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Show HIM i MESS STAND Governor Testifies in Dowry Action Against Sugar I Company. ! jMrs. Beck Cross-examined on Legality of Her ! Marriage. I i . Special to The Tribune. PROYO, Aug. 26. The cross -examination of Bertha Goss Beck and the direct and cross-examination of Governor Bamberger Bam-berger wo-re the features In today's hearing hear-ing of the case of Mrs. Beck against the Utah-Idaho Sugar company, in which Mrs. Beck seeks to recover a dowry interest inter-est of $20,000 in the Saratoga farm near Saratoga springs. Mrs. Bei'k alleges, as basis for her action, that she was the legal wife of John Beck at the time of his death and had been for several years. This is denied de-nied by the defense. When court convened this morning Mrs. Beck was called to the stand for a few further questions on direct examination. examina-tion. In reply to questions put by her attorneys, attor-neys, Mrs. Beck again test! tied that she lived with Mr. Beck as his wife from 1895 until Mr. Beck died. She said that she had been advised not to sign certain papers conveying property owned by Mr. Bock, and added that she and Mr. Beck had had words over the matter. She told of the family leaving the De Golyer mansion on Fifth East street in Salt Lake, and said that she had received $2500 at the time the mansion "was turned over. She also testified that during her residence in the De Golyer home she had entertained lavishly. She told of having gone to Mexico in 1902 with Mr. Beck and of their return, and subsequent operations op-erations that had been performed on Mr. Beck, declaring that she had been present pres-ent on these occasions and that she was at Mr. Beck's bedside at the time of his death. Contracts Marriage. Upon cross-examination, Mrs. Beck testified that she did not remember signing sign-ing any deeds or mortgages with her husband hus-band after he became insolvent. She said that she joined the Mormon church in 1SS2, when she was about 20 years of age. In 1SS4, she testified, she was married polygamously to John Beck. David PL Wells officiating. Immediately after the death of Mrs. John Beck (the first wife), the witness said she took the name of Mrs. Beck. She testified further to having consulted former Senator Arthur Brown after the death of Mrs. John Beck (the first wife), and said he had advised her and Mr. Beck to go to Nevada and be married according to the common law. Acting upon that suggestion, Mrs. Beck testified, testi-fied, she and Mr. Beck went to Elko, New, where they were married on the train by mutual agreement between themselves. The witness denied having told anyone, any-one, previous to the last few months that she had been married legally in Nevada. When asked why she had waited six years after the death of her husband before bringing the action on trial, she explained that she had been confused about the status of her husband's financial finan-cial affairs and had been told that he lost ail Ills property. Mrs. Beck was again called to the witness wit-ness stand after the noon recess and testified' that after the return of herself and John Beck from California it was agreed by them that Mr, Beck should provide for his other wives, Louisa and Matilda. She denied having said to relatives rela-tives in Pehi that she expected to be awarded about a million dollars in dowry rights in this and other cases. She also was emphatic in her denial that her husband hod ever reproached her for associating with other men. Governor Bamberger was the next witness wit-ness called to the stand in behalf of the plaintiff. The governor testified that he had been a business associate of John Beck for several years before 1 94. In 1S94, or shortly after the death of Sarah Beck, Mr. Beck's first wife. Governor Bamberger said, Bertha Beck had expressed ex-pressed some anxiety about a legal marriage mar-riage with John Beck. The witness then testified that he had advised Mrs. Beck to see Mr. Beck's attorney. Advised Against Purchase. Governor Bamberger further testified that Mr. Beck had told him and Mrs. Beck of his intention to buy the De Golyer Gol-yer mansion for Mrs. Bertha Beck, and said that he and Bertha Bock both advised ad-vised against this, but Mr. Beck bought the place a short time later. The governor gov-ernor testiiied, in conclusion, that he had known Mrs. Bertha Beck as Mrs. John Bock at the De Golyer home and at other places in Salt Pake. , On cross-exn mination. Governor Bamberger Bam-berger testiiied that he did not know of , the marriage having been performed on the train in Nevada. De testiiied that during the days of prosecutions for po- ; : lygamy. plural wives were frequently introduced in-troduced without the name of the "husband "hus-band being given. On redirect examination, the governor testified that Mrs. Bertha Beck's reputation reputa-tion was and had been good. John Beck, son of Mrs. Bertha Goss Bock, testiiied that several days after the armistice was .signet lie iiad been advised that Eeck's hot springs had not been legally transferred. This had made him curious and he had consulted Attorney Attor-ney N. G. Morgan In regard to the matter. mat-ter. Mrs. Alice Merrill Home testified that she had first mot Mrs. Bertha Beck abou t thirty years ago. She had visited at the home of Mrs? Beck, she added, win en she lived on West Temple street. After this Mrs. Heck moved to the De Golver homo. Mrs. Home a-lso testified that after Mr. Beck moved into the Dh ilnlvnr i-niqn- sloii she noticed :i change in Mrs. Beck, and that Mrs. Beck was then known as Mrs. John Beck. She testiiied further that Mrs. Bertha Beck and John Beck were supporters of art. Mrs. Home said that she now holds nineteen shares of the ca 1I ral stock of the Utah -Idaho Sugar company. Thomas II. Cutler gove testimony as to the value of the land in dispute, "stating that tiie average rental value of tne tillable tilla-ble land, about 200 aeros, was about S 1 5 per acre and the rental value of the unci liable land was S.ilO an aero. Mrs. Anna P. Groesbeek t.-stitied that a Tier Mrs. John Heck, the first wife, died, Mrs Bertha Beck moved into the Do Oolver mansion and was known as Mrs. John Beck. |