Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-03-04
SEEKS FOR DIVORCE.
MAGGIE MITCHELL ENTERS SUIT AGAINST
HER HUSBAND.
She Makes Serious Allegations Against Him-Hs
Will Bitterly Contest the Oass-They Oouried
for Fourteen Years-Divsion Of Her
Wealth the Stumbling Block.

NEW YORK, March 2-To the thea
trical world, indeed, to the public at large,
there can hardly be a greater surprise
than will be called forth by this announce
ment that Maggie Mitchell, one Of the
oldest, richest and most respected of
American actresses, has entered suit for
divorce against her husband, Henry I.
Paddock, well-known real estate broker
OF this city. Their mutual disafection
has virtually separated them for over
year, Mr.. Paddock remaining in his Office
here, while his wife has continued her
starring tour.
Mrs. Mitchell began suit in the Chan
Gerry Court at Trenton, n. j., last October,
but it was subsequently Withdrawn with
out publicity. A second suit was yester-
day instituted by her in Jereey City. She
charges her husband with infdelity, and
a Syracuse woman, now married, but
who was single and a resident Of Toledo
at the time of the alleged Offense, is
made the the co respondent. The trouble
some relations are claimed to have Oc-
Cured about five years ego in the last
named city. Mr.. Paddock was there
travelling with the popular "FauchOn" as
her manager.
Mr.. PaddOck's friends sssert that he
will bitterly contest the case, putting in
claim for compensation as his wife's mana
ger. 1t is likely the affair will prove one
OF the most notable suits ever known
among stage people.
Miss Mitchell's estate is variously esti-
mated at from 5000, 600 TO 100000. Until
the separation her husband looked after
her property, and it is thought there are
complications growing out Of that fact.
An accusation OF enlargement IN her
love for her husband is made against Miss
Mitchell; and the members OF her travel
ing company, it is said, will be made wit
nesse TO support his counter case against
her. The pair have been practically un-
mated for d year, and about the time oil
the frat disclosures their daughter, Fan
chon Paddock, Was sent to Europe for
an educational stay. This fact caused
comment at the time, but the real
reason for it did not then come out.
Henry T. Paddock and Maggie Mitchell
enjoyed 3 courtship longer by far thanis
vcuchsafed to the average of lovers. She
once admitted that Mr. Paddock wooed
her srdeutly during period OF about four
teen years. He was young man OF excel
lent prospects and goc d family, a native OF
Cleveland, end f;rmerly in the hat trade IN
that city. They were married at the home
of relative in Troy, this State, October
IS, 1868, while Miss Mitchell was playing
in that city.
The Developments of yesterday afternoon
in the Jersey City Court show that Miss
Mitchell and her husband had failed 70
at their final meeting, add that
the suit she has so long dreaded had at
last become a matter OF record.
During the first conversation Miss Mitch
ell referred to recent big sale Of her prop
erty in Harlem, which she said she had
sold to a syndicate for SllO,OOO. Ihey
propose to erect on the site one Of the larg-
est theatres in America. She will not,
however, have any interest in the venture.
Besides holding bonds and stocks TO the
tune of six figures, she is the possessOr Of
a good bit of real estate hereabouts and
owns a handsome villa at Long Branch.
The latter is in reality her home. 1t ia
there she has fitted up an elegant and
luxurious retreat in which she quietly
passes the major portion Of her disengaf ed
time. She could with ease retire from The
stage and end her days in ease and COM
fort.
Yes, falling to reach PHI understanding
with Mr.. Paddock as l expected and hoped
for, will, of course, be compelled to inn
mediately resort to legal measures. Pc
cuniary considerations alone, 80 far as ]
know, stand in the way Of a settlement and
separation. | have frequently made him
fair and liberal propositions, but Mr. Pad
dock is DESTROYS of obtaining On amount
which | consider is much more than Is
equitable. am determined not TO pay II.
| also understand that he puts forth a
counter claim for compensation fer mana
gerial services afforded me for number Of
seasons. You know he directed my tours
some years ago"
1t is hardly 10 be wondered at, therefore,
that she proposes to guard her treasury
we'll from the threatened attack Of her hus-
band. 1t is not for herself alone that she
has thus piled up her income, either. She
has q son and daughter, TO whom she Is the
most devoted of mothers.
Fanchon Marie Paddock, her l9-yesrOld
daughter, is at present pursuing musical
studies in Germany, having been abroad
ever since her graduation two years ago
from Mt. Vincent convent here, where az
companions she had the two atep-sisiera OF
Mary Anderson. Fanchol's mother, it il
eaid, once intended her for the stsge, and
sought to have her take Lolita "a Der biz
trionic model but The girl, though com
panioDab'e, pretty and bright, lacks the
volatile temperament Of the stage SOU
brette, and indeed seems to have no spe-
cial desire for footlight fame The son,
Henry, Familiarity called Hairy, " IL IL
and is now tutoring privately at prOmi-
nent college near this city.