The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-11-14
Peter Sells Makes Grave Charges
Against His wife.
ACCUSED OF GROSS INFIDElITY.
Men Named Is Cu.ruspsaisais Have sssa
Sumnensd BY The Husband 10 Testify.
Ev. Sells Makes General Denial

Columbus, o., Nov. 1l-The divorce
case OF Peter Sells. the famous show
man. against Mary Sells opened here
yesterday before Judge ELI T.. Evans.
The case promises TO last for many
weeks and will be full of sensations.
Hundreds OF witnesses have been sub
poenaed, and six OF the best lawyers I'm
Franklin County will conduct the legal
battle.
Charges OF immortality are made on
both sides, and Mr. Sells has subpoenaed
the men whom he names as co-respon-
dents to appear and testify.
Mrs. Sells appeared in the afternoon
and remained TO adjournment. hearing
most damaging evidence In the form OF
depositions read against her.
She made. IL Is claimed. a confldante OF
Mrs. Augustus Civalis. wife OF an at
tache OF her husbands circus. and gave
letters from her many gentlemen friends
10 her to keep so that her husband would
not find them.
Mrs. Civalls' depositions. including
these letters, were read. One from Bert
johnson, who signed himself Some
Day" contained the words. II love you
and am jealous OF you"
Two notes signed "D,' said by Mrs
Civalls to be the signature OF DIR. T.. l..
Potter, a prominent dentist here, were
very affectionate. Dear Name" Name
Darling" Dearest May" and other terms
OF endearment were used. Several letters
were read 10 the court so strong as evil
dence OF the intimacy OF these men with
Mrs Sells as to be wholly unprintable.
SUPPOSED TO BE HAPPY.
II was always supposed In Columbus
that Mr.. and Mrs. Sells were a happy
couple until just a year ago. Then the
skeleton in the closet was suddenly dis
closed. One day early In November
Peter Sells. returned home from his
seasons trip with the circus. He greet
ed his wife pleasantly, as usual
The same day Mr.. Sells had deeds drawn
up, in which he and his wife transferred
certain real estate, including the family
residence, to l.. L. Safer as trustee.
The next day Mrs. Sells at her hus-
bands request signed these deeds. Mr.
Safer promptly transferred oil the prop
erty to Mr.. Sells
Then the storm broke. Mr.. Sells told
his wife that he was done with her for
ever. He accused ncr OF inndellty. and
declared the love that was due him and
their child was given 60 Others. Mr.. Sells
told the woman that he had evidence to
prove all his charges.
Mrs. Sells denied the charges, but
words and tears had no effect, and Mr.
Sells took his daughter, Florence Sells.
twenty years old, and made his residence
with his brother. Louis Sells, I'm this city.
| Mr.. Sells on Nov. Z brought suit for
divorce. In his petition he named William
Bott and Harris ID. Lyon, both or this
city, as correspondents, and said that
the acts complained OF had been commit
ted since 1859 Mr.. Sells went into par
ticulars and said that his wife and Bott
spent part OF August, 1898 together at
the Thousand Islands. and that in May,
1899. they were At West Baden, Ind, to-
gether.
Both Bott ana Lyon and DR.. Potter, OF
this city, were subpoenaed as witnesses.
wIFE's DENIAL
Mrs Sells waited until March II of this
year before she filed her answer. She
denied all OF her husbands charges and
made charges OF intdelity and cruelty
against him. She said that they were
married I'm Missouri I'm January, ISIS, and
that within six weeks after their marriage
she was forced by Mr.. Sells, In spite OF
her protest. to commence training as a
horseback rider In the circus In which he
was part owner.
She said she was forced to- associated
with persons of dissohte habits and low
character and that the roommate assign
ed to her by her husband was woman
OF bad character.
After that she was compelled, she
averred, to ride I'm the circus ring and
in public streets like a common hire
ling" and when she protested. Mrs. Sells
said her husband told her TO either
continue with the circus or leave him
and 60 back te her parents.
Mrs Sells named several circus women
as correspondents and accused her hus-
band OF beating her until she was black
and blue. and with being at times grossly
Intoxicated
Mrs Sells asked for alimony.