Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-10-19
TWoMBLeY DIVORCE SUIT
Allre.r.oI. nl.4 BY PETITIONER
As ,:I 's WIFE.

Claims shesYas systematically Treat
ed Him yithUrnelty and Has
Threasened Him.
Proceedings for divorce were Instituted
late yesterday afternoon in the Supreme
court OF the District of Columbia by Henry
II Twomoleys Through Attorneys James
+. Scaggs, e. r. Hf1ipp and II. K. Beck
against Maria Louisa Twombley. The Pc
ttoner was until recently secretary of the
beard of education. and during the Span
ish-American war held commission pay
master of volunteers, with the rank of
major.
In his petition Maj. Twombley recites
that he and the defendant were married in
this city the Sd day of May.z1s6i. by the
Rev. Dr. Gillette, and that the maiden
name of the defendant was Maria Louisa
WARWICK. The couple lived together as
husband and wife until July, 1897. it Is ex-
planned, and there were born to them five
chlidren, three of whom are now dead and
Two OF whom, Lulu E., aged thirty-three
living.
Continuing, Maj. Twomhley sets forth
that long prior to July, 1897, his wife be-
gan to exhibit toward him IAN evil and III.
ha.afed temper, %and by threats, menaceS
and actions began a systemat tic persecution
OF MIN, both in public and in private; that
the defendant. without pretext or provoca-
Ilon whatsoever. has mistreated and NAL
treated the complainant, and in many vio-
rent outbursts of passion has threatened
MIN with bodily harm and injury, and on
numerous occasions has assaulted him
c ~,an phys,cai violence; all of which the
complainant for many years endured for
eie sake OF his children and in the hope
mat the defendant would in time realize
the injustice and cruelty of her treatment
70 hnir, r.,
reason why his home and his life in his
maturer years should be assailed and
wrecked
Injury to His business.
Major Twombley informs the court that
ne mas been for many years hampered End
seriously injured in his business or occupa-
tlon by continual complaints and reports
made by his wife to those under whom he
has been employed or with whom he has
been associated that during the late war
with spain he was appointed paymaster in
the united States army with the rank OF
major and that when his wife learned OF
! MS appointment, and in order to bring dis
credlt and disgrace upon him, she began
TO annoy the officers and officials of the
war department with malicious reports
ana opportunities. This continued from
time to time, he says, until and by reason
OF which the petitioner, to his great NORTH
cation and shame, was mustered out of The
military service of the United States his
wife, without his knowledge. followed him
to Savannah, Ga, where he was then sta
toned, and there made and circulated in
the boarding house where he was domiciied
false and slanderous statements to The
great injury of his reputation and good
name. That shortly thereafter he was
elected secretary of the board of education
of the District of Columbia and was again
and in like manner harassed and annoyed
by his wife, and to avoid publicity in mis-
private AFFAIRS he says, he resigned his
position; that he is now in the employ of
a local financial institution and is again
annoyed and harassed in a similar manner
by his wife.
Major Twombley charges that these al
legged acts We're committed by his wife for
the purpose and with the intention of in
Jurtng him in his business relations with
his employers and the public and consti-
tuted acts of gross cruelty.
Alleges Assault.
Continuing, Major Twombey asserts that
IN numerous occasions his wife Violently
assaulted him with great force: that she
pursued him with prosecutions even into
the church in which he was an officer and
in the work of which he took deep in
terest: and that on one occasion, during q
communion service in the church. she v;o-
lently pinched him, causing him great pain
and discomfort: that on another occasion,
In May, 1898, while in the testibule of the
CHufc Gil, HIS wire, Win great NlOlencS, as
saulted him with large fan, inflictins upon
him a serious wound compelling him TO
leave the church to secure attention t. the
Injuries inflicted; that his wife frequently.
While in attendance at church, applied vile
and wicked epithets to him and in mary
ways sought to compass his disgrace and
ruin; that because of the prosecutions he
was forced to abandon his attendance upon
the services and in the work of the church.
all of which actions, menaces ana con-
duct on the part of his wife, he declares.
were wholly without cause or provocatien,
were malicious and constituted acts OF
gross cruelty toward him.
The court Is informed by Major TWombley
that the conduct of the defendant has been
a long-continued series of prosecutions, and
her threats, menaces and actions nav and
now do endanger his health and life and
that his wife has been guilty of gross ard
wiilful cruelty toward him. and that the
things and acts complained Of have been
done by his wife for the express purpose
and with the Intention of causing him great
suffering both mental and physical"
Major Twombley further charges that his
wife has deserted him for period of more
than four years last past: that is, since
July 1897, and during the whole of the pc
Rod of more than four years has occupied
separate apartments from him; that she
has failed to perform the usual household
duties incumbent upon wife In that she
has refused him food and compelled him to
procure his meals best he could or at
places other than his home
In HIS own Defense.
In conclusion Major Twombley says that
| although he has always provided amply for
her support in accordance with his means
and has provided her with a comfortable
home and has always conducted himself as
true and faithful husband toward her.
she, ''in furtherance of her threats and ex-
pressed Intentions to ruin him and bring
him into disgrace and discredit, has con-
tracted large debts in the purchase of sun
dry articles of jewelry, including costly
diamonds and otherwise, far beyond his
| means and for which he is unable to pay,
and which are neither necessary nor suit
able to the station in life of said defend
ant" and he adds he is Involved in hti-
cation resulting from his refusal and in
ability to liquidate the debts and thereby
has been put to great expense and serious
embarrassment -