The sun., 1902-02-04
AS TO COCKTAIL BREAKFASTS.
COMMON THING IN THE ELDER
HOUSEHOLD, IT'S SAID,
With MIR. Cooper Taking Place OF Mr. Elder
cigarette Butts at Mrs. Elders Plate
--Domestics Tell Tales on Mistress
Custody Of Children with Mr.. Elder.

Francis W. Elder and three domestics
who have been in his household told by
affidavit TO Justice Gilderseeve, in the
Supreme Court yesterday. of cocktail
breakfasts with cigarette Accomplishments
which they alleged were OF frequent oc-
currence in the Elder home during the
absence Of the master of the house, the
participants being Mrs. Elder and one
Julian j. Cooper, a married man.
Mr.. Elder, who is suing his wife for separa-
tion on the ground Of desertion, had his
three children, ranging in age from to
years, in court In obedience to writ
OF habeas corpus, sued out by Kathryn
NJ Elder, his wife. In her answer to her
husbands suit Mrs. Elder said she had
just cause for divorce because Of alleged
misconduct by her husband with one
Mary Williams, employed by him. She
said, however. that she was Roman Catho-
lie and for that reason refrained from suing
for an absolute divorce.
Replying 10 this charge, Elder finally
admitted single lapse in conduct, for
which he has repented and he said he had
led a blameless life since. He said he
kept three servants, and his wife after
insisting on a fourth servant finally had,
in addition, n seamstress come 10 live at
their house from a hospital where she had
been acting as nurse. 1t was declared
by him that the seamstress was brought
there to effect his downfall and he averred
that his wife. with the aid OF Cooper, would
pose the seamstress before him and point
out the contour of her arms and ankles.
Affidavts were filed with the court in
support of Elders assertion that his wife
had been guilty OF misconduct with Julian
J. Cooper. In his affidavit Elder said that
he lived happily with his wife from their
marriage, in 1895 till 1900, when Cooper
became "A resident of their house, against
his protest. He said that Cooper made
himself quite at home in his house while
he himself was al work and that when he
complained TO his wife of her conduct,
she would throw at him his full and frank
confession regarding which, he assumed.
he had been forgiven.
He complained that Cooper and his wife
Mrs. Elder-smoked cigarettes and drank
cocktails and the afiidavits OF three do
mestics that were introduced corroborated
him Scenes at the Elder home, 5?2 West
I4Oth street, while Cooper was living or
visiting there were described quite fully
by these servants, Margaret Harris said;
"Mr. Cooper used 10 come around in the
morning after Mr. Elder had gone TO busi
ness and he and Mrs Elder would have
breakfast together. Frequently at these
times / saw them drink cocktails and j
found cigarette butts at Mrs. Elders place.
and she told me she enjoyed a good cigarette
now and then. Sometimes, after break
fast, when Mr.. Cooper lived in the house.
they used 10 fool after breakfast, and have
seen Mr.. Cooper catch Mrs Elder and hold
her around the waist ! came into the
dining room one morning and saw him
holding Mrs. Elder on his lap with both
arms around her.
She also said that Cooper assisted Mrs.
Elder in dressing
Lizzie Welden, another domestic. said
that when Mr.. Cooper came for his cock
tail breakfasts he would 60 TO the foot of
the stairs and call:
-Kittie, aren't you up yet?-
And many times. she said. instead OF
calling. he would go upstairs 20 arous 9
Mrs. Elder.
Mamie Hogan, another employee. said
that she had seen Cooper kiss Mrs. Elder
on two occasions. She said that when
Mrs Elder was Ill from sprain received
sat and smoked cigarettes with him while
she was clad only ia a wrapper,
In Mrs. Cooper's suit for separation from
her husband, which is pending, she alleged
that her husband had received gifts of fine
underwear and money while lie was not
working. which he said Elder gave him
Mrs. Cooper said that Elder denied these
gifts aud she believed Mrs. Elder was the
donor
Justice Glldersleeve ordered that the
children John Winchester Elder, years
old. Kathryn Elder, years, and Florence
Gertrude Elder. 3 years old. la left In the
custody of the father. the mother being
allowed 90 see them at intervals. pending
further order of the Court.