The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1902-06-30
WE'D OR co TO JAIL
Queer Story Told By Clerk
Ruggles in Defending
Maintenance Suit.
DESERTED WIFE WANTS SUPPORT
His Counsel Denies There
Was Any Duress and
Makes Serious
Charges.
DESERTED WIFE WANTS SUPPORT

A motion made before Vice Chancel-
lor Pitney this morning for counsel fees
and alimony. pending a suit for main
stenance and support, unfolded q queer
story respecting a well known young
man of this city. The suit was that of
Mrs. Florence Ruggles against her hus-
band, Charles Ruggies, clerk in the
Second National Bank and son of a for
mer city official.
Mrs. Ruggles, represented by her coun-
sci, Judge Otto Grouse. stated in her Pc
tition that she was married to Mr.. Rug
giles on April 1S, 1901, before Justice of
the Peace Alonzo Crawford, of this city,
and that Immediately after the ceremony
Mr. Ruggles abandoned her and went to
live with his parents at No. $40 Pavonia
avenue She declared that he had failed
to support her. In December, 1901, a
child was born, and Mrs. Ruggles said
that her husband had not provided for
its support. She has no livelihood and
is solely dependent on her mother. Often,
she said, she had requested him to pro-
vide for her and his child, but he had
refused
RuGGLEs' STATEMENT.
Counselor D. W. McCrea, Ruggles's
counsel, handed to the Vice Chancellor
his clients answer, in which the follow
ing peculiar statement is made by Rug
giles as to the alleged marriage, which,
he declares, is Illegal
"A messenger from the office of
Grouse & Perkins called at his place
of business and requested him to go at
once to the office of Grouse & Perkins.
Ne 76 Montgomery street, but refused
to disclose to this defendant for what
purpose he was wanted at said office.
This defendant went to said office and
and Alonzo Crawford, d justice of the
peace; Florence Merritt, the complain
ant in the suit, and her mother, Mrs.
Merritt. This defendant was there in
formed by Randolph Perkins that the
said Florence Merritt was about to be-:
come a mother and that the defendant
was responsible for her condition and.
/
said Florence Merritt.
CONTINUED THE ANSWER
This defendant requested the said
Perkins to postpone the plan laid out for
him until the following morning. that he
might havef an opportunity to consult
with his parents and investigate the cir
cumstances surrounding the case and the
condition of the said Florence Merritt,
which request was peremptorily refused
by said Perkins, and this defendant was
told by him that unless he submitted
TO marriage ceremony at once, an
officer who was in waiting outside the
door, would Immediately arrest him and
the said Perkins told tile justice of the
peace to proceed with the ceremony,
which he did, and that this defendant
was an unwilling party to the proceeding,
and so declared himself repeatedly, and
when he was asked whether he would
take the said Florence Merritt to be his
lawful wife, answered emphatically that
he would not: the said justice of the
peace looked to the said Perkins and the
said Florence Merritt, and, in response
to an affirmative nod from the said Per-
kins. continued with the ceremony. not
withstanding this defendants refusal to
take the said Florence Merritt to be his
| wife,
swEARs TO DuREss.
In closing Ruggles swears that the
marriage was made under duress and
not only without his consent but by dis
sent. He added that he had offered to
pay his wife So week for the childs
support. but she had refused to take that
sum.
The Vice Chancellor having read the
papers made inquiry as to the defen-
dant's ability" to pay. 1t was said that
he received $40 month from the bank
and an order was made for $50 counsel
fees and So week support pendente lite
Counsellor Randolph Perkins, whose
name has been used in the answer, was
seen, by News representative as to
the .'duress marriage and he had this
to say
THAT is utterly untrue. The facts
are these. Because of two very serious
charges made against Ruggles in his re-
lations with the daughter of Mrs. Mer-
ritt complaint was made at the police
station and warrant issued. BY advice
all the parties came to my office and
! Ruggles was there represented by ex-
Mayor Henry Traphagen. He was given
the alternative of going to jail on the
charges preferred or marrying Miss Mer-
ritt. He confessed the truth Of the
charges, one of which was Of very
serious nature indeed, and consented to
the ceremony. There was no duress at
all. That's absurd