The times., 1899-02-13
THE sHUFELDT CASE.
The Defendants Statement of the
Mnttcr Pending In Court.


From what can be learned some inter-
esting developments may be looked for in
connection with the Audubon Shufeidt case
now pending before the Supreme Court nf
the District. The proceedings were Insti-
tuted last November by Florence Audubon,
formerly the wife of Dr. Robert Wilson
Shufeldt. to compel him to pay to her
$500 per year alimony allowed her by
the courts of Maryland which granted the
divorce.
On last Friday an order was issued from
Equity Court No. 2 allowing Dr. Shufeldt
five days in which TO file his answer 10
the complaint made by his former wife.
On account of the brevity of the order the
status of the case was not clearly set forth,
and in speaking of it yesterday DR.. Shu-
feldt said:
In the first place. in regard to the di-
vorce suit, my part in it was that OF de-
fendant and there was but one witness,
whose testimony was material to the issue
who testified adversely to me- / won the
trial before full bench in the Circuit
Court at Rockville, Md, where the testi-
mony of this single witness was thrown out
as a base fabrication, totally unworthy of
any belief The reversal of this decision
by the Court of Appeals was based upon
this perjury, and | knew nothing of Ii
until some time after it was over / de-
sire to have il distinctly understood that
this witness was not the plaintiff. Florence
Audubon. but another party put forward by
her solicitors. She was well known to the
late Judge Miller, of the Police Court
here who, prior to his death strongly ad-
vsed me to bring the matter before the
grand jury of the District. For the sake
of the parties concerned / avoided such
I,rtt and nf, .
taken to the Court of Appeals, was
obliged to await its finding, which was TO
the effect that an opportunity had been
offered TO commit adultery, therefore |
must have committed it, Il charge that
anyone might make against man left an
hour alone in room at his home with Il
| lady friend who had called to see him.
For nearly three hours this young girl
sat in the witness chair defending her
| honor against one of the most vicious
cross examinations | have ever listened TO.
only to leave it to the complete discom-
| future of her examiners. the admiration
| of all present. and completely victorious
| over her base accusers.
1T is now year ago nearly since l
came to Washington TO ask for justice in
these courts here and expose the felony
| from the effects of which many innocent
| ones have suffered There was nothing
| to detain me in Maryland. as | had prac-
| tically determined to part with my home
| there to meet the expenses of the courts.
| My voyage to the East Indies had moth
| ing whatever to do with any attempt on
my part to evade subsequent developments
| in this suit for which purpose the lawyers
| on the other side have persistently used il,
| and with the view of exciting prejudice
| against me. The plan of my going abroad
| was laid very shortly after | had Won the
| trial in the Circuit Court and did not orig
| mate with me. but was presented to me in
| the most unexpected manner by other par
| ties forming a foreign scientific expedition.
| and | was offered the position in charge OF
| the scientific staff The question of ali
| mony had never entered my head at the
| time.
| THE courts here promptly declined TO
| issue a ne exeat order in my case. and for
| very evident reasons; indeed, there was no
necessity for it, as | am here to bring the
| matter of this perjury to their attention.
| By the War Department, however. | have
| been confined to prescribed limits since
/, last November, and to report to General
| Shafter by telegraph in New York until
| the civil courts here had the opportunity
| to take action in regard TO alimony. This
| order went into effect without the sentence
| of Il court martial and | am informed that
| it is quite unique in the military history OF
| this country. AS retired officer living
| quietly here in the city, | was guilty of no
| military offence. or breach of discipline,
| and so could only obey it under protest,
, and | submit now to the orders of my su-
| periors, as is the duty of an officer of the
| army to do.
With respect to my charges against the