The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-05-17
ovaRMucH MorHER-1N-LAw.
The He.ress Whom Van Phou Lee
Married sues Him for Divorce.
From the Nelo York World

Married Sues Him for Divorce.
From the Nelo York World
Mr.. Yam Phou Lee has had some ex
perience of the great American mother-in-
law. and as a consequences he is about to lose
his American wife, the New Haven heiress,
whose marriage to him three years ago
caused something of a sensation. At least
Mr.. Lee charges all the trouble to the
mother-in-law, but Mrs. Lee, in an action
brought for divorce in New Haven, charges
him with faithlessness to his marriage
vows.
Mr.. Lee. need hardly say, is a China
man. Besides his marriage to the rich
American girl, he obtained some publicity
as one of the few Cinnamon to be graduated
from Yale College, and also as the author
of an article printed in the North american
RerielU shortly afterward entitled, 'Why
am a Christian" lie has since been con-
nected with various religious enterprises
among his people, and at present is the
editor of the Chinese Advocate, a Sunday
school paper published by the Chinese mis-
sion at No. "a Citation place.
YALE GRADUATE.
Mr.. Lee was graduated from Yale in the
class of 1887. He had been a pupil of the
Chinese educational mission in 1873, and
after returning to his native land when the
pupils were recalled by the Chinese govern
ment in 1881 he again came to America.
1t was on July 6. 1887. just week after his
graduation, that Miss Elizabeth Maud
Jerome, a granddaughter of Hezekiah Gill
bert of New Haven, was married to him.
Miss Jerome was well known in New Haven.
There is q Gilbert avenue named after her
grandfather, who died few years ago
leaving about $50. 600, of which she will
come into possession at her mothers death.
Naturally the marriage made a good deal
of talk in New Haven society. 1t seemed
to be a love match, however, and es Mr..
Lee had gained attention from the church
organizations he was in way to prosper,
apparently, without his wife's money. Two
children-a girl, now 2 years old, and boy
of 5 months-were born to them.
All went we'll enough until Mr.. Lee re-
moved from New Haven to this city, and
subsequently, went TO San Francisco, where
he was employed as clerk in the Pacific
Bank. He induced his wife to go out there
for few months, but she refused to remain,
and after her return to New Haven, Mr..
Lee says, Mrs. Jerome SO prejudiced her
against him that the divorce suit was the
upshot.
He returned from San Francisco two
months ago to take charge of the Chinese
Advocate, and since tue complaint was
served on him he has not seen his wife, who
is in New Haven with the children and the
mother-in-law.
TOO MUCH MoTHER-IN-LAw
When ] called on Mr. Lee yesterday he
told me that the charge was inhdelity, with
out, however, any specifications. His pict-
ure of his mother-in-law was rather picture
esQuely expressed in letter addressed to
the Rev. Joseph H. Twibchell, pastor of the
Asylum Hill Congregational church OF
Hartford, who married them, and who is
an old time friend of Mr.. Lee He let me
copy parts of the letter. After protesting
innocence of wrong doing, he writes:
81 plunged into the uncertain sea of mat
rimony without much thought, while my
blood was warm and l was flushed with
success, and confident that l could get along
somehow. But | reckoned without my
mother-in-law, from whose overmuchness /,
as we'll as many men, have suffered and am
suffering"
He says that his mother-in-law was favor
able to the marriage at first, but after ward
got the idea that he married her daughter
for money. Then, he says, she began what
he calls her "worlz of repression and sup
preston" He adds:
"Petty prosecutions and constant fault
finding almost broke my spirit and untitled
me for work.
''By the time the first child was born
things had grown so bad and had so little
money or chance of getting any that &C
copied an offer to work in the Pacific Bank
in San Francisco"
DILEMMA.
AS be was making 81, 800 year there he
wished to stay, but Mrs. Lee would not &C
quiesce. He explains the situation graphic
ally:
Here was dilemma. Wealth and for
tune, or at least competency, on the one
hand and wife and children with mother
in-law and poverty on the other.
''But my wife, dragged almost by her
mother, who hates me like poison seems
bound to be free, and SO have decided to
let the case go by default"
He then gives his reasons for that course
categorically.
81. do not want wife who does not
want me.
"2. l wish to avoid publicity. I don't
care to have my dirty family linen washed
in court.
"3 If / contest the suit may be charged
with mercenary motives. Some will say
that wish to keep hold on her money
(which have mo use for)."
~. have suffered SO much that shall
be glad to be free, no matrer how bad the
means to that end
IS. have not the means to support my
wife and children in the style she is &C
customed to.
&C. She would not leave a comfortable
home in New Haven to follow my uncertain
fortune
~ 1t may be that through much suffering
am to be free to do my country great
service Who knowsm
he closes with reference to himself as ga
poor, tempest tossed creature" The case,
he told me, was set down for hearing in the
New Haven courts yesterday. He hoped
the decree would be granted at once.
II will be glad to be free" he added.
What fool was to get married, any
how"
Tho Smallest of Twins.
From the Pittsblug Commercial Gazette.