The morning call., 1894-12-21
GROSS NEGLECT OF A WIFE.
For Eighteen Months He Has Not
Provided for Her.
ACCORDING TO HER OWN STORY.
She Will Resume Her Maiden Name
and Exc Out an Existence
Upon the Stage.

a suit has been commenced Ia the Supe-
rior Court in which a prominent lawyer
of this city is made the defendant. The
attorney in question is Frank F. Free
man, whose wife seeks divorce on the
ground of failure to provide.
The story of the trouble leading up to
the suit, the complaint in which was filed
with the County Clerk yesterday, shows
up an oft-told tale of heartless desertion
on the part of the gay young lawyer. The
defendant, freeman, is a son of A braham
G. Freeman, the well-known attorney and
head OF the law firm of Freeman & Bates.
Frank Freeman has only recently been
taken into the firm, which now reads
Freeman, Bates & Freeman.
Young Freeman married his wife, a
Miss Mary A. Spafford. ten years ago. and
there are two children as issue of the mar
rage. There is girl aged and boy
aged years. For long time everything
appeared to go happily with the little
menage, Freeman being studious we'll
read man, and in no wise, apparently,
being calculated to bring about such a
state Of affairs as has led to the present
suit.
The defendant attorney gained some
statistics, and for some time has been get
ting out the periodical lawbooks issued by
the Bancroft Whitney Company. Frank
Freeman has gained other distinctions
as an ardent card-player, being one of the
most prominent as we'll as enthusiastic
mem ers of the San Francisco Whist
Club. When that society is in session the
circle is not complete without the presence
of Frank f. Freeman. In addition to all
this Freeman is addicted to purple and
fine linen and has the reputation of being
quite swell in his attire
All this is very well, but according to
the story told by Mrs. Freeman the master
of the household of sudden developed
symptoms of by no means domestic
nature. The upshot of it all was
that in July Of last year Frank
T. Freeman refused to abide any longer
with the mother Of his children and left
the house. Since that date Mrs. Freeman
has received nc support of any kind from
her husband, and would be about starving
to death had il not been that she brought
into requisition such talents as she DOS
sesses in the way of gaining livelihood.
Mrs. Freeman has for the past two
months been engaged at Stockwell's
Theater. She possesses some hstrionic
ability, aud she sees in that her chance to
keep the wolf from the door without the
aid of the man who is legally bound to
support her. She is even now engaged in
rehearsing part in a piece to be produced
at Stock wells ON Monday next. But she
does desire to be rid of her negligent hus-
band, and for that purpose has brought
this suit.
The children, boy and girl, are at pres
ent staying with their grandmother 10
Sacramento. Mrs. Freeman. though nat
urally attached to them, brings no claim
to have their custody awarded her. She is
content to live apart from them. especially
as her husband has intimated that he
will provide for them. She will live alone
and do her best to earn livelihood in her
adopted profession.
Nor does Mrs. freeman demand any ali
mony. Her husband is known, at least
supposed, 10 be well endowed with worldly
goods, and it might reasonably be supposed
that some comfortable provision for the
deserted wife would be sought for in the
event of decree dissolvng the bonds of
matrimony. But, as stated before. all that
Mrs. Freeman desires Is that the court
as she likes, untrammeled by chain that
links her to a man who has grown weary
of her.
Attorney John M. Chretien, who filed
the suit on behalf of Mrs. Freeman, states
that his client had no recourse but to
bring this proceeding. So far as his client
has informed him there was absolutely no
ground for Freeman's desertion of his
wife. She was always loving and affec
tomato, and their two children, now half
grown up. might have been supposed to
bind them together by an inseparable tie.
But this has not proved to be the case, and
Mr.. Chretien received instructions from
Mrs. Freeman to make no sort of demand
whatever 10 the complaint that he drew
up for her save that the irksome bonds of
matrimony be dissolved.
1t is said that Frank f. Freeman will
not contest the suit. In that case decree
of divorce will follow as matter of
course. Frank F. freeman will continue
to write law books, play whist and act the
part of Beau Brummel in his attire, while
his wife of ten years standing will strug-
gle for an existence before the footiights
as Miss Mamie Spoffnrd