The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-09-03
THE RODNEY DIVORCE Case
Balance Of AlimOny Paid Under
Order Of the Court.

The Retired Naval Omcer Makes an
Appeal. But Justice Anderson Is
Firm-AnidaNits Of the Defend
ant Referred to by His Counsel.
THE other side seems 10 be ont 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 Lieut. Com
Robert Burton Rodney. L. : ". retired.
in his answer To show cause why he
should not pay aiimony TO his wife, Mar
garet +. Rodney. who is suing him for di-
vorce.
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 converting Of the court. At
that time counsel for Mrs. Rodney was
not present, and further hearing in the
matter was postponed until 11.30 a. m
As a defence against complying with
the order Of the court requiring him to
pay his wife altm0uy at the rate % S45
per month, Lieutenant Commander Rod
ney mas made two afiidavits, which were
referred to in the proceedings today. In
one Of these ne SAYS:
After the misery and wreck W ich ali
mony has caused in his home and life by
its Infringing 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 ali-
mony into travesty and ridicule.
Mr.. Rodney further states in one Of
these afidavits that his wife is indebted
TO him for forty-eiEht days support
during her second period of wanton de-
serti0n of him from June p, to August
10 He also suggests that an allowance
for this should be credited him in the pay
ment Of alimOny under the present order
of court. He also states that the levy
Of So per month alimony IS excessive, in
{ tolerable and burdensome.
( Mr. Rodney alleges that he does not re-
ceive his pay from the Government in adj
+ vance. and that 1t is a climax Of injus-
tice TO extort money in advance from a
payer who himself can get that identical
money only at maturity
/ In another affidavit dated today, Mr.
Rodney states that he has cared for his
wife under all circumstances and from
/ July % to August = last, has paid hei
$40 He then goes on to say that his
wife "is irresponsible with money. OF
/ which she has an abnormal greed, meUci-
. less and constituencies, and never pays
/ for anything that can be shirked or blk
/ ed
During the period Of ''wanton deser,
ton as Lieutenant Commander Rodney
. terms it, he states his wife kept heI
4 whereabouts unknown TO him, ard thai
/ she had free riot in vice" showing il Is
said 10y the defendant her utmost con
tempt for the order Of the court.
. Counsel for Mrs. Rodney stated that Mr.
Rodney was well able 10 obey the order OF
the court, but is deliberately evading com
pHaucc.
In reply 20 this N1r. Devices said that his
client was not an agreeable one; - ht
was anxious 10 be counsel judge, and
jury I'm this whole matter.
After hearing both sides Justice Auder-
son stated that he would a,.OW MI Rcd
ney until D. m today 10 pay the bal
auce OF alimOny due; otherwise the de-
PENDANT. the court stated would be com
mitt.d for contempt. The amount Was
promptly paid.
Colbert a. Sellhausen appeared as COun-
. sci for Mrs Rodney