The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-12-21
BULEN VENDETTA.
Laurin w. Burton Named
as Correspondent iii the
Coming Divorce Suit.
THREE OTHER MEN MENTIONED
latest Act in a Remarkable Story
Involving the Superintendent
Of st. Johns Sunday
School.


lor McGilI in Chancery Chambers. this
city, in a few days, in a sensational suit
for divorce. which revives the scandal
which panied society circles on Jersey
City Heights a few months ago, and
which led to some trouble in st. Johns
Episcopal Church, of which E. L. Stod-
dard is the pastor. The complainant is
G. Fred Bulen, who is suing his wife Car
RE for absolute divorce. There are four
correspondents, the principal one of which
is Laurin w. Burton, former s~uperintend-
ent of st. Johns Church School,. The
three other correspondents named in Mr..
Bulen's bill of complaint, which was filed
recently with the Clerk of anc in
Trenton, are William L. Saunders of
Plainfield, Alfred w. Kirkus of Brooklyn
and George s.. Smith of Brooklyn.
Mr.. Bulen was married to Carrie Du-
rand Fem on January Is, 1876, at Trinity
Church, Elizabeth. The ceremony was
performed by the Rev. McAllister, three
children being born of the marriage, all
dying in their infancy. Mr.. Bulen alleges
misconduct on the part of his wife with
Mr.. Burton during the years 1888, 1884, 1855
and 1886 in Jersey City, and in the years
1887 and 1888 at Tompkinsville, Staten ISL
and, and in 1885, 1890, 1891. 1892 and 1893
in Bayonne. Mr.. Burton is the only one
of the correspondents named who is
known to Jersey City people. Until the
story of his wrongdoing with the wife of
Mr.. Bulen was made public last June. Mr..
Burton was a member of the best society
of Jersey City, and respected by all who
knew him. For four years he was SUI
perintendent of st. Johns Church School,
and had the fullest confidence of the rec
tor, DIR. Stoddard. The news of
wrong doing came as a bombshell to his
friends, and they could scarce believe it
true. When all the details were. made
public, however, and he left town only to
return a few weeks ago, the story was
generally believed. Through all his trou-
bles, and through all the scandal at
taohed to the. affair, DR.. Stoddard stood
by Mr.. Burton. He still defends him, and
In conversation with a reporter for The
News, yesterday, he said SD.
81 am glad thai Bulen has begun suit
for divorce, as now the whole matter will
come out in it's true light. Bulen always
made it appear that Burton was the only
guilty one, and hat Mrs. Bulen was a
pure woman until she fell into his hands.
1t now developes. however, that there are
three other correspondents, and that the
whole blame does not attach to Burton.
The sooner the case is tried and made
public in all its details. the better. for
Burton will be cleared"
The story of the downfall of Burton is
remarkable. G. Fred Bulen is and has
been for many years General Su%perinten-
dent of the Automatic Fire Alarm and
Fire E~xtinguisher Company, and also SUI
perintendent of the inspection depart
ment of the Electrical Sprinkler Com
pany, of No. ALB Broadway, New York
City, He first met Burton in a boarding
house in New York in 1884. He secured
him a position in his ompany, and
worked him up in the concern until he
In the meantime he became quite friendly
with him and entertained him at his
In 1889 Bulen built a house in Bayonne
and went there to live. Burton was a FREE
quent visitor. Several times, Bulen al
leges, his wife asked him to keep Burton
away from the house, but he, thinking it
a mere woman's whim, neglected to do
SO. Bulen never suspected anything
wrong. until early in September of 1896,
when he secured a confession from Bur-
he had acceded to his wife's wishes and
had asked Burton to remain away from
ms home. From a friend he learned,
wishes, often celled there while he was
absent. On September 20, 1896, Mr.. Bulen
look Burton out Ito dinner to talk over a
matter for investment which Burton
wanted him to make for him. Bulen,
without knowing of anything wrong, and
merely wishing to satisfy himself regard
what his friend had told him, said to
BY the way. when did you see Mrs.
.0h, a long time ago" replied Burton.
How long?"
7 have not seen her since I promised
70 Keep away from your house.
Inere was something in the nervous
manner IN which Burton answered the
methods to draw him out.
on. pshawn, he said, in Response to the
last answer, that amt So"
Il have not been in Bayonne since
then" declared Burton.
Il know all about it,"
My do you ask?. ~nervously.
Now, don't. act like that. / know all
about it," replied Bulen, abiding to the
visits to the house.
Burton grew more nervous and said
.Wnat.s the matter? Is there %trouble?"
Il guess there is trouble,'g replied Blu
in my house."
what is it?"
Bulen thought to scare him and said
Divorce"
How long has that been going on. and
what nav | to do with it?" Burton want
ed to know.
The upshot of the matter was that Bulen
led him on by talking of an imaginary d.
yorce suit and by pretended KNOWLEDGE of
Burtonss guilt, of which he had formed
. suspicion from the latter's nervous ac-
until he iextorted from him a YER
pal confession. which later on he got him
70 reduce to VIZ iting as follows:-
Sept. 29, 1896.
| have no hesitation in putting in
writing a statement l nave just made
to you, that l nave repeatedly held
improper Citations with your wife.
Mrs. Carrie d. Bulen, on various occa-
slOns, notably in Pacific avenue on
Staten Island, and in Bayonne.
Before sig ming this, Bulen alleges Bur-
on said
This is going to be awfully bad for
ne IN case it is ever seen; won't you add
nat 1t wa 5 done before my marriage?n
No rsplied Bulen, that's a lie.S
p know it is said Burton, but it will
'e a teri ible thing for my family if it is
Bulen was afraid that Burton would
GU t of the signing, so he added that
s.ause. Shortly after this he had Burton
alschA ged from his position in the
,pfinF ler Company, and whenever he has
sttein s,ted to secure q position since that
Inc tEulen mas inteffered with his doing
%. lie has also bounded him unmerci. |
.uHy and published the story of his wrong
broadcast. He has often said that
ais one object in life is to make Burton
suffer.
Il am not afraid to kill him. he said.
! do not care to do it; there is more
satisfaction in torturing him.. l will
hound him to his desth-oh, not that, for
want to make him live and suffer. Il
that thus far l have been very
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