“I suppose every husband nags at some time or other,” Matt was grinning again.
“Mr. Anthony, we are not talking about every husband. Did you ever nag your wife?”
“Yes, at times.”
“The State's witnesses have testified that Francine Anthony nagged about your exercising, your drinking, your choice of friends. Why didn't you give in to her demands, end the arguments?”
Matt shrugged his thick shoulders. “I felt I not only had a right to live my own life, but that it also had to be an active life. To spur my thinking, I couldn't live in a mental cage. Also, since we were living pretty high, I had to keep jabbing my mind to turn out enough work to meet our expenses.”
“Are you in debt?”
“Yes. We went into debt to buy our house, the boats, other items. I haven't any set income I can count on. Some years I've made over $20,000... and there have been years when I didn't average fifty bucks a week.”
“Miss Fitzgerald has testified you and your wife entertained often. Was that Mrs. Anthony's idea?”
“No. We both liked to live comfortably, entertain, travel.”
“Did you give your wife a weekly allowance for household expenses?”
“We had a joint checking account. She took out about two hundred dollars each week for food, help, whatever household expenses arose.”
“Was Mrs. Anthony a wealthy woman before you married her?”
Matt shook his head. “No.”
“Was she working then?'
“She was a cashier in a store.”
“Do you know if she was supporting her former husband?”
“Yes. She was.”
“Do you know who paid the legal expenses for her divorce?”
“I did.”
“Did you ever buy Francine Anthony a mink coat?”
“Yes, twice, that I can recall.”
“Did you ever buy her a car for her own use?”
“We've had many cars, we both used them.”
“Mr. Anthony, do you play golf?”
“No.”
“Did Mrs. Anthony?”
“Sometimes. Not very often during the last few years.”
“Did she have a set of golf clubs?”
“Yes.”
“Do you know what her golf clubs cost?”
“About $300.”
“Did you ever buy Francine Anthony any jewelry?”
“Only a wedding ring. She never cared for jewels.”
“Did Mrs. Anthony have charge accounts at most New York City department stores?”
“Yes.”
“Was she fond of fishing?”
“Very.”
“Did she have her own fishing gear?”
“Yes.”
“Do you know what her rods and reels cost?”
Matt shrugged again. “About $2000. I know her tuna reel cost $650.”
“Mr. Anthony, since your marriage to Francine Anthony, have you traveled often?”
“Almost every year. We've been to Europe three times, to the West Indies, to Canada and various parts of the United States.”
“Mrs. Anthony accompanied you on all these trips?”
“Certainly.”
“Now, Mr. Anthony, let us come to July 25th. Will you tell the court exactly what happened on that day, starting from the time you arose.”
