The Washington times., 1901-08-10
RODNEY TO Pay ALIMONY.
Justice Clabaugh Grants Complain
ant Temporary Relief.

The Defendant. Specific Denial of
His Wife's Charges supplement
tnry Ah,dayits FiIed-Tcstimonyo of
m Alleged Plot Against Husband.
The airing of the troubles of the Rod
neys yesterday before Justice Clabaugh.
in the Supreme Court of the District OF
Columbia. afforded entertainment and
amusement for a large gathering of law
yers and others having business at the
City Hall The chief incident of interest
was the reading of an affidavit from Lieu
tenant Commander Robert Burton Rod
ney, the defendant in the suit for abso-
lutte divorce recently instituted by Mrs.
Margaret +. Rodney. He was called upon
to show cause why he should not pay his
wife alimony during the tendency Of the
suit. In endeavoring to show cause he
contributed a writing that was not only
poetical but in some parts unfit for pub
lication. In addition to his answer. Lieu
tenant Commander Rodney filed the affi-
davits of several persons in support or
the allegations it contained.
Commenting upon the situation being
a remarkable one Justice Clabaugh an
nounced that he would direct the de-
PENDANT to pay the complainant alimony
at the rate of s45 a month until further
order by the court.
Commander Rodney's answer says that
the allegations made by his wife are
frivolous and hysterical. If not fraudu-
lent" He continues by saying:
That his wife. being addicted to drugs,
is erratic. In Burke's peerage. article
owen. this lady. this Margaret Edith, is
seen TO be the daughter of the late George
Rodney Owen, youngest son of Member
of Parliament the late tenth Baronet Of
OrieltOn, from original creation in l64l,
niece of the Admiral First Lord Rodney.
She dishonors her ancestry; and she
ceased to be foreigner and acquired the
very citizenship necessary through which
to attack, Cypress, and agonize her low
ing husba nd, an officer of the navy and a
union war veteran. She was in extremi-
ty of circumstance when the defendant
appeared to her. as she herself called him,
"A Fairy Prince come to her rescue She,
herself, began the courtship in most
afrectiOnate letter to the defendant. her
cousin. Married November 3 last. and
brought to Washington the following day.
many hundred dollars in Quitting and
Injuries were expended upon her by the
defendant
In replying specifically to the assertions
contained in his wifes bill, Lieutenant
Commander Rodney files the affidavit of
his sister and others. He also refers to
the proceedings fled against him for
maintenance and states ii was she who
proposed the discontinuance of their re-
lations as husband and wife. ON TINS
subject the answer says:
1T was her own, initiative and motion,
not the defendants, this reconciliation.
She began IL early in March ana the de-
PENDANT did not begin to again trust her
CO for he
dant treating her with persistent cru
city and humanity II was she treating
him in the same manner, for he inva-
love and even idolatry-
Defendant always provided for her
and bouhtifully in clothes and
money and everything else. IL is abso-
1utely false and ridiculous that he ever
threat whatever
The defendant calls the honorable
courts attention particularly to the ma
lignant innuendo she conveys in her
wording. and implores rne court to ex-
anime this letter itself and see the de-
PENDANTS blameless language, as in all
her husband letters to her there was
but love and admiration. He
took charge OF a seaiskfn sack which he
had bought and paid for, merely to keep
IL safe for her until next winter. Know
ing her spendthrift ways he feared she
would pawn IT this summer
HE denies in every particular and I'M
the merceHary assertions as
to mis- having any business or income out
side the navy. Although married only a
few months ago. his wife has already cost
him several hundred dollars in needless
alone, which is being carried as
so much debt against the little navy pay.
Fifty dollars of the above was by the
courts order paid to her attorney, and 4
hundred more to the same attorney for
closing out the pendente lite upon her
so-called reconciliation. and
lie a~ssf
II nothing had happened. Instead of liv-
ing as the court expected within the large
temporary alimony granted her she ran
I'D debts of over 500 in that same short
period; for which the defendant
Is still being dunned and harassed. and
upon the reconciliation he retitted her
with more than another 500 eash-bought
clothes.
Whatever happens to be overlooked in
he foregoing specific denial of her asser-
tons Is covered by the defendants gen.
sral denial.
still loves his wife and is ready to forgive
her. The spirit of the law as we'll as the |
church abhors divorce and would have !
unity and love. Defendant implores the
honorable court to duly consider these, |
his kindly Views and propositions, and not I
add to the sufferings and losses his wife /
mas already caused. Instead of his money |
Tor her support being forced by harshness |
IF legal process and paid to her through /
attorneys defendant fmploreS the court /
10 let him continue to take care of her |
himself. even II she insist on living apart. !
as he has faithfully and lovingly been |
ioing TO his best ability under his losses |
and heavy other expenses.
Among the affidavits filed by Com
nander Rodney were those OF Lewis J.
Mt and his wife Mamie L. Int, who state |
hat Mrs Rodney was placed to board
With them by her attorneys on January
. last and that she remained with them
Until June % last. They state that during
hat time Commander Rodney was a
martyr to the deliberate cruelty and
Ieartlessness' of his wife. a. \. Poivret
md his wife. Elizabeth ID. POivret. to
whose home Mrs. Rodney went on June
B. stated that while she was there Mrs.
iodney summoned her fayorite doctor"
u prescribe for her.
Miss Lavinia Rodney. sister of the
defendant. stated that MISS Cole the
Dung woman who accompanied Mrs.
Rodney to this city as a companion had
aid. IN marrying Margaret. MIR Rod
ey is a badly deceived man., and 'Oh
ear. this (the alleged plot to ruin Rod
eyl VIII all come on me- Miss Rodney
tates that on November g. 1900. Mrs Rod
ey said IF he has money | intend TO
ct it all away from him and then
William Tyrell. servant who was en-
loved while the Rodneys resided at
q Thirteenth Street. also made an aft
avit IN which he gave his version Of
hat happened while they remained there.
Justice Clabaugh. in passing upon the
I ka order in !