The morning call., 1894-10-04
HER SORROW OVER
Mrs. StoCkwell Freed
From Her Husband.
JUDGE HUNT GRANTS DIVORCE
Conclusion to a Pitiful Story of
Wanton DeSertiOn
BY A ONCE PROMINENT ACTOR.
The GauZe and TinSel of the Stage
Shown Up-Ethei Brandon's
Cruel Sufferings.

A long-suffering woman has obtained
her release from misery and persecution,
and Mrs. Ethel Stockwell. better known
as Miss Ethel Brandon, the actress, has
been awarded divorce from her husband.
l.. r. SIockwell, on the ground of extreme
cruelty. The decree was made by Su-
perlor Judge Hunt just before the close of
court yesterday afternoon.
With this proceeding comes to a close a
history of bitterness and trouble that has
| more than once been presented to the pub
lie. On April of the present year a
story was published exclusively In the
columns of The CALL telling how that,
tired of neglect and cruelty, a popular
actress of the AlcaZar Theater was about
to seek redress from her wrongs, If not a
divorce certainly in legal separation.
TO this statement sO-called denial was
published in another paper, denial which
has long since been disprOve1 by the filing
of the divorce papers, and yesterday Oy
the granting of al absolute decree in favor
OF Mrs. StockwelI.
It was on December IL. 1885, that the
ill-assOrted couple were united in the bonds
of matrimony. The ceremony was per-
formed at st. Louis. Mo. Stockwell mar
ried his wife when existence was but
pleasant dream. He was an exceedingly
successful manager as we'll as clever
actor, and when be established comfort
able nome in San Francisco for his charm
Ing wife 1t was thought that the way of
the young couple lay through an avenue of
roses Stock well entered into partnership
with George Osbourne in the Alcazar The
alter, and for a time this place of amuse-
meDt held sway with the public.
Few who visited this resort will forget
Ethel Brandon, wife of StOckwell. and
leading lady IN the company. She was
universal favorite, and with her husband
formed the two great drawing cards of the
:heater. This was while the world went
very we'll with the Stock wells But the
good part didn't keep up, and then came q
time when losses fell upon the combina-
ton, when the partnership in the ola Al
cazar was dissolved. and when l.. r.
Stockwel, actor, sought fresh fields and
pastures new.
Soon after this Stockwell started the
theater on Powell street that bears his
name. The house was fitted up in gor-
geous style, good companies were engaged,
and for quite while "StOckwell's" was
all the go. In due time, however, the sea-
son came to an end, after which prices
were reduced, and with a stock company
the theater endeavoted 10 retain its pat
rdnage.
1t was about this time that rumOrs were
rife that all was not right between Stock
well and his wife, who was also his leading
lady. 1t was said that the vivacious nus
band, finding he was losing instead of
gaining money on the capital so kindly
loaned him by one of our leading million
aires, looked around TO fiud faulI with
some one, and began by abusing mis- wife.
1t YVES even suggested that StockwelI
preferred the abilities, if not the society,
of other women, and went so far as to
seek fresh talent from the Eastern States.
Anyhow, there was trouble, anu after
awhile l.. Il. Stockwell. actor, came to
grief with the Stock well Theater, bury
ing in its ruin the advances made by the
young m .liOnaire. Nothing daunted, how
ever, the intrepid actor started East with
a company. purchasing a play called
''Mane and Georgia." which was con-
spicuous by its failure The company