The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-08-09
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RODNEY FILES HIS ANSWER
Specific Replies to Charges in His
Wife's Divorce Bill.
He Declares He Il willing TO Take
Care Of the PInIntiR ~ She Returns
to Hfz Home Ordered to Pay
AiimOny Pending the Hearing.

anre OF the PAnantth ~ She Returns
To His Home Ordered to Pay
Aiimony Pending the Hearing.
L.ieut- C0udr. Robert Burton Rodney.
T. s y. today filed his answer 70 the
rule issued against him. requiring him to
show cause why he should not pay aIimo-
ny to his wife Margaret r Rodney, who
is suing him for divorce on the ground OF
cruelty.
Lieutenant Commander Rodney. IN his
answer says that the allegations made by
his wife are Frivolous and hystcrcal. II
not fraudulent He continues by saying.
That MS wife. being addicted 20 drusz,
is erratic- In Burke's peerage. article
owen this lady this Margaret Edith. is
seen 20 be the daughter Of the late George
Rodney Owen. youngest son OF a member
Of Parliament, the late tenth Baronet OF
OrieIton. from original creation IN 1911,
niece Of the Admiral First Lord Rodney.
she dishonors her ancestry. and she
ceased to De a foreigner and acquired the
very citizenship necessary through which
u attack. Oppress. and agonize her low
ing husband an officer Of the navy and a
union war veteran. She was in extremi-
ty Of circumstances. when the defendant
appeared 10 her. as she herself called him.
"A Fairy Prince come 10 her rescue She,
herself. began the courtship in most
anectiOnate letter TO the defendant. her
cousin Married November last. and
brought 10 washington tthe following day,
many hundred dollars in outhttinE and
luxuries were expended up5n her by the
defendant"
In replying specifically to the assertions
contained in his wife's bill. Lieutenant
Commander Rodney files the afidavi; of
his sister and others. He also refers 20
the proceedings filed against him for
maintenance and states IL was she who
proposed the discontinuance OF their re-
IatiOns as husband and wife On this
subject the answer says:
1T was her own initiative and motion,
not the defendants, this reconciliation.
She began it early in March and the de-
fendant did not begin 10 again trust her
until April I5. 50 far from the defen-
dant treating her with persistent cru
city and iuhumauity.' il was she treating
him in the same manner, for he inva-
riabIy treated her with patient faithful
love and even idolatry-
~Defendan: always provided for her
eIabCrateIy and bouutifuIy in clothes and
money and every hins else II il abso-
luteIy false and ridiculous that he ever
laid an unkind finger on her, or made any
threat whatever.
The defendant calls the honorable
courts attention particularly TO the ma
wording, and imp.ores Jne court 10 ex-
anime this letter itself and see the de-
fendanJ's bIameIess language. as in all
her HUSBAND letters 10 her there was
nothing but love and admiration. lie
took charge OF a seaIskin sack which he
had bought and paid for, merely 10 keep
II safe for her until next winter Know
ing her spcndthuft ways he fearet she
would pawn il this summer
He denies in every particular ard IN
eqUivOcai,y the mercenary 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
expenses 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 a
hundred more TO the same attorney for
closing out the pendente lite upon her
treacherous so-caIIed reconciliation. and
here the pendeute lite comes Up again as
II nothing had happened. Instead OF liv-
ing as the court expected within the large
temporary alimony granted her she ran
up debts Of over Size IN that same short
slimony period; for which the defendant
Is still being dunHCd ard harassed. and
upon the reconciliation he reh.ted her
with more than another Sl91 c4sh-bought
clothes
Whatever happens 10 be overlooked in
the for, going specific deriaI Of ner asser-
uons is covered by the defendants gen
erI denial
And Yet after all this. the defendant
stiu loves his wife and is ready to forgive
her. The spirit Of the law as well as the
church abLors divorce and would have
unity and love Defendant imDlores the
honorable court 10 duly consider these.
his kindly views and propositions. and not
add 10 the sUderiuss and losses his wife
has already caused. Instead Of his money
for her support being forced by harshuess
Of legal process and paid 20 her through
attorneys, defendant impi0res the court
10 let him continue 70 take care OF her
himself. even il she insist on living apart.
as he has faithfully and lovingly been
doing 20 his best ability under his ssses
and heavy other expenses
After hearing the answer OF Lieuten-
ant Commander Rodney and amdavits
uIed in support Of them Justice CIabaush
signed an order requiring him 20 pay Mrs..
Rodney Si5 per month aIimOuy during the
pendvucy of the suit The court did not
make an order ia reference to the pay
ment Of counsel fees
Lieutenant Commander ana Mrs Rod
Uey were in the courtroom AZ an early
hour today. but left the City Han before
the hearing was begun