The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-11
A BLIGHTED SOCIAL AMBITION.
j. H., Aldrich Says His Wife Wanted
to He with the -Four Hundred

Joshua II. Aldrich, the defendant in a suit
for divorce brought two weeks ago by Flor
ence III. Aldrich, will resist the action of
his wife. Several days ago he filed an an
swer to the complaint, in which he denied
all Of the allegations. Yesterday he filed a
cross complaint, making a number of
charges on his own account. and asking
that the decree of divorce be granted to
him instead of his wife. The Aldriches have
been living in excellent style at No. $40
North Meridian street. Mrs. Aldrich is
about thirty years old, but her husband is
nearly twenty years her senior. Until re-
Gently Aldrich has held responsible po-
sition with the Equitable Trust Company.
Mrs. Aldrich, in her complaint for divorce,
made some serious charges. Cruel treat
ment was the principal allegation. AS an
instance of her husbands curious demeanor
she recalled an occasion when he came home
and found her in the room in company with
her child. She was teaching the little one
Sunday school hymn, but the sacred oc-
cupation failed to impress him and he
instances of his cruelty.
Aldrioh, in his cross-complaint. denounces
his wife numerically. He admits that they
they were married April IS, 1892, and lived
together until Christmas eve of last year.
He charges that from the time of their
marriage until their separation his life was
made unhappy. Much of this wretchedness
he attributes to his wifes consuming de-
sire to become member of the aristocracy.
When he married her he says. he had ae-
ceiving a salary Of $500 a year. At the
time of their marriage Mrs. Aldrich. the
cross-complaint says, was ambitious to
become a leader of the social circles of In
dianapolis. With that glorious possibility
in view she demanded that her husband
rent property on North Meridian street, and
70, ftrr fcb q h.
a style becoming that exclusive thorough
fare" Then there was another requirement,
the cross-complainant says, with which he
had to conform. IT was costly. but he
agreed TO ii. Mrs. Aldrich must be provided
with "a pair of horses and a carriage, with
driver in livery and she must each day be
driven along Meridian Street-north." She
further insisted that she should be dressed
in the latest and most fashionable style"
The cross-complainant, in order that her
ambition and pride might be satisfied. and
hoping to be able to please and satisfy her,
reluctantly yielded to her demands He
provided her with servants, he AYERS and
him on his trips out of the city. In his eff
forts to please her he spent much money,
and asserts that he is now $500 in debt on
her account and. in short, went broke
trying to make her happy. Finally, he says.
when his wife realized that she was not
rapidly becoming social leader" she got
very indignant at him and charged him
with being TO blame for her failure. She
openly declared that IF her clothes and
two horses and carriage had failed to gain
her recognition, it must be because Of the
cross-complainant's lack of taste and Gull
ture." Accordingly, as set out in the cross
complaint Mrs. Aldrich began a system
of abuse toward her husband that drove
him from her. The eross-complainant says
that early in their married life he took out
an insurance policy on his life in favor of
the defendant, allowed her $50 month"; pre-
scented her with a piano and sealskin cloak,
and with other valuable articles, which she
failed TO appreciate. He says that he has
resigned his position with the Equitable