The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-02-17
OPPOSES DECREE.
Mrs. Alfred H. Brown Pro-
tests Against Decision in
Her Husbands Di-
vorce Suit.
WAS UNREPRESENTED At HEARING
Knew Nothing Of Proceedings
Until Decree Pro Confesso
Was Given Against Her.
WAS UNREPRESENTED At HEARING

For some time past in certain social
circles on the Hill and particularly in
the Jersey City Club, there has been fly
ing about a nice lot of gossip about the
domestic relations of Alfred H. Brown, a
prominent member of the club mentioned,
and his wife, Ada. 1t appears that re-
Gently he med a petition for divorce, al
legng that his wife was unfaithful to him
and in the petition he named several peo-
pie well known not only in the club but
in society on the Hill. To keep the
names of these gentlemen quiet and the
facts from the public there has been no
end of hustling about.
Testimony in the husbands suit was
taken a few days ago before Special
Master William A. Lewis, ex-senator Will
liam Brinkerhoff, of the firm of Brinker-
thoff & Fielder, representing Mr.. Brown.
There was no defence put in by Mrs.
Brown, who was not represented, and
decree pro confesso was entered against
her.
Mrs Brown. it now turns out, never
knew anything of what was going on and
having been informed now proposes to
ask Chancellor McGill to stay that de-
cree and permit her to file an answer
denying her husbands charges. Mrs.
Brown will ask that testimony be taken
and then there will be several closets
opened and skeletons revealed. Coun-
sellor William M. Klink, Mrs. Browns
counsel will present the case to his Honor
on Monday next.
Tn "A Il TQrox &c "a
that Mrs. Brown, on July 25, 1883. with a
man, well known in Jersey City. regis
tered at the Imperial Hotel Exchange
place, as 'fH. Capbey and wife" and on
September Us, 1898, at the Occidental Hotel,
New York City, with the same person, as
'sJ. Jones and wife" and third time at
No. 1870 Fortieth street, in Brooklyn, with
man named ]. w. Carroll, who repre-
scented themselves to be husband and wife.
Mrs Brown fatty denies that anything
of the kind ever took place. At no time
did she ever stop at the places mentioned.
and she is ready to prove that the charges
are false and her husband is simply con-
spring to get rid of her
Mrs. Brown says that she has two chill
dren, Harry, a bov of nine years, and.
Beryl, a girl, five years old, who have
been with her since August T. 1885, when
Mr.. Brown refused to live any longer
with her. He paid to her for the support
of herself and children $50 per month; but
after paying that sum for four months
he gave her smaller sums, and in Sep
tember last left her and her children
penniless.
Her husband, Mrs. Brown says, is sec
retary to G. R. Blanchard, head of the
Railroad Joint Commission of New York.
for which he receives 5000 a month sal
ary. He has besides, she says, three lots
of land at Willermet, suburb of Chi
cago, valued at 81, 600 each, and is there
fore amply provided with money, while
she and her children have nothing.
In view of these facts Counsellor Klink
will request the Chancellor to make an
order directing her husband to pay her
and children q proper allowance and al
low her to file an answer to the suit
brought against her.
A few weeks ago Mrs. rown went before
fore a New York magistrate to secure a
writ for the arrest of her husband ON a
charge of abandonment and non-support,
but the magistrate refused to grant it.
She went to another, with a similar re-
suit At present Mrs. Brown is residing
uptown in New York with her children.
1t is only recently that she has had these
children. For some time after the separa-
ton from her hsuband the boy and girl
were in custody of the father here in
Jersey City One afternoon Mrs. Brown
came over from New York and took them
! back to that city. Her friends are giving
her support in the meantime.
The bill for divorce brought by Alfred
Brown was filed by Messrs. Brinkerhoff
& Fielder, his counsel, on october 81, 1899.
The subpoena was returned mot served, .
because Mrs. Brown was nonresident,
whereupon the counsel for the complain
ant obtained an order for publication re-
curing Mrs Brown "to appear, plead,
answer or demur to the complainant's bill
on January 2, 1900, or in default thereof
such decree would be made against her
as the Chancellor may think equitable and
just"
The order stated that the bill was filed
for divorce from the bonds of matrimony,
and f. M. Da Camara served the notice
of this order on Mrs. Brown November
4, 1889 at her then residence, No. 775 East
1920 street, New York City. The affi-
dayit to that effect made by Da Camara
is filed in the Clerk of Chancery's Court,
Trenton.
No answer was filed by Mrs. rBown,
and Chancellor McGill referred the whole
matter to Special Master William A.
Lewis to take testimony and report. Tes-
timony was taken before him and was
closed on Friday last.
Mr.. Browns bill set forth the miscon-
duct of his wife at Hackensack, Occiden-
tai Hotel, New York; Coney Island,
Brooklyn and Jersey City.
COMING EVENTS.