June 11, 1914 - Judge Requests Ventilation in Court - Steamy Love Affair

Reading through articles that Joe collected in a scrapbook I am amazed and amused by the events that occurred 100 years ago. Here is one that caught my eye, in part, because of the headline.

COURT DESIRED VENTILATION IN DIVORCE AFFAIR

Post June 11, 1914

Handsome Aimee McKeen Just Hated "0ld Ed" McKeen Observations by Janitor.

ICE CREAM AND STONE WALL RECALL AUTO TRIP

As Thermometer Rises Evidence Goes with It—Judge Calls for Open Windows.

     "Please open the windows. We need a great deal of ventilation on this," was the request of Judge Gardner Greene this morning in the Superior court, second part, as he listened to some evidence of the most discolored variety in the divorce suit of McKeen against McKeen.
      Edward McKeen, conductor on the New Haven system asks for a decree from Aimee Louise McKeen upon the ground of infidelity.  Minor Dibble, stalwart and fair haired, is named as correspondent. The trial was commenced on Tuesday afternoon and it was evident from the start that it will be filled with much more than the average amount of smut which goes with such cases.

An Interesting Witness.

     The most interesting witness this morning was Walter B. Brooks, a colored man who was in the employ of the Southern New England Telephone Co., at the time Dibble worked for that concern in Stamford.
      Brooks made a good witness. He worked for the telephone company along with Dibble, he told the court. Dibble was the head installer. He had an office down stairs in the basement, where he used to write up the books. Aimee McKeen used to call there at all hours. And she was a stayer, too. Once it was as late as one in the morning.

"Loving a Little Bit."

     Mrs., McKeen and Dibble "mostly talked" while they were in Dibble's office. Once Brooks saw the "loving little bit."
"What do you mean by that?" he was asked.
"Why he would take her in his arms and kiss her and hold her close, you know."
Brooks said sometimes they would put out the light, but when he approached the electric light would be turned on.
     Yes, Mrs. McKeen and Dibble met at the house of the witness. "I remember the first time they came," said the witness. "Dibble arrived first and Mrs. McKeen came about 10 minutes after. She said to him: Are you here?' and he said to her ‘You here?' They seemed surprised. Dibble came to my house to write letters,  he  said,  because  he  could do it better. After that they came regularly."

Had  Little Suppers.

     By and by Brooks and his wife got up little suppers. All four would sit down. Dibble would pay the bills. Sometimes they had wine, sometimes beer and occasionally whiskey.  Occasionally Mrs. McKeen would bring her daughter, Charlotte, with her.
      There was one occasion witness recalled when Mrs. McKeen said Dibble was to cut her corns and she asked permission to retire with Dibble so that the chiropody could be attended to.
      "Oh yes, they were good stayers," said the witness. "They would keep my wife and I up very late. Once until 1 o'clock. He would say: 'We had better be going,' but they did not go."

Said She loved Dibble.

     Witness heard Mrs.McKeen say she loved Dibble more than any man in the world. She said she did not care "for old Ed McKeen anymore. She hated McKeen worse than she did a dog.  McKeen was worse than a snake."

Carried Notes to Mrs.  McKeen.

     Witness said he carried 20 or more notes to  Mrs.McKeen. He knew of Dibble buying her candy, flowers, shoes and a set of furs. Witness saw them go on automobile rides. They went frequently to Woodside park. Witness heard Mrs. McKeen say: "If Woodside park could talk what awful tales it could tell."
     Brooks heard Mrs. McKeen speak about a trip to Sound Beach. They sat upon a stone wall and ate ice cream and she would say to Dibble: "Oh you ice cream, oh you stone wall.
     At this point the evidence took a turn which leaves it for the court records. Brooks told of going to the late Dr. Rowell to get a prescription for Dibble. He also told of his knowledge regarding Dibble's complaint.
     It was at this point that Judge Greene felt the air in the court room oppressive and asked the  attendants as above, to open the windows.

Wanted a Disguise.

     Brooks told of an occasion when Dibble asked the witness to rig him up in a disguise, so  that Dibble could call on Mrs. McKeen in the day time. Witness said he could rig up the disguise for $2. He bought a little black moustache and a ten cent pair of glasses. With these and a raincoat and a small bag he rigged up Dibble so his mother would not know him.
     The witness said he frequently heard conversations between Dibble and Mrs. McKeen over the telephone. "They would have a lot of kid talk and then make dates," said the witness. Witness knew it was Mrs. McKeen talking because he recognized her voice.
      After some further statements the witness was turned over to Attorney Shapiro for cross examination. He was subjected to a long and grueling examination in which he was confronted with some interesting letters.

Mrs. McKeen Called.

     Mrs.McKeen was called to the witness stand by the plaintiff. She said she was now living at Southington and was taking boarders, and doing dress making and millinery. Dibble lived in Southington and took table board at her house. She had been living in Southington since January 12, 1914. Prior to that she lived at Branford. Dibble was there too. She left
     Stamford in April, 1913 and went to Interlocken, Mass. Dibble called to see her one afternoon and remained a short time. That was in May,1913. On June 18, 1913 she moved to Branford in this state.

Seen On Train.

     John W. Graham, baggage master on the New Haven road, told of seeing Mrs. McKeen and Dibble take the morning train out of New York on two occasions.
     Mrs. Mary F. Lockwood of Stamford lived near the McKeens. She saw Dibble frequently visit the McKeen home. Dibble would take Mrs. McKeen out to ride in the automobile. Witness said she always supposed Mr. and Mrs. McKeen were happily married until Dibble appeared.
     Mrs. Minor Dibble, wife of the corespondent, testified regarding her knowledge of her husband's health. She was married to Dibble 20 years ago. The case is still on.



Will keep an eye out for the results of this case!
I will follow up with an interesting addition to this article very soon.