The San Francisco call., 1896-03-06
Has Brought Action for Divorce
in the Superior Court From
Mrs. MaTceau.
]. H. MALoNEY CORRESPONDENT
Review of the Military Union and
the Subsequent Animated Career
of the MarceauS.

The Palace Hotel was the scene of a sem
sational tumult at 2 o'clock this morning
Loud voices, the slamming of doors and
hasty scampering in the corridors alarmed
the guests on the second floor of the cara
vansarv Instant investigation followed,
when it was discovered that Colonel Theo-
dore c. Marceau, well-known pho
tographer, had made raid on his wife's
apartments and gained possession of his
bow. aged 2 2years-Theodore c. Marceau Jr.
The photographer, in his rush to get pos
session of the child, was so positive that he
saw in his wife's apartments one J. ID.
Maloney, a borseman and gambler, with
whom his wife's name had been un-
pleasantly coupled, that he went as soon
as daylight did appear to consult his coun-
sci, Messrs. Patterson & Rodgers. The
result of the consultation was the imme-
date fling of suit for divorce and for the
custody of the child. The complaint dis
tinctly alleges the infdelity OF his wife,
and mentions Maloney as the co-respon-
dent.
The story told at the law Office of Pater-
son & Rodgers, where Marceau passed
most OF his time yesterday afternoon, is
interesting, and may be accepted as the
injured husbands version of the marital
troubles.
When Colonel Marceau and Widow
Amanda ]. Fiske of Fresno were married
in 1891 at the Sea Beach Hotel, Santa
Cruz, the colonels worldly possessions
consisted of available cash, and his brides
property was chiefly lands and Fresno
city property heavily incumbered by mort
O. n in
efforts TO foreclose mortgages and secure
money by attachments that the colonel
had to put up as first payment 14.0OO.
He has since been paying out to save his
wife-s estate, until the payments now
aggregate 200. At various times he
sought for settlement, and even agreed
to settle on the basis that she should
simply repay the money that he had paid
from his own personal estate. She re-
fused to make any settlement, but held
fast to all the property, which is supposed
to be worth $250,0O0.
About six months ago serious disagree
ment took place and a separation ensued.
Friends, however, intervened and some
kind of a reconciliation was patched up.
The truce was not lasting, and so two
weeks ago the colonel left his sumptuous
apartments in the Palace Hotel and estab-
lished bachelor quarters in the Phelan
building, where he conducts the business
of taking pictures.
The colonel's absence from the domestic
circle in the Palace apartments did not
compel him to renounce all of his obli-
cations as husband, for he continued to
pay his wifes hotel bills. As measure
of precaution to avoid the payment of un-
necessary extras he scanned the numer-
Gus items of the accounts and found that
a great quantity of champagne had been
consumed and large number of cigars
smoked. The colonel, whose intellect was
then unusually clear, and whose per-
spicacity was fully aroused, reasoned in
stantly that the consumption of such an
unexpected quantity of wine and cigars
indicated the lavish entertainment of gen.
tlemen, and SO his suspicious were excited.
About this time Mrs. Marceau's maid
brought him intelligence that his boy,
Theodore, was being neglected. Other
tidings were conveyed by the maid, Sophia
Brown, and her husband. 1t was reported
that Maloney's S attentions to Mrs. Marceau
were causing whispers of scandal in the
hoIel. The colonel thereupon resolved TO
rescue the child and find out for himself
the true status of affairs at the Palace. As
cending with the maid, the maids husband
and two friends he visited the apartments
on the second floor of the Palace early this
morning. He was admitted by side en-
trance and enabled to get the child. He
was sure that he saw for an instant through
the open door of his wife's apartments that
some one was there with her. Watch was
maintained until 10 o'clock this morning,
when, according to the version Of the
watchers, Maloney emerged.