Evening star., 1897-01-20

of the defendants answer it was evident
that nothing could be more unpleasant
than the condition Of affairs existing in
the Wilbor family.
In his answer, Mr.. WILDER admitted that
he and Myra Crandall of New York state
were married on January %, 1882. He did
not know whether she was now a resident
of Washington, for during the past few
mortbs she has oscilated between Oneon-
ta Syracuse and this city.
The defendant denied that Mrs. WILDER
had always done her duty as a faithful
wife. On the contrary he described her
said that the fact that he had not lived
with her since May, 1895, was due to her
own misconduct. and was not the result
OF protracted spree on his part.
An action for separation and mainte-
nance brought by the wife is now pending
In the supreme court of the state of New
York.
Mr.. WILDER put in evidence a number of
incidents which have occurred during the
past few years, intended to show the char
acfer of the woman ard the unhappness
and embarra5sment she had so often occa-
stoned him. For one thing, he claimed that
during his necessary absences from Oneon-
ia on business she had. sold great deal of
his personal property for small fraction
or its real value The litigation following
such proceedings on her part is still pend
ing Some of this property he had been
able to get back, but there was a great
zeal or which he had never been able even
lected considerable amount of money thai
was due him and had spent 1t on herself
On one occasion, Mr.. WILDER claimed his
wife had got possession of one of his
monthly pay checks as a representative and
mad sent 1t back to the sergeant-at-arms
OF the House with the request that II be
made payable to bearer in order that she
might cash ii. To further the deception she
mao simulated his name by means of a
rubber stamp which made a fac-simile of
MS signature. In her treatment Of him he
averred, she was anything but a faithful
wife; on one occasion she had in the pres
ence Of other people spat in his face to
show her disapprovai of some small trifie.
10 others in the neighborhood she had re-
lerred to MIN as dirty low-lived hog and
whisky bloat." She hAd, the answer said
eaiumniated him in every way, and he had
frequently been compelled to leave the
house at night and to walk the streets in
older to escape from the crue. and inhu-
man treatment to which he was subjected
at her hands. Her sole desire seemed to be.
he said, to get as much money from him as
possible.
MI. Wilber further stated that many of
MS valuable papers were locked up in a
stronS box, to which his wife had the only
Key. He has often proposed that 1t be
opened in the presence of representatives
OF both parties as she says that some of
her papers are in it too. She would never
agree TO this, and he was unwilling to let
the box go into her possession, as he was
afraid he would have to go to law to re-
cover ms share of the contents.
Shown in u Photograph.
He submitted to the court photograph
of his home in Oneonta, which he trans
ferred to his wife. 1t was a handsome
residence, which, ne claimed, was worth
not less than $4,000, though she had al
ways referred to 1t as hovel. The minute
the transfer was made she ordered him
out. and would not even let him get his
library, insisting that all the contents went
with the house
Mr.. Wilber said that he had always
treated his daughter with the grea est
Kindness, and that when he and his wife
separated he told Edith that she might
choose which she would go with. She
chose to go with her mother, but August
3, 1885, she was driven from the house
because she did not sweep the porch prop
erly. Since then Edith had been at school
in this city, often visiting him at his hotel,
but never visited by the mother. Several
letters were read from Edith to relatives,
showing that she was not kindly disposed
toward her mother. November Is, 1885,
at the request of the child, he was ap-
pointed her guardian.
An affidavit from one of the teachers at
the Young Ladies' College was read, de-
failing the removal of the child from the
school by her mother.
Judge Cox was very brief in his decision
setting aside the temporary restraining
order and returning the daughter to the
custody Of her father. n Edith was imme-
to the school in lexington.