Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-03-07
CRAZED RY DISCRETION.
Why Young Wife was Cast Adrift by
Her Old Husband.


AFTER HIS RELATIVES MAKE LIFE MISERABLE
FOR HER THEY SUCCEED IN INDUCING HIM To
LEAVE HER-A RUMoRED SCANDAL CONCERN.
ING HER SAID TO BE THE CAUSE.
| The New York World of Sunday prints the
following version Of the Belt family trouble.
| heretofore referred to in the STAR:
| sad story has just come to light in which q
credulous old man who had taken a young wife
| to be his darling was so worked upon by his two
| maiden sisters and a nephew that he deserted
| his bride, who is suffering from brain fever
| induced by her troubles.
! Eugene N. Belt was formerly large liquor
dealer in Baltimore and amassed a large for
| tune. He is now 60 years of age and resides in
! a palatial residence on North Charles street.
! his household being ruled over by his spin
ster sisters, His nephew resides in New Or
leans. In September last, Mr. Belt, while at
Bar Harbor, met Mrs Alice M.Godfrey. pretty
Md9E OF this ey nd Who Was Of Pleas
Mr.. Belt was deeply impressed by the lady,
| asked her to lie his wife. aud iQ October six
ried in Morristown, \. J. Some years pre-
| viously, while Mrs. Godfrey was inWashington,
there had been scandal in which her name
| was connected with Congressman Acklen
| Whether there was any foundation for the
rumor is not known, but at any rate when she
married Mr.. Belt she did not inform him of the
matter.
| After their marriage Mr.. Belt told his wife
that his sisters would object to Ms taking her
home, and suggested trip to Europe. This was
agreed to, but Mr.. Belt decided TO spend his
honeymoon at the Brunswick hotel, this city
For twelve days the couple remained here and
during this time the new husband wrote to his
wife's mother that "he never knew what happi-
ness was before. Then, instead of going to
Europe, he took his wife to his home In Balti-
more.
Here life was at once made disagreeable for
Mrs. Belt by her sisters-in-aw. She did not at
tempt to assume any authority but allowed the
spinsteTs to retain their sway over the house
hold affairs. They continually referred to the
] mn Pnff n1ad to bic
wife, and mourned over the extra expense
which was necessary to maintain the house
They did everything in their power to prejudice
their brother against his spouse, but in this
they We're unsuccessful. As an instance of
their methods one of them once observed Mrs.
Belt kissing her husband and frigidly informed
her that "Sissing was not fashionable in the
Belt family
Finding all their endeavors to create trouble
! unavailing, because of the amiable disposition
OF the young woman, the sisters finally de-
termined to call in the aid of their nephew
mans feelings, and when Mr. Belt suggested
that he and his wife take trip to the New Or
leans exposition she noticed that he was much
cooler than was his wont.
Arriving in the Crescent City she was aston
ished when her husband engaged two small,
poorly furnished rooms in the Hotel ROYAL In
many other ways he evinced disposition to be
decidedly economical, but Mrs. Belt was still
happy and. in letter to her mother, said, "the
rooms sunny, clean and comfortable, and,
after all, it makes no difference, for we do not
receive calls. and are all TO ourselves and very
do not care for anything else" One day, while
they were at break fast the nephew called and
sent word to the old gentlemen that he wished
to see him on urgent business Mr.. Belt rose
from the table. and. before leaving the room,
gave his wife two silver dollars.
What is this lor?' she asked
''Oh, thought you might need something
was his embarrassed answer and he thereupon
left the room. This was the last time his wife
saw him. On the second day thereafter while
she was almost craZed with anxiety, the
nephew, Charles, called upon her and told her
she neeti not expect TO see Mr.. Belt again.
"Do you want to know where he ise" he
asked.
Certainly; am most anxious to know If
anything has befalen him.
For answer the young man spread out before
the aStOnlshed woman a copy OF q Washington
paper in which was an al1usion to the Acklen
scandal. Then he simply said: THAT is the
reason he has left you and why you will never
see him again" Mrs. Belt Swooned as the truth
broke in upon herthat she was deserted. When
she recovered consciousness the young man told
her that Mr.. Belt had instructed him. 10 take
her to her mother, in this city. She rejected
this offer and telegraphed to her mother, and
upon that lady arrival she proceeded to Baiti-
more. She called at her husbands home but
the servant told her that they We're ordered not
TO allow her into the house. She then went to
the st. James Hotel. where brain fever set in
under a most aggravated form. She was taken
to MOrristOwn, y. j., on the 18th instant, and
placed in an insane asylum.
1t is believed by the friends of Mrs. Belt that
the prime reason for the action of her husbands
sister and nephew is that they wish to secure
his wealth upon his death and were therefore
much incensed at his marriage and regarded
his wife as an interloper. Two days ago all
Mrs. Belts property was shipped from the Bal
timore house to this city. 1t is believed that
Mr.. Belt has been SO prejudiced against his
wife that he will institute proceedings against
her.