Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-17

= ~ W W. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ W w VT w
cannot but help gain for her the sympathy
OF every fair minded person. Sorrow was
first felt for her when the announcement o.
her suit for divorce from Robert Taber was
interpreted to mean the ending of a rare ro-
nance OF the stage, closed in consequence
of temperamental differences which advised
a separation. But the sorrow OF the play
going public has given way to indignation,
aroused by the revelation that for three
years the charming young actress has been
silently suffering under burden of cruelty,
indignity and neglect, which would long since
have broken the spirit of woman of less
force and balance. According to the afii-
davits read last week in the little county
court at Stowe, Vt. her husband had been
jealous of her success almost from the be-
ginning, and, surrendering to an uhgoverna-
BILE temper has beaten her and eventually
cast her off. Miss Marowe's deposition told
Of her marriage to Taber in Philadelphia on
May 2S, 1894. Her real name was Sarah
Frances Frost They went to live at Stowe
VT and that was thereafter their home when
they were not travelling.
Until March, 1896, their relations were
reasonable and normal" Then they were
in Providence, R. l., preparing for a New
York engagement mutual friend sent
some press clippings-advance notices in the
New York papers.
~ was mentioned more than he was" said
Miss Marlowe land he showed his dislike
| to that by hurlng glass at a mirror and
breaking it."
In the fall of 1896 they were in Atlanta,
, Ca, at breakfast together, when Taber lost
his temper and, selling the tablecloth, threw
all the dishes in the air. In Salt Lake City
during the same season he became enraged
in his wife's dressing room one night and
seized her by the throat. Her maid, Mary
Daily, interfered and he turned on her, to).
This lasted quite a few minutes" testified
the actress, "and l was terribly distressed
and physically united to give my per-
formance, although did go on and managed
to get through"
1t was not until January 1897, that Taber
adopted a moro refined mode Of torture. He
would not notice or speak to his wife for
days at time. little later he left her to
go abroad and join Irving's company. In
the spring Miss Marlowe started for Europe,
intending to meet him in London. She had
written several letters to him and receiving
no reply finally sent a cablegram but he
ignored this as we'll. Reaching Liverpool,
She found a telegram saying that he would
meet her in London She arrived at the sta
tion at 1 o'clock in the morning and he was
there, but it was only after the Sntreaties
of his wife that he consented to take her to
his apartments. There he brusquey told her
he had sent word by his brother that he did
not wish her to come to London and that
'all was over between them.
In consequence of this Miss Marlowe was
prostrated for a week. 81 never can have
such scene as that again." she says in her
affidavit. II never can have such dreadful
sensations as / had at that time. 1t was
a great blow" She wished to leave his
rooms, but he urged her to remain "for ap-
pearances sake" and she did so until she
was able to take her maid to Paris. Will
ing to forget Tabers brutality if he would
consent to a reconciliation, she pleaded with
him by letter to come to her. but he stead
fastly refused. Eventually he came to Paris
to see some friends and remained there sew
eral days, but he insisted on stopping at an
ether hotel telling her that he did not con-
slider her his wife and did not want to live
in the same house with her
in the fall OF the same year Miss. Marlowe
made another trip abroad. She went direct
to Scotland, remaining there four DAYS; then
to London and Paris and finally to Givereny
Switzerland. There Taber Joined her in the
latter part of July and 1t was then that all
semblance of marital relation between
them ended. He returned to London and
she to America. They travelled to Havre in
the same train and even then she begged
him to see her off on the steamship, but he
refused Since then he has not provided for
her in any way. In fact he has, according
to her statement, never made. any substan-
tial provision for her; never asked her II she
had any money or IL she required any, al
though he knew that her health had been
poor.
81 have played" she said, "when it has
been a considerable strain upon me and
nothing but necessity has compelled it;
when, If had had husbands care should
not have done so, and finally broke down"
When Taber first laid hands upon her he,
fortunately, left no mark, and, loathe to pub
lish her unhappiness, she never told her
grief After that his assaults often left her
bruised and SCARED, and sometimes the
dishes he would fling at her in his rage
would strike her.
Ibid he seem to be enraged at you or at
the press reports?" she was asked.
well 1t was a combination. I think, of
both, and he seemed to spit his vengeance
on me-" =
Much OF this testimony was corroborated
by the maid, Mary DAILY. who personally ap
peared in court. The courts decision was
reserved, but a stipulation was filed that,
should the decree be granted, Miss Marlowe
should receive $4,000 alimony:
According to press dispatches, Robert
Taber wes seen last week in London
and was shown a cable dispatch detailing
the charges preferred against him by Miss
Marlowe in her suit for divorce.
He smiled broadly as he read the dispatch
and then said. II have nothing whatever to
say on this score. | do not intend to say
anything for publication to anyone"
He was evidently amused at the charges
and handed the dispatch to a friend who was
with him. The friend also smiled knowingly,
but remained silent
Miss Marlowe Is at present playing in.
New York City at the Criterion theater. She
has scored one of the greatest triumphs of
her career in Clyde Fitchie's Barbara