The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-01-04
Court Decides That Her Contract
With Paymaster Rodney
Is Void.
SHE HAD SUED FOR WAGES.
Judge Rules That Agreement Oper'
ated to Separate Husband and
Wife-Mrs. Rodney's Lat
est Statement.

REPU BI.IC SPECIAL
Washington. Jan. 3.-Robert Burton Rod
ney. retired paymaster of the navy, need
not pay s67 claimed as wages TO Miss
Elizabeth Cole. cousin and companion OF
his bride. Justice Callan to-day held that
the monopoly by Miss Cole OF Mrs. Rodney
TO Mr.. Rodneys exclusion. made the con-
tract void.
Proceedings to-day consisted in the hear
ing Of the argument on both sides. The de-
fense laid stress on the relations between
Mrs Rodney and Miss Cole. Mr.. voorhees,
counsel for Mr.. Rodney. said the verbal
contract entered into between Mr.. Rodney
and Miss Cole was void. as it operated 70
separate husband and wife. Miss Cole. he
continued, should be sued for alternating the
affections of the paymaster's wife Mr..
Rodney he portrayed being an elderly
man, drawing fair salary, and with pri
vate means, and ended by saying he wa
an easy mark" He pointed out that both
Mrs Rodney and Miss Cole were very
young women
Declares Contract Null
Mr. Archer. for Miss Cole. showed the
existence OF contract and demanded sal
ary from November TO December =, when
MIR Rodney gave formal notice to Miss
cole to leave MS hoCse. Air. Archer re-
ferred prieny to mr.. kO0neys numerous let
lRTS
acter InaI they couId not be used IN eVi-
.ius,ice Callan created surprise when he
rUied tnat the contract eNiuen,ty KEPT Sli
KO.uey from mis- wife, anu Inat MSS COic
mao lao case. he reiefTed 10 Ine tesuHl"hy
OF Air hvuney mat on Jne JOufIeJ from
Toronto. Cansida, 10 ,nls eiiy. MES ; Sole
mad Slammed the door OF the cOhlpdI tineht
IN the Irdni IN ms lace anu locked 1t Inc
court further saId mat Mr. Rodney wouiu
have made an acceptaoie wltness. - -
Nar f.ll
new tr,aI. anu said ne would bring MIS-
Rooney into court. -
AIRS. Rooney ana Miss Cole still live in
the same mouse with tne Paymaster The
br,de's petition IOr support has not yct
been answered by Mr.. r,ouney. A petition
| tor a temporary allowance VIII DE hIeu 10
/ IA, rTov This II II expected. will bring the
whole controversy to "a settlement
According to statement gwen OFT TINS
| evening. on benaif OF slrs. Rouney and NJ ~
| Coie. fiodney nrst met mis- wife two years
ago in Buffalo and. II is claimed. proposed
| marriage To her few hours after tney mad
been introduced
! Mrs. Rodney's Statement.
Mrs Rodney has magnificent voice, and
| her one ambition IN Lire mad been T. become
| "a great singer. TO accomplish tnis she was
wining To make almost any sacrince. but,
though the family comes from the English
aristocracy. il had become reduced hnan-
ciaIly and the means could not be PROVIDED.
| Rodney, It is said. professed great admira
ton for the girls vosai accomplishment: nt:
| and promised that IL she would marry hin
| she should go to Europe for two year
| for training under the best masters. 1t /!
| claimed that Rodney represented that II
| addition to his salary as retired nava
| officer, he had a large income as "a claims
| attorney. and possessed a large private for
Emphatic denial is made that Mrs. Rod
ney has failed in her duty as wife. Sh'
| asserts that she was true TO all her MARTA
to publicly reeoTniaa hsT his ~ifs