1892-3-29-Brooklyn Eagle-Hattie Gay

Revision as of 11:51, 31 May 2008

Brooklyn Eagle, 29 March 1892, page 6

Hattie Gay

Mr. Glover Says He Never Kissed Her in Brooklyn,

Whatever He May Have Done in Boston, Adding, by the Way, That "He Had Kissed Her Once Too Often"--Continuation of the Suit for Divorce Brought by Julia A. Glover Against Her Husband.

The suit for absolute divorce brought by Julia A. Glover against her husband, Artemas W. Glover, now on trial before Justice Cullen and a jury in the circuit court, served to fill the room this morning with the unusual divorce attendance. Many of the facts in the case have heretofore been published in the Eagle.

It will be remembered that both parties to the action have been connected with the Church of the Latter Day Saints, on Rockaway avenue, and it was the fact that the husband alleged that his wife spent much of her time away from home on mission work that he set up in mitigation of his own wrongdoing. The only issue before the jury now is whether the improper relations held by Mr. Glover with Hattie Gay before coming to Brooklyn last summer have been resumed. A child was born to Miss Gay, of which Glover is the admitted father, but as his wife went back to live with him since its birth he claimed the offense was condoned.

The first witness called was Mary Hohn, who lives at 201 Greene street. She said that the correspondent, Hattie Gay, also lived there, and one of her constant visitors was the defendant. Mr. Glover did not sail under his own name at this time, but was known as Arthur Gay. He called very often--nearly every evening about 6 o'clock--and then he would go out with Miss Gay and the baby. Often when the woman returned she was alone with the baby. She called her visitor husband and often said that the baby was his. The witness had never seen any improper conduct on the part of the couple, not even any expressions of affection. Lizzie Hohn, the daughter of the previous withness, corroborated her mother in many particulars, and, in addition, she said she had often seen Mr. Glover kiss Miss Gay as they stood upon the steps--on one occasion three times in succession.

John Fee testified that he resided at 201 Greene street and had rented a hall bed room to Miss Gay for six months. Mr. Glover, who then went by the name of Gay, was a frequent visitor at this room. He came in quietly and stayed with Miss Gay for sometimes an hour and sometimes less. She always alluded to her visitor as her husband. Miss Florence L. Holmes of 131 Kent street said that for some time prior to last Thanksgiving day Mr. and Mrs. Glover occupied apartments there. On the day named Mr. Glover removed all his household belongings to 165 Franklin Street, at least all that he had, for the witness said that Mrs. Glover had previously taken away a good part of the contents of the rooms. Elizabeth Betaler of 163 Franklin street said that she had rented three rooms to Miss Gay at 165. The womantold her, the witness said, that she wanted them for herself, her baby and her brother. Mary Muntz of 165 Franklin street occupied rooms adjoining those in which Miss gay lived and was living now. She had never seen the defendant about the premises, although Miss Gay told her that her husband was a machinist. Sarah Noll, who also resides at the same address, said that she had seen a man about the premises who looked very much like the defendant. She had seen his back and thought she could remember the overcoat he wore. It was shown, and the witness said she was quite sure that it was the one seen at the house.

Plaintiff's counsel then called the defendant himself to the stand. Judge Cullen then told Mr. Glover that he need answer none of the questions put unless he so desired, but before he chose to exercise the privilege he said he had moved on Thanksgiving day from the Sixteenth street place to another habitation. In fact, he said he had moved to two. His bed and bedding, with some other articles, went to 165 Franklin street and the balance of the effects to a house on Mahattan avenue. Then Mr. Glover decided that he had said enough, and to another question he informed the counsel that it was none of his business. That closed the case for the plaintiff and in opening for the defense counsel said that his client admitted having had a child by Miss Gay in Boston, but that his wife had returned to him with a full knowledge of all these facts. The corespondent, Hattie Gay, was then called. She is a woman with a pale face and a quantity of dark red hair. She was dressed in dark clothes and wore a hat covered with black feathers. She gave her answers clearly and distinctly and without any desire to conceal anything. Her residence was 165 Franklin street, she said. She came from Boston in June last and went to live at 201 Greene street. She had a child by Mr. Glover while living in Boston. He promised to provide for it, but did not do so. She followed him to Brooklyn and since finding him he had supported the baby. She admitted that Glover had frequently called upon her, but only to see the child and pay her money. She denied positively that the defendant had ever held andy improper relations with her since she came to Brooklyn. If he refused to provide for the child, she would force him to in the courts. Miss Gay said further that when Glover called he always held the baby and often carried it for her on the street. She swore positively that he had not kissed her since she left Boston, but had often kissed the baby while it was in her arms. When parting from him after a walk she would tell the baby to say goodby to its papa and it would wave its hands to him as he walked away. She said that she had never spoken of the defendant as her husband, but only as the father of her child.

Then the defendant took the stand in his own behalf. He had known Hattie Gay, he said, for some eight years. One day last summer he met her on the street and then he told her that, as his wife was living away from him, he found it hard to make both ends meet. But he promised to do all he could for the baby and had kept his word since. He often called to see the baby, but denied that anything improper had occurred with its mother since she came to Brooklyn. He had never even kissed her. "I never kissed her in Brooklyn," he added with emphasis. "I would be a fool to do that. I kissed her once too often. But I did kiss the baby."

In rebuttal the plaintiff's counsel called Frank M. Sheehy, a resident of Lisbon Falls, Mo. Mr. Sheehy said he was an elder of the reorganized church of the Latter day saints. His mission was to preach about the country. He hadknown the defendant and his family in Boston. His reputation was not good, he said, and his statements could not be believed. This opinion was based upon the knowledge the witness had of Glover's failure to pay his rent and also to the part he had played with Miss Gay. For this latter offense he had been expelled from the church. On cross examination, counsel for the defendant wanted to know whether the church of which the witness was an exponent was not the same as the Mormon. Mr. Sheehy said that it was not; that it differed in many respects, and while it was in a measure founded after the Joseph Smith church it did not embrace polygamy by any means.

Other witnesses were called and the case went to the jury.

After less than an hour's absence from the court room the jury returned a verdict for the defendant.