The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-10-20
GENEROUS TO WIFE
WHO SEEKS DIVORCE
Col. Heft, Millionaire, Gives Her Half
His Home and Liberal AIimony-
Sells His Costly Paintings.

BRIDGEPORT, Conn, Oct. 1S.-The
papers III the sIlit for absolute di-
vorce brought by Frances H. Heft
against Col. Nathan Fl. Heft have been
fled in the superior court. Col. Heft,
1t is said, with his accustomed gen.
crosby, has given his wife half Of his
household furnishings, and had agreed
to the amount of alimony she demand
ed. He is not to answer the divorce
proceedings and the case is to be rail-
roaded through the court. The colonel
says he will agree to anything to get
rid of his wife.
The climax came early last spring,
when Col. Heft engaged Nordica to
sing III his handsome house on Park
avenue. That was but one of many
entertainments given by Col. Heft, to
which Mrs. Heft emphatically object
ed. The entertainment in question
was in honor of Henry c. Prick, the
steel magnate, John Fritz, and Judge
John M. Hall, president of the New
York and Boston railroad. Several
other railroad and steel men were pres
ent. Nordica received $4,000 for her
services. The supper was supplied by
New York caterer After the ban
quet was over Col. and Mrs. Heft 1t Is
said, quarreled, and in less than
month she left home.
The neighbors were astonished when
one day seven big vans took away
the Heft place. Following the vans,
closely yelled, was Mrs. Heft. She was
taken to the depot by her son, DR..
Stanley Heft, in his automobile.
Directly opposite the Heft place lives
Mrs. Omens. She watched for the re-
turn of DR.. Heft. He turned into the
driveway Of the Read place just north
o. I@PE l..1
on the lawn by Miss May Read. Ac-
cor6ing to Mrs. Omens, DR.. Heft threw
himself into Miss Reads arms and
sobbed as if his heart would break. DR..
Heft has paid devoted attention to
Miss Read for six years, and although
engaged, his mother would not consent
to the marriage. With the Directing
mother gone the youth naturally turn.
ed to the girl of his choice for SYM
pathy. Miss Read is a daughter of the
late Senator Read and a niece of the
late P. T. Barnum. It is believed she
and DR.. Heft will wed before the snow
flies.
Col N H Heft and Frances Helene
Chase were married in Easton, Pa, In
1871. They came to this city ten years
ago and Col. Heft built the splendid
house on Park avenue, which with the
grounds and furniture cost $275, 900. He
a collection valued by Carl Blenner at
$250.o00.
The day Mrs. Heft left home there
appeared in the local newspapers an
advertisement offering Col. Heft's resi-
dence, horses and carriages and his
collection Of paintings for sale. The
colonel, it is said, sold about half of
his pictures for s225,OO0. They were
boxed by Mr.. Wallis, the local art
dealer. and were shipped to New York
The horses have also been sold, but
as yet the home remains Col. Hefts
property.
Some of Col. Hefts pictures were for
several years on exhibition in the New
York Metropolitan Museum Of Art
They are by such artists as Sir Joshua
Reynolds, Turner. Landseer, Bonnat,
Messonier, Cabanel and Alma Tadema.
1t was in his splendid picture gallery
that Col. .Heft gave his dinners. FIRE.
quently 250 guests were seated.
Col. Heft is interested in mines and
oil wells in Pennsylvania and in sys-
tens of electric roads in various points
Of the country. He bought up the local
horse railroad lines here, and within a
year established the present system Of
trolley lines.
1t is said that the trouble between
man and wife arose because the col
onel was fond of society, while Mrs
Heft did not care for the people she
met at the Country club and at social
functions.