The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1894-09-04
MATRIMONIAL PUZZLE
Pratt Married Although He Had
a Wife Living.
Says His Second Bride Knew Mrs.
Pratt No. |.
No. 2 Now Wants Alimony at the
Rate of $50 . Week.

Judge David McAdam. OF the Superior
Court, rarely expresses surprise by look
or word when cases OF an unusal ma
ture come before him. Bue he was sur
prised. and his countenance slearly be-
tokened 1t. when he heard the affidavits
pro and con read in the suit for
separation with counsel fee and alimony
at the rate OF $50 week brought by
Maggie Pratt, twenty years old. agains:
Spencer Charles Pratt, who Is In the
butter business with his father. s. T.
Pratt, at 80 Warren street, this city.
Lawyer Henry NJ. Heymann, who APP
peared for Maggie Pratt. opened the
case by asserting that Lawyer Isaac n.
Miller who appeared for Spencer Charles
Pratt. mad originally been retained by
Maggie Pratt, but had dropped the case
after serving summons.
MIR. Heymann then read a long afii-
davit, which set forth that Margaret
Einlay, who now claims to be AIRS.
Maggie Pratt. had married 3. &, Pratt
on June IA, 1882, in Bayonne, n. J.. that
she subsequently learned that Pratt was
already married man at the time oil
her marriage TO him; that In November.
1882. his hrst wife, May Ella kitche
Pratt, secured a divorce from him. nam
Ing Maggie Flnlay as correspondent
that fTatt mas since refused 10 nave the
ceremony OF marriage repeated between
them. and that he finally abandoned
her on Sept. ID, lss3. since winch time
he has refused TO contribute To her sup
port
Lawyer Isaac n. Miller. who appeared
Tor Pratt, then naue the answer which
surprised Judge McAdam. He read "a
sworn statement from 3. {. Pratt In
which Mr.. Pratt acknowledges his mar
rage to May Ella Richie on Feb. Y,
1884. He further says that Maggie FIN
ley was employed ny his father, 5. T..
Pratt, as "A stenographer and typewriter
at his place OF business, wnere he
worked as II clerk al 81 a week; that
Maggie Finley frequently saw May Ella
RitCnie Pratt in the store, and that she
knew her TO be his wife, that at the
time the ceremony of marriage was
performed IN Bayonne, ~ j., she Mag
gle Finlay) also knew that he was ii
married man.
AS Il further reason why no almony
should be awarded, >, G. Pratt swcars
| mat Maggie flnlay earns IA good income
as steuOgrapner; That she has been
port, the Consolidated Steel ana Wire
| Company, Waue Bradley and uy
| Hartley Granhm. OF 3l5 broadway.
where she Is nov employed, andw here
| she Is known as MaSslv tIniay or fln-
An affidavit was also submitted from
| Lawyers Howe ~ liummel to the enect
| that Maggie Finla" had retained them
on Nov. 10, 1893 to bring an action Tor
breach OF promise OF .narriage against
| -. e. Pratt, but that Ihe subsequently
abandoned the cotton.
| \ letter was also produced from
| Maggie tiu!ay To = q. fratt. in which
| Snr asks iOr money, hoping that he
will not be iucunvcnlcnced by comply
| ing with tn" request
| Lawyer Isaac y, Muller explained that
| his connection with the case was per
fectly honorable and aboy. board.
! Lawyer Henry y. Heymdnn- de
nOunCed Pratt rs a man who had throw II
| aside uouiilng and trusting glrl be-
| cause he now wanted 10 marry ms own
| COUSIN, Roberta Touu.
! Judge McAdam took the papers and
| reserved decision,
| The complainant is prtpossessing
! young woman, and brings the SUI,
! through her guardian, al litem, Peter
| Audrlutc, "A banker. fratt she asserts,
| mas an income OF S2u,pH year, ana
! lives AT III McDonuuRh street, Brooklyn,
| He alleges that he gets but "A salary
| from his father OF 50 week.