The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-04-28
HIS WIFE'S
RELATIVES.
DR.. McMurragh Sues for
SlO0, 900 Because They
Nagged Him and Her.
TALES OF STRANGE DOINGS
Non-suit Granted Because
Alienation of Affection
Was Not Shown.

or DR.. Murphy as he was formerly known,
| against some of his wife's relatives to re-
cover 100000 for the alienation of his
wife's affections, was tried in the Supreme
Court yesterday afternoon before Justice
Lippincott and jury. The defendants
were Mrs. Charlotte Kearney, Esther
Wiseman and Robert Wiseman sisters
and brother of Mrs. MeMurragh, and
James Kearny, husband of Mrs. Kearny.
He is connected with the Kenny Tobacco
Company in Richmond, Va, and lives
there. The suit was aimed at Mrs. Kear-
ny, who is wealthy and speculates largely
in stocks. Lawyer C. C. Hendricks ap-
peared for the plaintiff and was assisted
| by Lawyers James Atkinson and Mervyn,
Armstrong. Senator Allan L. McDermott,
his son Walter, and George L. Record APP
| peared for the defendants
| Mr. Hendricks, in opening the case for
the plaintiff, said that DR.. McMurragh is
now living with his wife at No. 440 Com
munipaw avenue. He was married to
Agnes Wiseman on February "a, 1892 by
the Rev. Father Carroll, rector of st.
Patrick's Church. Two daughters, Char
lotte and Esther, resulted from the mar
riage, and Mrs. MeMurragh soon expects
/
and his wife went to live at No. sos Grand
street, in a house owned by him and his
wife jointly, his wife having decided a
half interest in it to him. Mrs Kearny
! and her sister came there to live and they
made his life so miserable that he was
forced to leave.
He moved to No. '50S Commundpaw ave-
nue. and invited his wife to go there
/ 10 ;1A, of h
! relatives she refused DR.. McMurragh
| then began suit and his wife returned to
/ him. He signed away oneIhalf of his
| interest in the property while they were
| living together the second time at No,
sos Grand street, and the other half since
I; then He and his wife were separated
again through her relatives influence,
but they are now reconciled.
| DIR. McMurragh was called to the stand
! and told the story of how his wife's rel
atives and his wife, through their influ-
ence, abused him and made his life mis-
erable He said that on one occasion he
! brought a flower pot to the house.
What did your Sister-in-law Esther
say about it?" asked Mr. Hendricks.
'sShe said, oh, he's beginning to bring
| things home. Perhaps if he had a house
of his own he would be very attentive
did Esther go into your room at any
time?"
Yes. she came in ene morning without
knocking"
Yes" replied the witness, "she just
foated in as it were"
What did she say?"
my wife was making up the bed
Esther asked me why I didn't do that
work, why I didn't bring up coal and do
the house work.
do you remember Mrs. Kearny saying
anything about your wife's relatives af-
fection for her and for your"
Yes. Shortly after she came on her
second visit, which became permanent,
she said, oh, see I'm not in it any more
with Agnes. Her love for you is love
for life time Afterward she told me
that my wife and child thought more
of her than of me. I was restricted to the
| back parlor of the house, which used as
an office. l was not permitted to go into
/ the basement or into my wife's room on
| the third floor. Mr. Kearny said that no
strange man would be allowed to go
around the rooms. l was unable to sleep
in the back parlor on account of the social
gatherings in the front parlor SO I slept
| in small han bedroom. Mr.. Wiseman
used to come into that room when was
asleep and flash a lantern in my eyes and
perform gymnastic exercises to
keep me awake. told my
wife about it and she merely
said that was either crazy or
had a powerful imagination. Mrs. Kear-
ny accused me of marrying my wife for
money I was not allowed to see my
wife or child. moved to No. sos Com
munipaw avenue. When I went back for
| my belongings my wife and her sisters
assaulted me- T requested my wife to
| come and live with me but she said she
would never leave Lottie Mrs. Kearny
! offered me money to release my wife, but
| 1 refused it. Soon after I began the first
suit. On one occasion she threw dishes
at me and made me get up and sit on a
/ chair for two hours. My wife never
/ assaulted me before Mrs. Kearney came
to the Grand street house to live. I was
forced to leave my wife a second time
about year ago. She refused to live
with me, but returned again after the
present suit was begun. Before she re-
| turned Mrs. Kearny again suggested taht
take a price for my wife and children"
''Did she make any quotation?" asked
Mr.. Hendricks, apparently meaning did
she offer and price.
Yes replied the witness, sshe said
he who will not when he may, may not
| when he will 2
ION one OCCASION" continued the wit
ness after the first reconciliation, went
| into the parlor My wife and her sisters
were there talking and Mr.. Kearny turned
on me- Snannishiv--,s
Object to snappishly,' exclaimed Sena-
tor McDermott, and the word was ruled
out.
left the house, continued the wit
ness, in great rage
''Object to great rage said Mr.. Nc
Dermott, and it was ruled out.
why did you leave?" asked Mr.. Hen
bricks.
st wanted time to think
"Object to time to think, said Mr.
McDermott interrupting again.
why not give him some time to
think?'s asked Mr.. Hendricks.
1T would take too long. replied Mr.
McDermott
DR.. McMurragh said that he melted be-