New-York tribune., 1900-06-09
LAWYER SUED BY EX-WIFE
SHE CHARGES HIM WITH SENDING HER
ANNOYING LETTERS.

William c. Clopton a member of the Bar Asso-
citation, the Democratic Club and the Southern So
ciety who lives at No. so West Sixty-nnth st,
arraigned In the West Side Court yesterday
morning on the charge OF writing annoying and
abusive letters Mrs Josephine Bell, OF No. s17
West End-aye. from whom he divorced in 1888.
His examination set down for to-day. and he
paroled IN the custody of his counsel Il am
astonished," he said, Ito find myself brought here
this extraordinary charge. II evidence is to be
taken. must ask time TO bring to court letters
she has sent TO me. and also witnesses"
Clopton told the reporters that he lost his first
wife in 1885. In 1895 he went to Europe in the
steamship New-York and got acquainted with
Mrs. Bell on the voyage. In London they put up
the same hotel. He paid her bill and married
her in 1897. Clopton said that he had the highest
opinion Of his wife, and that she was recommend
ed TO him by the Rev. Madison @. Peters. and it
was seid that she a member of Mr. Peters's
church He said that afterward he found out
she what she pretended to be- and he be-
gan his divorce proceedings.
CLOPTONS LETTER TO MRS. BELL.
Mrs Bell denied all his allegations. and said that
she had misrepresented herself to him. She
said that previous their marriage she told him
her past life. and that he married her knowing
perfectly what she had been Several of the letters
said to have been by Clopton TO Mrs. Bell
were attached TO the complaint and made a part OF
the court record. One of these letters. Of which
there sixteen typewriter pages, under date of
June 4, 1900. says in part:
ago In my old New ork residence, which 1 was
glad 10 get out OF sight AS for anything else be-
session or among my effects, it is solely for the
purpose OF getting my attention and notice which
You DO not realize your true position must tell
become disgusting and unbearable to me and you
should see that your conduct in shadowing my
where shall stop 1t one way another.
ing me and stating to people that you are my law
u we You were never although you have
less than brazen errontery Of public decency in
New-York and elsewhere, where you have boldly
vate morality TO which the people constantly and
te 9Ih life Tor ts e fs Ton niGgy @ T
implied consent go 10 the altar with you and
enter before witnesses into contract OF marrlage
the serious, honest and nviolable but you did
ono of the most inconceivable and unpardonabie
traucs that could be conceived and put into execu
world has
SAYS HE MARRIED THROUGH FRAUD.
The following are extracts from another letter.
This letter IS addressed ITO Josephine Bell, Madam
or Miss-whatever you may be-" and'says:
You understand now that the writer wants no
eVer ether Directly os G indrceti In hen YOU int
mate assert that he has anything belonging 10
ing deliberate. malicious and inexcusabe lie.
Your whole purpose in life tas been to cheat and
you swindied the writer of your passage across
the ocean when he was stranger TO you and your
BnR IN yO4 o 6ao OF one o M e
fr nd his infant ee that @ R0e 5e
ruitted by one human being on another and for
ss:s sassy you ought to be punished the rest of your
Mrs Bell attained some notorfety IN the courts in
lSs8 through e quarrel wtth Hsnrgy MaiIIaTd,, the
aIaillard she supposed she was his lawful wife