Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-19
TESTIFIES FOR HIMSELF
Capt. Shufeldt Tells Court the Story Of
His Troubles.
History of His Recent Marriage and
Di,orcr-The Aggregate of His
Property and Income.

Capt Robert W. Shufeldt of the medical
department. United States army. retired,
who j. on trial before a court-martial at
Washington barracks a charge of con-
CGct urbecoming officer and a gentle
man. took the stand in his own behalf when
The court met this morning. after having
t"L~u recess over yesterday.
Capt. Shufelit said he was forty-nine
years of age. and was retired in 1891 haV-
ing been found incapacitated for active
:. rviCr two years prior to that time He
went into his priv ate life quite thoroughly.
being examined by MIR. Alexander Wolf his
counsel The accused said his first wife
died some years ago. leaving him four chill
dr-u. the oldest of whom was afterward
.druw ned. His Oldest child present is
twenty years of age. SON Capt. Shufeldt
lex stated he was married to Miss Flor
eIc" Audubon. mis- recently divorced vile,
:. pj-mber >. 1885. in Salem, y. Y. where
sh- living with her mother and sister.
The day after the marriage they came to
Washington and resided at Takoma Park.
1T was an unhappy union" said the
Witness and differences arose soon after
the wedding. Mrs. Shufeldt left my house
two months after our marriage and re-
turned to New York, l believe. 1t was
mutually agreed We should separate. She
took with her about 5000 worth of per-
sunaI and household effects. which she
Iad brought with her and which she bought
after her arrival
Witness said his property at Takoma,
before his wife began her action in the
divorce courts. was incumbered in the sum
of $2.WD. He increased the loan to $1,000,
the additional money thus secured being
applied to the payment of court costs and
the fees of Mrs. Shufeldts attorneys. To
this amount he was called upon to add
sl"" from his personal income to assist
in paying costs and he gave a note for so
more Messrs. Webb & Webb, attorneys.
for his former wife, the obligation being
met az maturity.
His Council Fees.
During the litigation in Maryland he
said. ne paid his own counsel about $40
DIR. Shufeldt said the circuit court in Mont
l;nmcrr county dismissed his wife's divorce
petition. the case being taken to the court
q. appeals OF that state and the decision
a. the lower court reversed.
Regarding his inability to pay the $50
Ter month alimOny ordered in the divorce
proceedings. Capt. Shufeidt said his nav
a. 4 retired captain amounted to Sl75 a
month. all of which was required for the
support of himself. his present wife and
Ihr-" children His living expenses would
average as follows: House rent S34 gro
C,fir~ and meats. So: servant. s12; milk,
81, sa-. $50; fuel SO; clothing laundry,
e.e-, Sl1: carfare. 81; educational purposes.
s. and general inCidentals, 50, making a
monthly total of about SI69 80
WIN It ference to avoiding the service
tried To shield his identity He was asked
hN MS counsel not to throw himself in the
way 81 inc deputy marshal for a few DAYS:
mat rule day In court might elaDs.. mean
Nhlie. and thirty days additional time he
i't i'r the preparation of papers to be
1Ied IN reply.
Si-thInE Of the answer filed to petition
bN !i-> wife in the Mont country
courts. and which contains the promise al
.rSNI Z" have been broken by a removal
I'm. r. jurisdiction OF the tribunal. Capt.
o"-tr'dt Sald MS attorney. Col Devices. drew
up NJ answer and he did not dictate lis
""'diiS or statements in any way: that
~ I.Hi"it simply was explained TO him at
N lAne- lie attended court a number of
tunes during the progress of the proceed
irSS and subsequent to his filing a bond
fpT hl- appearance. His attorney signed
the answer proper. Capt. Shufeldt afhxing
his signature to the affidavit His removal
from Takpma he said, had nothing 10 10
with The matters pending In the MARYLAND
courts thdt most of his family and the
hlTrd Glrl Were on a vacation: that he did
i'' care TO keep up a housekeeping estab-
H~amrut during that time. and, lastly, be-
Stii~r ne had determined to return to the
cry t"r the winter. and would endeavor
- sell the Takoma possession.
Description of Attempted Arrest.
Capt. Shufeldt gave a description of the
f:ara< at Takoma when two deputies from
Rockville attempted to take him into Gus
tpdy while he was standing within the
District of Columbia.
The deputies We're very rough, he said,
and did not show their papers One was
drunk pulled a pistol and afterward
struck at him with a black jack Can't.
ShufeldJ said he realized the position he
was placed in. but he had to defend him
S'i. lie had one Of the deputies arrested
but did not press the charge against him
When he stated to one Of the deputies he
was in the District Of Columbia he re-
C-iv-d the reply:
You are liar. and, by c., we are
going 10 take YOU
capt. Shufeldt was cross-examined by the
ijiS" advocate 1t was impossible for him
h1 said. To avoid bankruptcy, having strug-
GID along a number Of years with barely