Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-05-16
A DACHELOR.S MAsrY MARRIAGE.
The Result Of . scandal In This City
Five or Six Years Ago.

In October last, when Mr.. Eugeu n. Belt. n
well-known Baltimore bachelor past middle
life was announced TO have married the hand
some young Mrs. Godfrey, OF Morristown n. j..
there was a dutter In Baltimore society. After
q bridal tour they came TO Baltimore. and on
November s, 1854, gave brilliant reception
at their North Charles street home. In the
early part Of January Mr.. and Mrs. Belt visited
New Orleans. Mr.. Belts temperance alone
In Baltimore a couple OF weeks later caused
some talk, which was still further increased by
mrs. Belt returning and stopping at the st.
OF New York. Rumors were afioat OF occur
FENCES at a hotel In New Orleans which caused
which would be made the ground OF a suit for
divorce by him. In the latter part Of April
MIC. GET MED q bill asking a divorce with ALI
ment
MRS. BELTS ALLEGATIONS
Mrs. Belt, I'm her bill, alleges that she was
married 70 Mr.. Belt October 5. 1854. at Norris
town, y. j.. by the Rev. George H. Caldwell.
ana soon afterward she accompanied him TO
baitinore, where she lived with him as his wife
until January, 1855. Since her marriage she
has demeaned herself towards him as dutiful
ana loving wife, and sought I'm every way TO
contribute to his happiness and benefit Not
cruel to her, and has been guilty OF exceedingly
vicious conduct, and on or about January 81
1883, he willfully and without any provocation
on ner part abandoned and deserted her and
since that time has refused to live with her or
permit her to live with him. In CONSEQUENCES
OF the deSertion she was compelled TO appeal tn
her parents and other friends TO solicit assist
ance to return to Baltimore, where she hoped To
meet her husband and induce him TO be entire
~ reconcfied, so that their relations as hus-
band aud wife might be fully restored. With
that view she sought her husband and went TO
thelr nome on North Charles street, but she WAS
unable TO find him and he refused TO see her. or
To permit her to enter their home.
by reason OF the continuous cruel conduct Of
MI Belt she suffered great mental and bodily
pam, SO that on February Is, SS5, she became
demented, and after due examination of her
eonaition oy PHYSICIANS at the request OF her
mother and other friends, she was sent for care
and treatment to an institution for the insane
at I'M M9r n, j., where she remained until
Mrs. Belt alleges, i'm conclusion. that she is in
formed that Mr.. Belt is the owner of the house
and lot No. lis North Charles street, in which
he resides, and that he has a large amount of
personal property, estimated to be worth from
gift was ever made by Mr. Belt. She therefore
asks that she may be divorced from bed and
board, and that proper alimony may be awarded
her.
THE HUSBANDS ANSWER
In his answer, which was filed on Thursday.
Mr.. Belt denies that he has been guilty Of
vicious conduct or Of any cruelty or unkindness
to her. MIR. Belt AYERS that at the time OF the
marriage he never had any reason to suspect
and in fact never entertained the thought that
she was other than pure and virtuous woman
lie met her for the first time i'm the summer of
1884 at a seaside resort. where she was residing
at hotel among people OF character and re-
spectability. Not long before he left home, In
January, for trip to New Orleans he received
anonym ously an account OF a scandalous affair
that had occurred some years ago i'm a hotel in
Washington. Mr.. Belt had never heard of it
before. ana as no names were mentioned i'm the
account referred to, he was at q loss TO know
why 1t had been sent To him. About the same
time, however, he learned that some ladies
whom he had known long time had expressed
purpose to decline 10 recognize Mrs. Belt but
for what reason he was not informed.
Mr.. Belt resolved to inquire into the occur
renee described I'm the anonymous com munica-
ton already mentioned, and to ascertain il
possible in what way IL could be supposed to
Orleans Mr.. Belt was informed Of the result of
the inquiry he had instituted i'm Washington.
ana Learned q mat MS own wife was the Woman
laid before him evidence that he could not
question, showing that Mrs. Belt, before her
marriage with him, had led a life OF inflmy,
and learned that he had been made the victim
of an abandoned adventures He then wrote
her letter, In which he said: "The terrible de-
ception OF which have been made the unhappy
victim renders the continuance of our marital
relations Impossible. and have determined to
put an end to them as speedily as the law will
enable me 10 do. 1 leave you now TO return to
my home, and under no circumstances can You
be again admitted to my house or be recognized
as my wife. You must return to your friends,
and to enable you to do so have placed i'm the
hands of my relative. Mr.. Charles w. Belt, who
Will convey it to you, sufficient means To defray
your travelling expenses and provide you with
a suitable female attendant to accompany you
to your friends"
Mr.. Belt states that she angrily refused to &C
cept any assistance from him, avowing her reso-
luton TO await the arrival Of her mother His
representative paid her expenses up to the time
she refused to receive further assistance from
him.
SHE PROTESTS HER INNOCENCE.
Mr.. Belt left New Orleans on the day he sent
the letter to Mrs. Belt and returned to Balti-
more, intending to institute proceedings for o
divorce as soon as process could be served on
Mrs. Belt While awaiting her return he re-
ceived several letters from her protesting her
innocence, and declaring her ability to yindi-
cate herself In none of these letters was there
the least indication Of mental alienation, and
early In February Mrs. Belt, still apparently
perfectly sane, presented herself at his home
The next day Mr.. Belt was surprised to hear she
had become violently insane. No opportunity
was afforded him to investigate the truth of the
lum at Morris Plains, n. j., from which institu-
ton Mr.. Belt received on February L., 1885,
6il for hef board and enp ef o for three
He states that the authorities of the institu-
ton refused to allow DIR. Van Bibbee, a physi-
clan sent by him, to see her, and he then
threatened 10 begin legal proceedings to ascer-
tain her mental condition, when he was served
with process i'm this suit and simultaneously
with the application for alfmony, and thereby
made aware that Mrs. Belt had recovered her
mind.
In conclusion, Mr. Belt admits that he is the
owner of the house No. 17s North Charles
street. but he denies that his means are from
$500, 600 to 5000 O0O as stated In the bill. On
the contrary, he AYERS that all the means he
has besides the house are invested in the bust.
ness in which he is engaged, and from which
he derives his support, the income huctuating
with the business. He has only awaited her
restoration to such a state as would enable him
to proceed against her for divorce a vinculo
matrimonii, and he will lay before the court,
by a cross-bill in this suit for that purpose
such particulars Of her life and conduct before
she became his wife as he is advised and re-
specially claims should in law debar her from
the relief prayed i'm her bill, and as he is
persuaded will fully justify him IN the
course he has felt constrained to pursue to
wards her.
The PrOfeSSOP.O Cat.