The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-05-24
THE ANGEL WIFE LEFT.
Vice Chancellor P1tney
Grants Mr.. Wilcox a
Decree of Di-
VOrCe.
QUEER FAILURE TO SERVE.
Servant Girl and Friend-Lunch
In a Beer Cellar-Juris.
diction In Doubt.

The divorce proceedings in the case of
Wilcox against Wilcox were concluded
today. They were begun yesterday
morning before Vice Chancellor Pitney
and the skeleton, in what might have
been a happy home, was paraded before
the public and direct accusations of per-
jury have been the result.
Marian L. Hendrickson, the daughter
of Nicholas Hendrickson, New York
business man, was married to William
Wilcox on November %, 1851, after very
affectionate courtshlp of five years. dura-
ton. Miss Hendrickson was at the time
teacher of a primary class in public
school. She filled this position to earn
money to enable her to complete musical
education. Her soprano voice was highly
cultivated and before and after her
marriage the charming young brunette
was in great demand for concerts and
she filled responsible position in the
choir of leading New York church.
Her husband was engaged in commission
business and was necessarily absent
much of the time from his home in an
elegantly furnished fiat at No. 245 West
Forty-sixth street.
THE SEPARATION.
In 1889, after number of petty quar-
Iels, Mrs. Wilcox on September 10 separ-
ated from her husband. She went to
Bayonne, and since then has lived with
an aunt. Mrs. Emeline Standish. She be-
gan proceedings for divorce from her
husband. He was not served with any
notice of the proceedings, although
his name and address were
in the directory; The case was referred
to Referee De Witt Van Buskirk to take
testimony in January. and it was then that
Wilcox, in an indirect manner. learned
of the suit for divorce. He at once en-
ployed Dickinson, Thompson & Nc
Masters to look after his interests,
and they petitioned the Court
to reopen the case, setting
served with notice of the suit. The
case was reopened and Wilcox filed a
cross bill charging his wife with having
deserted him. 1t was the trial of this
case that was begun yesterday and fin
ished to-day.
HoRRID MAN.
Mrs. Wilcox, very prepossessing
woman of about uhirty-four years, whose
black eyes flashed their indignation, re
lated yesterday story Of how Wilcox
had abused her, used vile language to-
ward her and had made much freedom
with Sadie Smith. half companion and
half servant in the house. She said that on
Oue OCChSIOH Shc lOuAu ucT uuSDauu Cldu
only in thin gauze underclothing4p parad-
ing before Sadie Smith after he had left
the bathroom, and on another occasion
when the sCreams or Sadie Smith
caused her to go to the dining room,
where she discovered her husband
acting in an unseemly manner with
Sadie. She also said that on September
10, in the office of his father, Wilcox
threatened to strike her. and would have
done so had not her fathers entrance
into the room prevented him. Sadie
Smith corroborated much that Mrs, Will
cox swore to, and on direct examination
told her story glibly When cross-exam-
ined by Counsellor Charles Thompson,
her story was not so connected and she
became considerably EN- barrassed.
Wilcox denied the allegations of mis-
conduct with the servant girl and told
the Court that he had not been
served with a notice of the
application nj for 1,, divorce made
Messrs Linn and Salter in not making
more energetic search for Wilcox.
ToDAY'S PROCEEDINGS.
Mrs. Wilcox was recalled today and she
testified that Wilcox on one occasion
struck her in the face and knocked
her head against a mantle.
said she sang at concerts and in church
choirs and also taught music, and that
Wilcox had demanded Of her the money
she earned in this way.
did you sing at n concert in Westfield
on February 8 last2" Mr.. Thompson asked
when he oross-examined her.
Eyes, SIR"
What time did you return to your
fiat?"
"Soon after twelve O'clock"
"Did you go straight homer"
Eyes, SIR"
"Whatl didn't you 90 somewhere before
you went homer
Eyes, sir; had lunch with some of
those who sang at the concert with me.''
Where did you lunchP
Hesitatingly-'T don't know where it
was"
Didn't you 60 down in the basement
OF the place on Broadway and Fulton
street known as Live and Let Live for
your lunchp"
Il don't know; we went into base
ment."
"And drank beeri"
II did not drink beer, and only went
there because l was hungry, AS soon
as the lunch was over l was escorted
home"
"Do you think this place proper one
for n lady to 60 to who parades her re-
spectabiliiy in COURT"
mo one but lady" (accent on lady
strong) could safely 90 to such places. %
When asked why she permitted Sadie
Smith TO live in her house after she had
discovered the conduct of her husband,
Mrs. Wilcox replied it was because the
woman was innocent and was her friend.
Sadie Smith recalled, testified that Will
cox on many occasions was unduly
familiar with her. lie had an especial
foudness for wrestling with her and trip
ping her up. Sadie said Indignantly that
she never encouraged these gymnastics,
and that she sometimes bit Mr.. Wilcox
for induleing In this pastime.
After some furthhr testimony In re.
buttal, counsel summoned up the case.
Vice Chancellor Pitney reserved decision
rs to hts jurisdiction, but granted the
divorce to Wilcox IL he had Jurisdiction.
BIG FLAT HOUSE ON TIE HILL