The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-12-12
A Woman Well Known in Florida
COI- PHYFE'S ANSWER TO HIS
WIFE'S SUIT FOR SEPaRA-
lion.
When He Had $4,000 n Year He
Was All Ri hT, but when He Had
Nothing She Had No Use For
Hin-A Charge Against Her.

speculator, real estate agent and insur-
sance broker, was the defendant in a suit
for separation brought by his wife, Sarah
Phyfe, which was opened for trial before
Judge BoOkstaver in the Equity branch
of the Court of Common Pleas. Col.
Phyfe is about 80 ears of age, tall, and
of commanding appearance. His wife
Is a brunette, with fine eyes and grace =
iul figure. She IS about - years old
They were married in September, 1863.
Their one child, daughter, il now mar
ried. Mrs. Phyfe's unhIppine-s began
about tour years ago, when. she saws,
her husband neglected 10 contribute to
her support. and finally, in April, 1885,
he abandoned her. These are her grounds
Tor "A separation. : ,e asks for allmony
and counsel fees
Col. PhYfe declares that he provided
for her as we'll as his means would al
low, and charges that she abandoned
IA IN, in that she ordered him from Il e
house, with the infurm4rion that she
a a not desire 10 see him again. He all o
accuses her o. undue intimacy with Har-
rison Gordon.
Mrs. Phyf. testified that after Ter
marriage they resided at 226 West Forty
sixth street.
p.-That was a welding present from
your hush and, was It not: Alt was.
bIt | had To give 1t up, as IT was sold
ttt- tit a -tliB
,ePueutly.
Inen She told of hyr married life spent
in b bIariing houses IN West Fourteenth
street. in one of which herself. daughter.
and "A Miss Lillian Lock wood occupied a
large front room. Three young NIrgini-
ANS, Harrison Gordon, William J. Phil
lips. and Robert Il Henry. occupied the
back room. and C-l. Ply fe "A hall bed
room. After Il time their relations be-
cIme pleasant, and resulted in young
PhIrlips marry ing Mas Phyfe. One day
Gordon. while ont driving, had his leg
broken by ms horses running away and
throwing him ON the ground. He was
confined To the house for "a long time
Mrs. Phyte attended 10 his wants at
times, but only as ''any kind hearted
Iaiy would 10 a gentleman friend" She
denied that she had ever acted Improp-
erly with him.
Q.-Wa4 your husband lavish tn YOU:
A--Not very ne never gave me over
800 worth of ieweIry.
Q.-Huw did your husband abandon |
you: A.-The proprietor OF the Madison,
IN Fourteenth street, where We boarded, !
nut him ont because he was behind in |
his board bill.
Odd hc invite you TO 20 with him: |
a Not at all; he left without a word. /.
Odd he supply you with funds for !
your future wants! A.-B, no means
subsequently / went to .Itcksonviile, |
Fla Tor INV health.
Miss Lockwood, being called as A wit |
ness, begged tn be excused, but her re- /
quest was denied. Shc told of the board. /
ing houses in which they had lived, and /
SAID that IN several instances therr room 1
and that ~ the three young NirginIans /
connected by door.
g Did Mrs. Phy fe ever 20 out with !
Mr. Gordon: A.-Ges, she did, but ONLY /
tu 90 To church.
Q.-Did Gordon ever 90 into Mrs.
Phyfe'S room eIt diNiiojjNc A.-Never,
sir.
q. tcross- examination it not a fact |
that wherever Mrs Ply fe struck her tent ,
these three young men also appeared j.: /
A.-Nes.
Q.-And they all had rooms ON the
same floor: A.-Nes (softIyJ.
Q.-Did It not occur u you that there |
was something singular in all this A.
Not at all We We're all very friendly.
Air. Phillips was examined, and admit |
ted that there was some fr,e,ioIn between
his mother -in-law, Mrs. Phyfe. and Cor /
don which was not Iu accordance with 4
ms ideas Of propriety.
Upon cross examination ne was asked: |
E" on are good Young man, AMI | I
presume came home at = O'Clock every
evening
Al was not an old rounder, like Col. ,
Phyfe.
occasionally A.-lcs, but not very
often.
Then Col. Phvfr was called to the wit
ness chair. when hc married ..tbis
woman, he said. he had AN income of .
from $50 coo To $40. 900 year. lie had
been III tine insurance business in mining
operations, a real estate agent. and had
also Spccuiated in Wall street. lie kept
horses aud carriages then. but now. ow-
ing TO business TevcT>cS. he had lost
everything. had no business, and was,
without any income. Then he lived in
the house which he gave To- his wife as a !
wedding present at a cost of $50 600: now
hc occupied hall Room and wears his
oil clothes. or such rs ne can procure
from any tabor who may trust him.
III" declared that he gave his wife fuIy
$1,000 worth oI presents III the shape nt ]
lewelry. She became very eXtravayant
AMI ran mp large bills at Stewart : and (
other houses until he was obliged Ia .
write to those houses directing them not
1" trust her under any circumstances.
after had lost everything" he con- /
ttnued. and could not pay my bills. she /
told me that | was no gond and better I
get ont of the house. For about two
years she refused tu speak To- me except :
on rare occasions. Her language was
harsh. She once tnid m, to "a +, the
devil
"On" morning, added the Colonel. Il (
= Gordon 20 into my wIft'S room and
kiss her. was very much di-pleased. /
That evening ON my return home Gordon
was again IN her room. lie made some. J
insulting remarks. and called him a
-- and instantly drew my pistol
y man named Carol knocked up nv
arm and took away my pistol.
9 What were the habits of your wife.
rs TO drnkina: A.-She could n drink
much.
col. Phyfe went on 20 saw that one
evenirE gent efran took his wife to the
theatre. and upon their return they SAT
IN the pIr!ur until - o'clock i'm tb,. morn