New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-06-27
THE COURTS.
MIR. AND MRS. DE MELrs RELATIONS.
TROUBLE THAT MoTHER-IN-LAW CAOSHO
CHARGES AND coUNTER-cHARGEs.

TROUBLE THAT M0THER-IN-LAW CAoSSO-
CHARGES AND CoUNTER-cHARGEs.
Harry A de Nell ard Florence NJ. Draper
were married at Dresden Saxony, In 1867 MI "o u0
is en- American by BIRTH but of German desceu', ~
father having been German who many years ago h'eH
at Lepsc. The original name of the de Nell iaMH was
Nelly which was changed by order OF the CouiI :"
Common Pleas In 1867. Mr. de Nell went 10 Dresu'H
about the time when Miss Draper went there Duo"
after Miss Draper became Mrs. de Nell, she anu hei
husband come back to the United States MI 10 don
was mining engineer and took his wife to etrgeloWh'
Col Georgetown did not seem to please Mr. ana MIS-
de Nell as a permanent Ilace OF residence ana tney
soon left II and went back 10 Europe.
About a year and half ago Mrs. de Nell began al
action In the Supreme Court against her husband W
tain limited divorce the ground Of cruel anu innu
man treatement She alleged In her complaint tnat ei
place Of residence is NewYork City and that u always
has been since and prior to her marriage MI ue VIGIL
she says after their Dresden from Georgetown"
COL began q course Of cruel treatment toward her.
He also acted in mean and unworthy manner towaiu
her parents He practically made impossible Tor her 10
associate longer with her parents He even reuseu "
allow Mr.. and Mrs Draper to see her when sne WIS
sick Moreover, Mr. de Nell acquired fast ana in'ehi
perate habits and when he under the influence vi
liquor he made threats against the safety OF her
His evil habits ways grew apace and at last DC ne
came positively brutal He beat and kicked his young
bow TO such an extent that feared for the life OF her
child Mrs de Nell also AYERS in hercompaint that at no
time during married life did she find favor IN
nsuferable conduct frequent quarres broke OUT zen
them in which the elder woman always shower h c1S
measureless superiority OF her quarreng powers Dotn
as to vehcmence OF language and power Of holding out
Mr. de Nell In these guarrels always took me slde " us
mother and insisted that his wife should go 20 ms MS
mother humbly apologize and admit that she hsd Deeh
in the One day in October ISL the haan 70
law met Mrs de Hell in the street and at once
bernhard her with loud and long volume OF abuse
she told Mrs de Nell that she was pauper VINO was
dependent on her for the very bread she ate rs ue
Nell retreated before the attack OF her mother IN law
who followed close upon Ler When they reacheu iae
house the mother-in-law told her that she the palhu
crazy. She related this experience to her husband
but the only consolation she got was the nat
he believed his mother right In saying tnat she was
crazy That evening physician called on hef VINO
had been summoned BY her husband me Pny 81 b
had person before him OF unsound mind FROM tnls
time she began 10 grow alarmed mt her husbs nd he
related to her conversation with friend who had said
that his wife In insane asylum and tnat prODany
moreover started rumoGs about town that his wife was
right herr mind, and then took her chldren away
cared for in her custody Fearing that she would be
thrown into asylum, she fed from Dresden TO New,
tourney she was obliged to part with her jewelry. In
OF all this and unnatural conduct on 'he part
him by process OF and that he DO compelled to pro-
vide for her support and allow her to have their
Mr. dc Nell sets up his that the Court has no
Jurisdiction OF the controversy He also asserts that IN
IN
absolute divorce because she had been unfahu to him
He says that he Ia dependent upon his mother for his
support. lie defends his mother against the charges
made about her temper Dy his WIFE lt was not true
that had had the least intention OF throwing MS
wife into asylum, His vito had Overtaxed hcr
strength in Dresden in the interest OF the American
Chapel he 10 have her get spme rest and
quiet. He spread any rumors damaging 10 MS
wife'a character. So far from doing this, he made
every effort conceal her Disgrace foi the sake OF the
children What she had done became public by reason
OF the Investigation into his wes secret dOlgs when
he had obliged 10 make. OF course nothing wond
have ever made public II she had not first done that
in private which could not properly be made public
Geyso need have cared for what the public knew
OF her.
Mrs do Nell put in n reply TO the answer in which she
denies the charges made against her IN connection with
the German nObleman. Mr.. de Nell then changed pls
pOs On and In amended answer setup tbatn 1881 nc
and his wife had executed voluntary agreement, by
which be was have the custody or the children ana 70
be freed from the obligation OF supporting her. Mrs dc
Nell In her reply this declared that she had never
made any such agreement. However If such an agree
ment had been made IL would do him good. she de-
again that she had never had anything 10 do with
Herr and that her husbands accusation was
false and slaEderOus and was mere aggraYaoh OF her
former WRONGS
Tie case came for trial yesterday before Justice Dono
hue IL was decided that the question Of the residence
of the contendng parties should be first tried so as 40
determine the question which had been raised IN regard
10 the Jurisdiction OF the Court Mrs. de Nell testified
that her husband had always represented that ne was
citizen Of United States and resident OF this city
The trial will be continued to-day. John h. Parsons ap-
peared for Mrs de Nell.