The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-06-05
MRS.. BURkE'S
LONG FIGHT.
Has Been al Law with Her
Husband for Seven Years.
FIRST SUED FOR SEPARATION.
Finally Succeeded In Obtaining Order for
Allowance Of SIS q Week.
FOUND II IMPOSSIBLE TO COLLECT.
Husband Changed His Position Many Times and
Finally Married Again IN jsrssy-Hs Is New
Awaiting Es'radItlon for Bgamy.
Finally Succeeded In Obtaining Order for
Allowance Of SIS q Week.
FOUND IT IMPOSSIBLE 70 COLLECT.

New York, June 5.-In the Supreme
Court to-day was heard the case Of
Burke VS.. Burke. suit that in its
many phases and long delay is mod
ern instance OF the famous chancery
suit OF fiction OF Jarndyce and
Jarndyce.
Mrs. Anna G.. Burke has waged a
legal warfare with her husband for
seven years, and for five OF them has
been almost constantly in the police
courts in the pursuit OF justice. She
has played detective and lawyer, and
now, through the publicity of her
many misadventures, hopes to obtain
the justice which, she claims, has
been long denied ner She believes
that her husband, who is something OF
a politician, has thwarted her by the
use OF his influence, while she stood
alone. This is her story:
The husband William III. Burke, at
one time secretary to former Judge
Patterson. OF the Appellate Division of
the Supreme Court, and later i'm the
postofilce, is now in the tombs, charged
with bigamy, upon his wife's COM
plant.
William III. Burke was married TO
Anna G.. Fitzgerald on May Z. 1890.
Thsy quarrelled almost from the we'd
ding day, and when she left him finally
two years later she sued for legal sep
aration, charging him with cruelty and
abuse. Judge Andrews, OF the Su-
preme Court, before whom the case
came. adjourned IL the second day. His
action raised the question Has a
husband a right TO beat his wife,"
which was a subject for wide news
paper comment at the time. Recorder
Con- was Mrs. Burke's lawyer.
The next step was a motion for an
allowance to appeal, which was denied.
In 1898 Mrs. Burke sought the police
courts, appearing before Magistrate
Wefde. i'm the Harlem police court.
She was allowed 81 a week.
Burke appealed 10 General Sessions.
Judge Mcmahon decided that he was
unable to support his wife. The case
was carried 10 the Court OF Common
Pleas. There the s. allowance was
upheld. For two years Burke eluded
his wife's claim. He changed his po-
sition. She followed him from place
TO place. and at last. upon her COM
plant he was placed i'm the Ludlow
street Jail for contempt. Judge Bis
choff released him without bail
In 1897 Mr. Burke heard that her
husband had married Lillian McGrath
in Jersey City. She claims to have Sc
cured a copy OF the record at the Mon
astery. Burke was indicted in Jer-
sey City, his first wife appearing
against him last April.
Before that she had again
appeared in police court
against her husband This
time Magistrate F'lammer dismissed
the case. Magistrate Cornell. who
committed Burke. refused TO fix bail.
On habeas corpus proceedings IL was
placed at $4,000 by Justice Beach.
The suit pending in the Supreme
Court is for 5000. which. Mrs. Burke
claims. is due her under the order to
nay 81. She is represented by the
Legal Aid Society. In the meantime
Burke awaits extradtion to New Jer-
sey. Mrs. Burke, who possessed a
little money at the time Of - mar
riage. is now living with her father.