New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-21
compished full hour before ~ steamship
THE SEARS DIVORCE SUIT.
JOHN HUNTER NAMED AS CORRESPOND
ENT

TIE wELI.-KNowN RUBBER IMPORTER GETS \
DECREE AGAINST HIS WIFE.
Richard f. Sears. the well-known dealer and i'm
porter of Para rubber at No Broadway, obtained
a divorce from MS wife, Emma Sears on February
8, in the Superior Court. Judge Dugro granting the
decree.
1t is said for several years Mr.. and Mrs Sears had
not lived happily together While this fact was gen
orally known ii not known until the trial that
John Hunter, the well-known turfman WOMB DO
named correspondent. The name had been kept
from the public. and Mr.. Sears when asked EeS''i
day about the case. refused TO reveal his name anu
referred a reporter of The Tribune to his lawyer
Mr.. Sears occupies bachelor apartments IN the ~
pine at Broadway and Thirty-thiri-st. lie mas pe'
seriously i'll for time and IL sun ]" ioe''e
health. 49,
Mr.. Sears's lawyer was seen last His"' d, w
Palma club in Jersey City At first he Was DISH"
,I.I =, s,aal about the suit until the reporter
,,;l tho, no had been directed TO him by MI sears
Th,n the lawyer sad that the correspondent III '"e
case WAS John Hunter the Weh-Kho"h tuii'iaH
and that the intimacy had been gong OH lot he''S
i've wears Three years ago Mr. Sears became sus
,,cions The couple separated, the wife going TO
1.-Two in East Seventy-siXth-st where IL is said MT
Hunter was a frequent visitor The testimony OF
eor.a nj this trial the lawyer said was that OBJ
tanned after the separation. The divorce SUIT was
hequn last fall The testimony was all on one side
Mrs Sears was present with her lawyer. but OIL
fero5 no evidence in rebuttal. The chief testimony
besides that of the husband was given by servants
who had been in the employ of both Mr. and Mrs
Sears Mr. Hunter. who specifically named as
the correspondent did not appear at the trial Mrs
Sears is a prepossessing woman about thirty years
Old well educated and entertaining. Whether any
one besides Mr.. Hunter was implicated the lawyer
would not say, but he admitted that no name be-
sides Mr. Hunters mentioned in the papers
Mr. Scars's attorney requested that MS name DE
not mentioned publicly.
How sad il is to hear that venerable patriarch
of more than three score should deviate from the
path of rectitude and righteousness, But such IL
the case and the is John Hunter. OF the Old
Westcbester County family of Hunters The SHOWS
Of more than sixty winters have whtened his locks,
and to all appearances, his youth has departed
Even il he did sometimes smoke cigarettes Ike me
onc-haired youths that attend the college games
nobody believed that the celebrated clubinan was
slowly but surely destroying the happiness OF "A
home Alas the story is only too true, John
Hunter the eX-chairman OF the stewards OF the
Jockey club ex-presdent of tine Board of control.
ex-president Of the american Jockey club and
member Of the Union and other clubs, becomes the
correspondent in a divorce case.
John Hunter was. and. in the light Of re-
cent Developments may be considered a still
a sport From his early youth until IN" present
his sporting blood has manifested itself in various
kinds Of sport in which gentlemen engage. AS a
racing man Mr. Hunter began his career before the
war. d. II. Withers William x. 1ravers ana
John +. Purdy racing partners with MN AZ
various times His prominence turfinan caused
him to be elected president of the American Jockey
club when jerome Park still in It's glory:
When the New York Jockey club ovcrshadowei
Jerome Park and caused its gates To close. Mr..
Hunter raced in a small way. winning Il few races
pagone was the best Of his lot. Kentucky was
the most famous OF any and all Of the horses ever
owned wholly in part by Mr.. Hunter. When the
Board OF Control organized to manage and
control racing In the East II. II. Nuhcrs was
elected President. After the death OF Mi. winners,
llr Hunter was elected to his place.
The Board Of Control gigantic failure under
Mr. Hunters presidency and caused much OF N"
trouble that bcsets racing at the present time.
Racing men OF all classes called meeting which
resulted in the formation Of the Jockey club that
is now the governing body OF respectable racing IN
the East Mr. Hunter selected a. the chair
man OF the stewards. which Is equivalent TO the
presidency the chairman Is the presiding oniccr
of the body.
One season ended Mr.. Hunters career as chair
man He frequently threatened to resign. ana sent
in his resignation at the close OF the racing sea
son OF last year. His associates accepted his rcsig
ma ton and his relations with the turf as an official
were ended. owing govt and other causes. Mt
Hunter possessed extremely peppery temper.
He caused his associates much trouble A. he
fared up at the slightest provocation. and made
life a burden for the persons near him. There were
many persons. however. who believed implicitly ia
Mr.. Hunter. Notwithstanding his tabasco-likc tenn