The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-03-04
SAYS LIFE
DEPENDS
ON SUIT
Mrs. WHthaus Seeks A!imony
Once More From Tho Hus-
band She DivoTCad.

White Plains, ~ Y. March Mrs.
BLY, T.. r. Witthaus swoars that she was
physically and mentally unfit TO under
take or comprehend any business AFFAIRS
in 1897 when she obtained an absolute di-
vorce from her husband. Professor Ru-
dolph 4. Witthaus a noted chemist
She says he gave her narcotics in such
quantities and so frequently that ne ere
ated In her an unnatural appetite for
these drugs. and she became practically
irresponsible.
she had been in receipt of 5000 year
alimony under a decree OF separation at
the time she sued for divorce She
then agreed 10 accept $1,000 in cash and
life insurance policies worth $3.50 and 10
sign a general release.
Her application TO set aside the decree
was argued Saturday before Judge
Keogh of the Supreme court By Nathaniel
Cohen. Of Howe & Hummel. and District
Attorney Andrews. AS Mrs. Witthaus
moved forward to listen to the argument.
she remarked;
This would not have happened had
been in my proper mind. l must win
now. "a my life depends on IT,"
Mr.. Cohen said Mrs. witthaus had had
a long. dangerous illness in 1883 result
ing In intense nervousness, severe head
aches and insomnia Her medical adj
visers gave her soporihc drugs I'm modera-
tion, but her husband increased the doses
In size and frequency.
one OF his works on toxicoogy was
quoted to show that the result OF the
drugs he gave her would be a lack OF ex-
ecutive and delberative ability. Suffer
ing torments from insomnia I'm 1894, she
again started 10 take narcotics at her
husbands instigation Two years later
after a trip 10 Carlsbad, she separated
from her husband.
when she retained Samuel r. WandelI
as attorney she had ~ assesses on her
right wrist. After she had obtained the
decree of separation she consented 10 sue
for divorce here. her understanding being
that the suit would in no way affect the
$1,000 year alimony. She said in her
affidavit:
81 solemnly aver that at the time Of
signing the complaint | had no intention
wha teyer Of obtaining an absolute divorce
from the defendant and that 7 simply
signed the same at the suggestion and
urging OF said Samuel VI. Wsudei, In
such condition Of health, erought about
by the administration or narcotic drugs,
that any one CO Il obtain control over
my mind and induce me 10 do things that
in my proper senses / would have indig-
nantly refused either 10 do or to consent
to-
She was or The impression that the d.
vorce suit had been dropped I'm February.
1898. when Mr.. Wandell wrote. suggesting
terms proposed by Witthaus' lawyer.
among others that she should expunse
from the record statement about an at
tempt to poison her In reply she wrote:
"For Gods sake. Mr.. Wandell, don't
ask me to settle on these terms; II would
be my death. 1 am going 10 have my
operation next week"
She subsequently agreed TO terms pro-
posed, but in her letter to her lawyer
added this provision:
II will agree to deliver release TO
Kate Cowan, alias Kate de Vivo, pro-
vided that my husband will make and
execute a written agreement under his
hand and seal in proper form that he viii
never marry the woman mentioned as CO.
respondent i'm my complaint. known a.
Kate Cowan, alias Kate de Vivo, or
permit her to live with him as his wife
or 10 assume the name or Mrs. MttthauS.
ON the day the reference was held in
the office OF Professor Witthaus law
yer. Mrs Witthaus took two ounce
dose of a bromide solution. She was AL
most blind from nervousness. and was
hardly conscious Of what was occurring
about her. Mr.. Cohen insisted that upon
this showing the divorce should he va
Gated.
District Attorney Andrews said Mrs
Witthaus had been constantly clamoring
for money. and she was stll bounding
the Professor To make him deliver money.
II the decree were set aside, she could
not collect any money from the professor
as the general release she gave him would
be a complete bar. Mr.. Wandell fled an
affidavit denying that there had been
any fraud
ON her way back 10 Howe a. Hummers
office i'm this city. Mrs Witthaus said !.
Professor Nitthaus made his first pay
| ment on the house No. 93 West Seventy
| seventh street with the fee received from
| the Carlyle Harris case. Mrs Harris,
| the mother. went TO the house and cursed
| the professor calling upon God TO visit
| his wrath upon the house. Bad luck fol-
| lowed there, everything went wrong from
| then until We separated. "