The Washington times., 1901-08-20
Mr.. RODNBY'SPLAIN WORDS
The Retired Naval Officers An
swer in Divorce Proceedings.
He Puts i'm General Denial of His
Wffe's Charges of Cruelty, Tells of
His Marriage, and Files n Cross
bill Asking for a Separation.

| bill Asking for IA Separation.
| 1t is only ten months since Lieutenant
| Commander Robert Burton Rodney, U. S.
| Navy. retired was married at Toronto,
| Canada, to Miss Margaret Edith Owen.
| Nevertheless, within that brief space of
| time the domestic troubles and infelicities
| of the couple have three times been aired
| In the local courts. Within three months
| after their marriage Mrs. Rodney filed
| pr oceedings against her husband for sep
arate support and maintenance. The suit
| was a short while afterward withdrawn
and few days ago she again began pro-
ceedings against her husband. this time
asking for divorce and alimony.
1t was in answer to these proceedings
| that Mr. Rodney yesterday filed most
remarkable document in the office of the
Clerk of the Supreme Court of the Dis
trict. The paper is at once an answer
to the suit for divorce brought against
him by his wife. cross-bill in which ne
also asks for legal separation from Mrs.
Rodney, and lastly a reply to the rule is
sued against him some days ago requir-
ing him to show cause why he should
not pay almony to his wife during the
tendency of her suit.
Mrs Rodney asked for divorce On the
grounds of cruelty and insufiiciency of
support. Her husband declares. however,
that he has never treated her cruelty, but
on the contrary has been very kind and
considerate of her and supplied her every
want so far as his financial ability would
allow. He also declares that he loves his
wife devotedly and regrets that she has
an ''ungovernable and satanic temper.
He also declares that she has treated him
without consideration in that she has
submitted to her attorneys his most con-
fidential love letters.
In special note" added to his answer
Mr.. Rodney states, by insinuation, that
he is entitled to a divorce from his wife
on statutory grounds.
Mr. Rodney was married to Margaret
Edith owen at Toronto, Canada, on No
vember 3 last. On the following day they
started for Washington and on their ar
rival here engaged apartments at the Ere
donia Hotel on II Street Accompanying
the Rodneys was Miss Elizabeth Cole.
who, ii was stated, was engaged as a
companion to Mrs. Rodney. Commander
Rodney did not approve of MISS Coles
presence at his home, however, and so
gave her to understand. Miss Cole later
sued Mr.. Rodney to recover $50 claimed as
wages for services companion TO Mrs.
Rodney. She lost the suit and soon after
returned to Canada.
When the petition for divorce, filed by
Mrs. Rodney a few days ago, was pre-
scented to Justice Clabaugh he signed an
order requiring Mr.. Rodney to pay his
wife si5 per month alimony during the
tendency of the proceedings. The first
installmcnt of this alimony was to have
been paid on August 6. but the order of
the court was not obeyed- In consequence
of this. Colbert & Sellhausen. counsel for
Mrs. Rodney, yesterday applied to JUS
tice Barnard for sn order requiring Mr..
Rodney to show cause on August q next
why he should not be committed for con-
tempt of court.
In discussing the causes which led to
his marriage with Miss Owen, Mr.. Rod
ney states that 1t was brought about
through the following telegram sent by
her, which lured him to Toronto:
Dear Robert: All trust and love: come
at once. MARGARET"
To. this Commander Rodney says he re-
Piled
with whom do the mermaids fiirt?
With the swells of the ocean,"
He also states that his wife has all
mony on the BRAIN.
Soon after his marriage Lieutenant Com
mander Rodney states, he and his wife
quarreled because the latter insisted on
bringing Miss Cole to Washington with
her as a companion. With that young
woman, he says, his wife persisted in
spending not only her days, but also her
nights
Mr. Rodney declares he married Miss
Owen because of the connection between
the titled families of owen and Rodney
in England. He further states that his |
wife does not. never did, and never in |
tends to live the life of wife. Her utter |
ances and practices, he says, are to the |
effect that husband has no rights what |
ever and that wife is to be supported |
to the utmost expense possible.
Without making specific answer to the |
charges of cruelty made against him by |
his wife in her suit for divorce, Lieuten- |
ant Commander Rodney makes a general |
denial of them all. On the contrary he |
that he has always been kind, |
loving and patient with Mrs. Rodney.
Devices Il Devices are named as counsel |
for Mr.. Rodney.