The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-01-28
KELSEY'S DIVORCE.
A South Dakota Court Frees
Him From Pretty
Kitty Acton.
END OF AN UNsAyoRY SCANDAL
How a Hasty Marriage Made Two
Lives Miserable and Wearied
the Public With Its
Consequences.

Clarence Kelsey, an ex-club and so
ciety young man, who is well known
in this city has obtained divorce from
his wife, formerly Kitty Acton, in Sioux
City, South Dakota He is now being
pursued by. his former wife, who declares
it win be her mission to keep him in
hot water as long as he lives.
Mr. and Mrs Kelsey were born and
brought up in this city, and We're well
known here. OF Clarence Kelsey, it may
be truthfully said, that he had host
of true friends. He was popular and
he was generous For many years he
held a responsible position in the Office
of the Tax Adjustment Commissioners,
under Clerk Denny Fowler. He was
SOBER industrious and ambitious. While
serving in clerical capacity in the Ad-
justment Office he met Kitty Acton, a
daughter of Joe Acton, at one time a
combination carpenter and politician.
Miss Acton was a brunette. She was
pretty and unusually attractive. She
possessed an active brain When Kelsey
met her ne was envied by host of club
boys He wooed and won her. The
marriage ceremony was performed by a
Brooklyn minister. Kelsey insisted upon
having their union kept a secret. He
did not speak of his marriage TO his
parents, and his wife kept her parents
in similar ignorance. Finally Kitty
wanted the marriage made public with
out any more delay. Kelsey objected.
His wife finally told her mother, and
she impaired the news to her husband.
Mr.. Acton had a stormy interview with
Kelsey, in which some slight mention
was made of a years blackboard for Mrs.
Kelsey. kelsey wouldn't pay it, and
matters grew more unpleasant daily.
Kelsey was called upon to answer about
twenty telephone messages daily, and he
finally decided to advertise his marriage.
The announcement appeared in the New
York Tribune" No one saw it until the
whole affair was published at length in
The Jersey City News
M'KELSEY'S TEMPER.
The young couple went to board in a
house in Wayne street. Mrs. Kelsey, it
IS said. showed her husband on one or
TWO occasions that she had temper
of her own and Kelsey finally joined
poker club. Important sessions of the
club kept him out late His wife remon-
strated and quarrels ensued. One pleas
ant evening after a heated discussion as
10 the standing of Their respective fami-
lies in the city, Kelsey pushed his wife
away from him and, she alleges, he
choked her At any rate, she threw her
self on the floor and set her powerful
lungs in operation. Her screams ruined
Kelsey's standing in the peaceful COM
munity of Mercer street and Jersey ave-
nue.. Christmas 1892 was approaching
when Kelsey one night embraced his
wife affectionately and told her to go
spend the evening with her mamma.
She went. In her absence, Clarence packed
up his belongings and at midnight, when
MS wife returned. he was well on his
way to Chicago. For two months his
wife tried to locate him. Two or three
of his friends who knew where he was
refused to enlighten her. She finally
found out his place of residence by means
of a letter which had been sent him by
a friend. Within a week Kitty was in
Chicago. She found her husband in the
employ of the Chicago Beef Company.
Her experience there. and the occur
rences at the company's office would fill
a book. She made it interesting for him
by causing his arrest in the Windy City.
Kelsey did not wish to ieopardize his
position with the Beef Company, and
THEY RETURN TO JERSEY CITY,
They returned to this city and
here she had him arrested once
or twice and then both insti-
tuted divorce proceedings. These
were abandoned and they decided to try
to live happily in Dover, N ]. Everything
went smoothly there untfl one afternoon
Kelsey alleges, he entered a restaurant
and found his pretty wife sitting on a
young mans knee. He struck everyone
within his reach. His wife was one and
her companion was another. Peace was
again declared. On the afternoon of Oc-
tober II, 1893, Mrs. Kelsey left Dover to
visit her mother, who had rented a house
on quiet Belmont avenue She was to
have returned that night but missed her
train. Kelsey did not know that and he
boarded a coal train which left Dover at
and arrived in this city about
three O'Clock in the morning. He made
hold at any cost He disguised himself
as a messenger boy and after a lively
encounter with his mother-in-law man
aged to to get in. She pleaded with Kel-
sey not to touch her daughter, who she
said was sick. Mrs. Kelsey says she was
sleeping with her mother Kelsey did
not expect to find her in that room, ap~
parently, as he passed it without locking
n. Rushing up stairs he searched al:
the rooms. Occupying a front room was
a young society man, whose parents lived
across the way. Mrs. Kelsey says the
young man slept there that night be-
home and no room for him. Kelsey dida't
believe that story, and 1arced an entrance
to the young mans room. There had been
so much commotion downstairs that the
young blood was about scared to death
When he saw a chance to escape he
Drofitad by it and ran into Belmont ave-
nue. in ms night dress. Kelsey, il is al
legged, fired two shots at HIM as he ran,
While Kelsey was doing the shooting
his mother-in-law had been no less ac-
tive She threw a lighted lamp at him
1t exploded covering him with oil. He
made his way down town and after keep
ing under cover for a few days went to
South Dakota.
MRS. KELSEY IN SIOUX CITY.
Of several gentlemen have been dragged
INTO the mire without the slightest oc-
casion. Mrs. Kelsey left this city two
weeks ago for Sioux City She was in
court when the decree was granted. When
Kelsey left the courtroom Kitty trailed
right along after him. She was on the
war path. He finally sought refuge in a
barber shop and subsequently hid him
self in a bath room. Klsty invaded the
barber shop and, 1t is saId, routed the pro
orietor at the point of her umbrella.
She was unable 10 find her ex-husband
She excited admiration by declaring she
would see to 1T that Mr. Kelsey never
married another woman. HIS friends arc
If the op Mon that he will handle m1tri-
nony with gloves in future.
Just previous TO her departure for the
7re-t N~- Tolrey had soraeN di s1culty
,ver board bill in which an effort wa.
ataue to attach her trunk. She got away
With the trunk by carrying il down Ber-
rem avenue with a little assistance from
Ter mother. The public generally will 80
loubt be glad that the troubles of Mrs