The evening times., 1897-11-24

Scientist George w. Smiley, who has beer
sued for limited divorce by his wife, Eli
zabeth l.. Smiley, has formula ted hisanswc
to the remarkable charges made against
him. The riling of the petition at the City
Hall has developed a remarkable case Of
hallucination or hypnotism which isalleget
| to have continued for aperiod . seven years
The wife attributes her misfortunes to
the exercise OF a strange influence, while
the husband characterizes her assertions
asthe result Of an unbalanced mind.
Mr.. Si.liley lives in severely simple
style. He is tail, well-built man, per
haps fifty.fIve years old. He has the
appearance and manner of student,
and his face is not unkindly. He is
well kno wn here as member OF the
Cosmos Clnb anu other scientific societies.
He has been connected with the scientific
work of taa Government in several "a
paoities at tlyarioUs times.
Mr.. Smiley gave to a reporter the his
tory of his rela ations with Mrs. Smiley for
the thirty-sev years he has known her,
and also disclosed the answer he will make
To her application for divorce.
Mr.. Smiley declares that his wife is In
a condition of nervous and mental disor
der, nearly allied to insanity, and that ut
times she H. actually the victim of acute
Authorizations. He says the accusations
of his undue or occult Influence over her
are purely figrnents of her Imagination.
The charges that he has misappropriated
her property, lie says, are entirely without
foundat ioE, as lie will prove by document
ary evidence.
Il will state in my answer" Mr.. Smiley
said, THAT thirty-five years ago when Mrs.
Smiley was fourteen years old, and for two
years thereafter, she was corrected for
small faults in an unwise manner, al1 tie
effect of this was serious derangemsnt
of her nervous system, which has contin led
to this time.
''Sle lived alone in a small New Eng
land village after that until seven years
ago. | was OF the opinion that this life
was aggravating to her disorder. She
would have nothing to do with any VI her
relatives, even with her brother, who also
lives in New England.
''In 500 proposed to her that she come
to Washington and live with me. l hoped
that the change of scene, meeting my
friends, reading, studying, drawing, Tor
which she las talent, would help her
troubles. She replied that there might he
UnfrienGly criticism If we lived together
and suggested that we be married.
This marriage was not contracted, how
ever, until a carefully prepared ante-nup-
tial agreement had been signed by Us.
This agreement is still in existence. 1t
provides that there will be separation at
any time that either of us desires it. 1t
provides tnat the maintenance IF Mrs.
Smiley shall he entirely out OF the income
from her own property. Further, there is
u provision thu her property shall be under
my care.
In accordance with this antenuptial
agreement there was a separation two
years ago. Mrs. Smiley and were both
entirely agreeable 10 this, and there
was no cOiupu!sion OF any kind on my
part. she requested in writing when
We separated that | would continue to
care for her property. This did, and
iuy accounting viii Ire perfectly clear AMI
satisfactory.
TIE property was in my name, but
this was also in accordance with her
request As is Slateu III the biii- uiu
borrow money from her before and after
her marriage hut it was all paid back.
'Shc had 81, 500 drawing per sent,
and borrowed it from her at per
cent. We dId not live up to our agr.e-
iuent az Ia Mrs. Smiley's expenses being
paid out Of her estate. l paid all Of Ter
expenss, alwaN1, including those OF six
months trip iu Europe.
Mrs. smiiey's peculiar. vague charges
of an influence Of sCme kind that / ain
supposed to have ever her are easily dis
proved. The condition of Ter mind can he
illustrated ny many instances, as those
who have lived with us can testify.
''She told me three weeks ago that sh.
was dissatisfied with my mana cement
of her property and wished me to deed IT
back to her and let her control it abso- |
lutely. The reason she gave was that
she had seer her dead father the night |
before, and that he h ad told her l was
defrautlIng her. |
Il have bad living at our house since
our marriage several young men wnG |
were working with me. She has accused |
them all of making love to her and acting |
Improperly. on two occasions she has |
made physical attacks ON people for Lo
cause whatever"
In her petition for separation Mrs. |
Smiley declared that for some time prior |!
10 their marriage. which took place here
IN Arril II, 1890. her husband had I'm
noculated her with ideas not in accord
ance with modern civilization, and such
was the influence gained over her mind
that before and during coverture she
saw things only in the light in which he
presented them to her, rarely exercising
her own Judgment, SO much SO that she
would put in writing requests to him to
10 many things utterly at variance with
common sense, as well as admissions re-
,artling her own conduct"
She Sa Us that for some months past
lie has pretended to assume that such
hings as she has admitted in writing
we're valid reasons for sending her away
lnd threatened to make use Of her written
C1, l o1J i, |