New-York tribune., 1898-09-17
MISS RUSSELL'S MARRIED LIFE.
HER LATEST HUSBAND FOUND HER TOO
FOND OF POKER.-TIlS SUIT FOR DIVORCE.

Lillian Russell IS too fond OF poker. and 1t was
thar which caused the suit for absolute divorce.
her husband John Chat;erton. who IS professionally
known as Perusinl. testified before Master IN
ChancArv Washington B Williams. in Jersey City
Yesterday She ana Chatterton were married IN
January 1885, by Justice Moer. OF Hoboken They
lived together for four months. and then parted
II was not until the husband got into the witness
chair tha. this cause of the quarrel was made pub
lie He also intlmated that p.que rendered fruit
less all oyertures TO effect reconciliation. be-
cause after the separation hs received greater ap
plause a, the performances than his wife.
signor Perugini Instituted a suit for absolute
divorce in the New-Jersey Court OF Chancery on
the ground Of desertion. HIS wife filed counter
suit alleging cruelty Her story remains 10 be
told and the case for the petitioner mas not been
closed Chancellor McGill. 10 secure as much
secrecy as possible and avoid the public hearing in
the open court referred the case 10 the Master IN
Chancery. Few were present al the hearing. Inc
husband was represented by Mr.. Redding Of New
YORK and Messrs Wall and Green Of New-Jefsey.
Mrs Cha,terton's interests were looked after by
Corporation Attorney Minturn. or Hoboken
signor Perusini was the first witness Afier tes-
tifying 10 the marriage, he sac; we HVed very
happy together untli me season oYs"eu ana we we
went on the road We played toeetneE' sAe as the
.,ucc1ssfyi iour ana everything was pleasant unul
we reached PnilaGelpnia. wnen my wife rebe..ed
Come home to our hotel after the performance and
Insisted on playing poker uh'!I CLOCK IN TIE
When asked with whom his VIE played poker
no replied with other members OF the company
| demanded that that sort OF conduct cease iOrtn-
win as there were some ladies IN the company
Gid not care to have my vile associate wih she
refused listen 10 me ana asserted ner right 10
a., AZ she pleased We had many QuArIeIs, ana
NV wife left the hotci at which We were staying
and went 10 another hotel. after te.HnS me sac
would never i've with me again. We played 10
eetner all that although the newspapers
w.rs filled with comments aoout our separation
The public sympatniZed with me and received me
with great applause. while my vile was treated
very oddly hy the audiences. This fact so excited
and agltated her during the performances tnat II
was with difficulty the management restrained her
from breaking her contract. While on the stage
and between the acts would speak kindly TO her.
hut she would not answer me. When me season
closed she became H. and sent her bouquets ana
prescnts and also ner a letter, begging her
10 return TO me. She neither answered the letter
nor acknowledged the receipt Oh me presents.
have not seen her in four years. nor have heard
from her except through friends"
D!gby Bell testified tha. he was member or the
same company, had known Mr.. and Mrs Chatter-
ton for many years, and endeavor.d 10 or!nS apout
q reconciliation. but was not successful. tie sal1
that when the season closed at Newark. and as
the curtain fell on the last act. Mrs Chatterton
fervently exclaimed, Thank heaven, that's the
end of this ordeal. the end OF him (meanng her
husband). Mr.. Bell explained that this eXclama-
ton was prompted by the treatment that had peen
accorded her by the public.
Mrs Kate Byron. wife Of Oliver Doud Byron;
testified that II was not uncommon for actors and
actresses who were married to play in the same
company, and. although they we're frequently sepa-
rated for a by procuring engagements IN
different companies. that they returned TO each
other AT the end OF the season. on cross.examna. =.
ton she enumerated many happy marriages OF
actors The hearing will be resumed next Thurs