhring pressed.
"Of course" Mr.. Stinson admitted
"And she had no other interests
h Reno to justify residence" the
ourt added, except to obtain this
' ivorce?"
Mr.. Stinson said he knew of none
The divorce was granted March
Is, 1887, short time after Mr.. Stin-
son became acquainted with Mrs.
Cxounse.
ASKED by Mr.. Breedy, as the an
nulment proceedings continued why,
after accepting a settlement of
$4,000 when he and Mrs. Stinson
separated. he filed bill to intervene
and claim additional funds as dam