Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-01-14
A CONGRESSMAN SUED.

yesterday in the equity branch of the
District Supreme Court for alimony
and the support of his child, Edith, by
Mrs. Myra c. Wilbur. She alleges
that he abandoned her year ago last
year at Oneonta, n. Y, and that the
income of her property is now being
collected by her husband. She demands
the custody of the child.
In her bill Mrs. Wilbur states that
her maiden name was Crandall, that
she married Mr.. Wilbur at Sloansville,
n. Y, in 1882, and that one child was
born to them. She says that she has
always been faithful wife, and as
serts that in May, 1895, after pro-
longed period of intoxication on his
part, she was deserted by her husband.
Mrs. Wilbur declares that she is now
destitute of means. Her only property
consists OF half interest in the income
derived from $4,000 of four per cent.
West Shore Railroad Company bonds,
yielding her 81 900 year. The last
payment. So u ryes, was made Janu-
airy l, Low, ~ !! husband and his
brother, George Wilbur, and that it
has not been paid to her, although she
claims to have demanded it from them,
they receiving it as trustees for her
benefit under the will of their father,
David Wilbur.
In addition, says Mrs. Wilbur, she
owns house and a small stable in
Oneonta, n. Y, but claims that she is
unable to derive anything from the
property, through her husbands al
legged interference. And she asserts
that she also owns mortgage on prop.
erty in western State, amounting to
$500, but that she is unable to avail her
self of it because, as she charges, her
husband refuses to deliver to her evil
dence of such mortgage.
Representative Wilbur is represented
by his wife to be man of means. He
owns, she says, business block in
Oneonta worth about 5000, besides
other property there and in the vicinity
aggregating $5S, 900, and half interest
in the said $4,000 of railroad bonds.
By the will of her husbands father,
Mrs. Wilbur claims that real estate
worth about 100000 was devised to
the child, she to receive the same
when she arrives at the age of twenty.
two years, meanwhile the mother to
receive one-third of the profits there.
from. Mrs. Wilbur also charges that
her husband owns other personal and
real property.
Early last August, Mrs. Wilbur
charges, her husband withdrew the
child from her control, and for long
J period prevented any communication
! between them, concealing from her any
knowledge of the whereabouts of the
child. The 10th of last November Mrs
Wilbur claims to have learned that the
child was at school in that vicinity, but
was refused access to her and did not
see her until last Saturday, when the
child expressed desire to return to
her mother, and did so yesterday, vol
UNFAIRLY and willingly, says the mother,
the child now being with her and under
her control.
Mrs. Wilbur says she is now without
proper means of supporting herself and
child in manner they have been &C
customed and entitled to. She explains
that she fears. By reason of her hus-
bands prior actions, as well as by rea-
son of threats alleged to have been
made by him, that unless be shall by
the court be restrained therefrom, he
will attempt to take the child away
from her. Therefore, she asks for the
relief above set forth.
Judge Cox granted temporary re.
straining order, returnable Wednesday
next.
Mr.. Wilbur is one of the youngest
members of the House. His father
was in Congress several terms, and was
prominent as banker in New York.
Mr.. Wilbur said "This suit is SIM
ply duplicate of the action begun
against me by my wife in the Supreme
Court in the comfy of Onondaga, N
Y, last summer. AS soon as that suit
was filed 1 petitioned the court for q
change OF venue in order that the trial
might come Off in the neighborhood
where we were best known. The Pc
tition was granted, and the case was
removed to the county of Otsego,
which is the county in which Oneonta
Jour home) is situated. The original
bill filed in the county of Onondaga
contained allegations which have been
left out of tho bill filed to-day. ] an
swered the allegations of the first bill
seriatim and in full My answer
was dated November 10, the day on
which Mrs. Wilbur swears she took up
her residence in this city. As soon
as my answer was submitted to the
court, Mrs. Wilbur abandoned her
case. The allegations contained in the
bill, so far as they charge me with
abandonment, drunkenness and nom
support, are absolutely without founda-
ton. We have not lived together since
June Is, 1895. Two months before that
date made over to her absolutely a
house and lot worth $35, 600 She then
sent me word to stay away from her
house, as she did not want anything
more to do with me. Mrs. Wilbur left
Oueonta last winter, and rented fur
nished fiat in Syracuse. Last summer
she returned to Oneonta and lived in
her own house. Later Mrs. Wilbur
seems to have alternated between SYRIA
cuse, Washington and Oneonta. AS to
the charge that have refused to pay her
the portion of interest on bonds which
is due her, have only to say, as l arn
one of the trustees, that no demand has
been made upon me, and that the
money is due and payable in the Will
bur National Bank in Oneonta, and by
the terms of the will, as construed by
the other trustees. it cannot be naiA