The times., 1900-12-27
MARITAL BLISS BRIEF.
Mrs. Margaret Rodney Sues for
Separate Maintenance.

The marital bliss of Mrs. Margaret E.
Rodney, the wife of Robert Burton Rod
| ney, according to charges made against
her husband in a suit for separate sup
port and maintenance filed yesterday in
| the Supreme Court of the District was
very brief. The charges Mrs. Rodney
makes against her husband are decidedly
out of the ordinary. Her husband, Mrs.
| Rodney states, is a retired officer of the
United States Navy, and although he is in
receipt of salary Of 81 800 year refuses
TO supply her with the necessaries of life
Notwithstanding this, Mrs. Rodney de-
/ clares that her husband insists on her at
tending riding school and incurring 9TH
| er expenses on her account
Mrs. Rodney says she was married to
the defendant in Toronto, Canada. on No
vember last and that she and her hus-
band Immediately came TO Washington to
reside. When they came to hi, city Mrs
| Rodney declares her cousin Miss Isabel
NJ Cole, accompanied her as a companion
and that her husband made arrangements
for their comfort at the Fredonia Hotel
To her surprise, however she states that
ner husband not only refused TO occupy
the same apartments with her at the no
ter, Miss J-avinia Rodney, at 723 Thir-
, teenth Street northwest. Upon her COM
planning of the awkward position she was
placed in Mrs. Rodney states that on No
vember her husband removed her and
Miss Cole to the residence of his sister
Even there she declares that he refused to
occupy her apartments and made his
sleeping room on another floor of the
house.
Since that time II appears from the
complaint of Mrs Rodney, there has been
no verbal communication between herself
and her husband Mrs. Rodney states he
has treated her in q very ungentiemanly
manner and in letters to others she de-
clares he wrote insultingly of their mar
ried relations. On December 10 Mrs. Rod
ney states that the fuel was exhausted and
that upon her complaining to her husband
OF it he replied stating that il was his
intention to freeze out Miss Cole, so she.
too, must suffer.
Accompanying the compla' at filed by
Mrs Rodney are several letters written
by her husband. One of these is dated
November 90 in which he explains to Miss
Cole why he treated his wife so. His rea-
son. so far as explained. is that he is hus-
band in name only. In reply to a letter
from George A. Aukam. Mr.. Rodney ac-
cuses Miss Cole of using mesmeric and
hypnotic arts on his wife On December
Miss Cole as the ''varmint," and addresses
Mrs Rodney in most endearing terms. He,
however states that he cannot understand
why she does not come to terms with him
and resists his attempts a paci1cation.
Mr. Rodney. in conclusion informs his
wife that there are forty-fve different di-
voree laws, one for each of the Yorty-hve
States, and that he has been examining
them for the purpose of deciding under
which he can get the quickest action.
Miss Cole brought suit before Justice
OF the Peace F. C. Mattingly last week
for alleged wages due under verbal
contract entered upon at the time of the
Rodney wedding in Toronto. The case
came up for hearing Saturday. Miss
Coles bill alleged that she gave up her
position TO attend Mrs. Rodney whose
bosom friend she claims she was and for
whom she had served as bridesmaid; that
she was TO receive s25 every two weeks
for her services, and that she had re-
ceiyed all told only S2l.
In reply Mr.. Rodney answered that the
story OF verbal contract was ridiculous:
that Miss Cole had attended him and his
bride on their wedding tour unlimited;
that no agreement had ever been made
whereby she should leave a position
and accompany Mrs. Rodney as a COM
a decision was announced Miss Coles
counsel persuaded her to accept a non
suit and withdraw her bill 1t is under
stood a similar action will be instituted
through other channels.