The Washington times., 1901-09-04
ALIMONY ARREARS PAID.
Lieut. COmdr. Rodney Complies
With Courts Decision.
Justice Anderson StipuIntes Limit of
Time for Payment - Threatens to
Collect ThrOaRh MnrshaI-Retired
NavnI officer Responds Promptly.

The domestic troubles of the Rodneys
were again ventilated yesterday before
Justice Anderson, in the Equity branch
| of the Supreme Court of the District.
| The settlement of the differences between
Lieutenant Commander Robert Burton
Rodney, and his wife, Margaret L. Rod
ney, who is suing him for divorce, came
up on the answer of the former. to show
cause why he failed to obey the order
of the court, requiring him to pay his
wife alimony during the perdency of the
proceedings.
The hearing resulted in the decision of
the court that Mr.. Rodney pay the
amount Of alimony stipulated and that if
ne did not do so by p. m, an order
would be made for his commitment for
contempt Of court. The naval officer was
not present when the court announced
this decision, and his counsel stated that
he was not certain whether he could To-
cate him in the time allowed by the court.
Justice Anderson said that counsel need
not worry, for, if the alimony in arrears
was not paid by the appointed time the
court would take measures to locate him
through the means of a deputy United
States marshal 1t was about II 80 a. m.
when Justice Anderson announced his de-
cision. AT $3.50 p. M, Mr.. Devices, of
counsel for Mr.. Rodney paid to NJ. j.
Colbert, of counsel for Mrs Rodney, the
sum of S11. the amount of alimony in ar
rears.
THE other side seems to be out for gore
in this case, your honor, and we intend
to give them all the gore they want" was
the opening remark of Mr. Devices, of
Devices & Devices, counsel for Lieutenant
Comma
s. N. retired. in his answer to show .ause
why he should not pay alimony TO his
wife, Margaret E. Rodney, who is suing
him for divorce.
Justice Anderson, who is presiding in
the equity branch of the Supreme Court
OF the District, interrupted counsel with
the admonition that the courts were not
created for the purpose of extracting gore
from any one. This incident took place
just after the convening of the court At
that time counsel for Mrs. Rodney was
not present, and further hearing in the
matter was postponed until u:3O a. m.
AS a defence against complying with
the order Of the court requiring him to
pay his wife alimony at the rate of s45
per month, Lieutenant Commander Rod
ney has made two affidavits, which were
referred to III the proceedings today. In
one of these he says:
After the misery and wreck which ali
mony has caused in his home and life by
its unhinging of the mind of his thought
less. foolish, young foreign wife. he asks
the court to be considerate with him." He
further states that he believes that the
granting of alimony in such a case as this
would be to turn the institution of all
mony into travesty and ridicule.
Mr. Rodney further states in one Of
fhAo DNrtts \ t. L., xl<l %AI
to him for forty-eight days support,
during her second period of wanton de-
sertion of him from June %. to August
10" He also suggests that an allowance
ment of alimony under the present order
of court He also states that the levy
of $45 per month alimony is excessive, in
tolerable, and burdensome.
Mr.. Rodney alleges that he does not re-
ceive his pay from the Government in ad-
vance, and that lit is climax of injus-
tice to extort money in advance from
pa yer who himself can get that identical
money only at maturity"
l.. another affidavit dated yesterday Mr..
Rodney states that he has cared for his
wife under all circumstances and from
July % to August q last, has paid her
$40 He then goes on to say that his
wife lis irresponsible with money, of
which she has an abnormal greed, merci-
less and constituencies, and never pays
for anything that can be shirked or blk
ed"
During the period of ,.wanton deser-
uon," as Lieutenant Commander Rodney
terms it, he states his wife kept her
whereabouts unknown to him, and that
she had free riot in vice" showing, it is
said by the defendant her utmost con-
tempt for the order of the court.
Counsel for Mrs Rodney stated that
Mr. Rodney was well able to obey the or
der of the court, but is deliberately evad-
ing compliance. In reply to this Mr..
Devices sarcastically stated that his eli
ent is peculiar. and. as was once said of
him, he desired to be client counsel.
judge. and jury all at one and the same
time
Messrs. Colbert and Sellhouse appeared
as counsel for Mrs. Rodney.