The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-11-13
SHE WANTS ALIMONY.
That's What Leigh French's FORMER
Wife Says.

She Claims that Leigh is Rich NO" an"
She Wants Share of the Money
Brings Suit in the Chicago Courts an"
Mr.. French VIII Fight the Suit.
Portland people we'll remember the cast
of young Leigh French, son of Dr. oso'
C. French formerly off Portland, VINO
married very wealthy lady of Indian
apolis. This news now comes from Chi
cago:
Behind the application of Mrs. Nellie
Catlin French, of Chicago, in the Cook
county court, for alimony from her
divorced husband, Leigh II. French,
formerly of Minneapolis, lies romance
which takes in four lalge cities and two
continents and furnishes a remarkable
tale of love, law, divorce and marriage
About four years ago Mrs French be-
came Disguised with her husband and
commenced an action for divorce and
alimony in the Cook county court, alleg
ing an 1nfraotion of marriage vows. Dl-
vorce was promptly granted and Mrs.
French, free from her husband, took up
her home with relatives on Dearborn
avenue, where she has resided ever since
| AS French was without means. the APP
plication for alimony was not pushed.
soldier of fortune, French drifted from
Chicago to indianapolis, where he struck
it rich. Some time ago he became ac-
quainted wi th Miss Culberson, one OF
| family Of three children and heir to
fortune of $3 900 by her deceased
| father.
| Marriage followed after q short court
ship and the bridal pair skipped over to
Europe to spend the honeymoon and
have not returned. Instead. word comes
| that the groom has decided to take up
medicine as profession and has already
| entered upon course OF study. Wnen
| the ex-wife heard of the good fortune that
had befallen her former husband, she
bethought herself of the fact that she
might have claim still for alimony and
consulted with Dow, Walker & Walker
attorneys, with the result that supple
mental action based upon the divorce and
praying for alimony, has been filed IN
the Cock county court 1t now remains
with the judge OF the court to decide
whether French shall contribute to the
support of his former wife, who was
divorced upon her own request 1t is
understood that she has some means OF
her own but how much is not known.
Samuel K Dow, attorney for Mrs.
French, was seen at his home, 10 Aldlne
square 'tMy client has simply given
notice." said Mr.. Dow, of a supple
mental action for the purpose of obtain
ing alimony in her divorce from Mr..
French which was granted several years
ago. 1t is within the jurisdiction. of the
court to allow alimony in this case. Mr..
French has lately remarked and by his
second wife. l understand, has become
very wealthy. He is in position to do
what is right by his ex-wife, and should
do SO, in my opinion. If not, he can be
made to by law. l decline to say any
more on the subject and am not at all
pleased that the matter has become pub
lie"
French is about 80 years of age and
feet, 2 inches tall. He is an exceeding
ly ndnuSOIl6 HAL 6tuo udS O CoPbif1oiHS
way with women. His faith er was ply
sioian of large reputation i'll Portland,
Maine, before he moved to Minneapolis,
where he enjoys large practice. Young
French received a college education and
for several years worked on the Mime
apolis papers. While on trip to Georgia
he married Nellie Catlin, young woman
of some means. Their domestic journey
was over rocky ground, and his attention
to other women so racked her heart that
she secured divorce.
While it has not been known in the city
Just what form the Chicago litigation
would take, it was believed that there
would be some interesting developments
in the French Catlin part of the romance
within very short time. The suit there
fore, will not cause as much surprise as is
anticipated in some quarters. Lit is
equally we'll known that Mr.. French has
made arrangements with Minneapolis
attorneys to fight the case when it comes
I'D for trial. These attorneys could not
be seen la st night owing to the lateness
of the hour, but they are on record as
declaring that the claim of the Chicago
lady is simply an effort to blaekmail her
former husband into paying her some
money. They claim that she has no valid
Grounds for her suit and it is extremely
doubtful whether she will ever recover q
cont frnm the litigation already institute