The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-10-16
Rice Sells Latest Invention and
viii Do Remarked.
DIVORCED LAST SUMMER
Cid Love z kind ed Wh9n He Signed The
Pledge Mrs. RlCa AoN 10 Europe
Stuiyng Music.

Philadelphia. Oct 16.-Coupled with the
announcement that John V. Rice. the
Philadelphla inventor. has sold his great
est invention, rock drill operated by
gasoline. to a syndicate for SJo00O0. is the
statement that he Is to remarry his for
mer wife. Mrs Christine Wetherll Rice.
Mrs. Rice obtained an absolute divorce
IN the Philadelphia courts June 4, 1892. af-
ter one OF tho most sensa tional trials In
tho history OF that city
The marriage OF John V. Rice, then 26.
and Miss Christine Wetherll. only 10.
the beautiful daughter OF Samuel Price
Wotherill, millionaire president OF the
zinc trust, was a society event In Phila-
delphia In 1897. Rice. as described In the
divorce proceedings brought one year
ago. was. when himself the kindest and
most loving OF men. But. according TO
the testimony Of his wife, sne discovered
him TO be an inordinate drinker.
From two TO three quarts OF whiskey
was his wifes estimate OF his daily po-
tations.
TOLD OF ALLEGED CRUELTIES.
In her testimony Mrs Rice said that
after working hard at his inventions all
day Rice would get drunk at night, bring
workmen to the house and force her 10
play the plano for them until early in
the morning.
When told a meal was waiting for him
he often ordered the servants to take It
on the table and not TO put IL on again
without his permission. Mrs Rice swore
that her ill-treatment included such acts
as striking her with cane, pouring whis-
key in her hair and down her back. or
hx.
the accompaniment of bass drum and
phonograph. depriving her OF money for
household necessities and her own needs,
continual intoxication. brandishing pis-
tol in her face and abusing her relatives.
on one occasion he IS said TO have
locked her out of the house, with orders
to stay away, all night, Seeing her take
refuge In a hammock he poured water
on her and kept her i'm the wood shed
until o'clock In the morning.
Dragging her from her bed by the hair
and requiring her TO sing at o'clock In
charged In court.
PREDICTION COMES TRUE.
4 During the proceedings Frank f. Van
derveer. OF this city. Rice's lawyer. pre-
dicted that the couple eventually would
settle their differences. This prediction.
has been opened between Mr. Rice IN
Philadelphia and Mrs. Rice, who is in
Europe pursuing vocal studies.
Mr.. Vanderveer, when seen, said he
had no specific Information regarding the
remarriage. He verified the report OF
the sale OF the rock drill inventions, and
although he would not give figures, he
said the sum paid exceeded the amounts
mentioned in the rumors
Rice is regarded as an inventive genius.
He got his first patent when he was sew
enteen years old for a triple cylinder gas
and steam engine. Since then he has
taken out more than fifty patents among
them a new projectile for warships that
cannot be exploded before leaving the
gun.
Mrs Rice is a woman or rare beauty,
and was considered the belle OF Philadel-
phia at the time Of her marriage. The
fact that since the divorce Rice has TAX
en- the pledge and kept II Is said 30 be
the reason for the renewal OF the love
affair