The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-02-26
Lawyer Ersklas Brings Suit
Against Wife for DiveIes.
WITNESSES TELL ODD STORIES.
Say Mrs. ErskIas Proposed 10 Give Rscsp.
tIuns 10 Which She INTENDED 10 Invite
MI Irish Policemen.

New York. Feb. accomplishing that
his wife has been too attentive to the
hired man in her home, In Elizabeth,
n. j.. and producing testimony that she
had asked ''all the Irish policemen in New
York" to reception I'm her house. John
X. Erskine, Jr., has brought a suit for
divorce In the Supreme court. Its trial
was begun yesterday before Judge Scott
and a jury.
Erskine Is member OF the law firm OF
Evarts. Van Cott & Efskine. His wife,
Marie Antoinette Erskine In the daugh-
ter OF Mr., and Mrs. Dennis Beach. of
Milford, Conn. whom he married on June
30. 1896
Her brother Harry Beach. was class
mate OF Erskine in Columbia university.
For time the couple lived In Elizabeth,
n. j., but Mrs. Erskine. who is about IS
years OF age, for about year has been
living at 105 last Fifteenth street.
lie was the attorney for Francis j.
oakes. a millionaire. who after two trials
in the same court room. was defeated in
an effort 10 obtained divorce against his
wife, Adelaine Estelle Sullivan oakes.
THOMAS WARD is NAMED.
Former Surrogate Ransom is counsel
for Mr.. Erskine, who complains of his
wife's attentiops to Thomas Ward, who,
he says, was Installed I'M the Elizabeth
house. Mrs. Erskine is represented by
John Brooks Lsavitt. and denies the
charges against her
Erakipa that fay months of,ar
their marriage his wife began acting
strangely. She tried to kill herself several
times, he declares, and he feared she
would try TO kill him
In 1898 Dennis Beach, her father. killed
himself in Providence. Then Erskine says
he learned that on Aug. 81 1888 the girl
he afterward married had been committed
by Judge Giegerich to Sanford Hall sani-
tarium.
His wife drove their servants away
from their home I'm Elizabeth ne alleges
and Installed Ward Instead.
DECORATOR TELLS OF WARD.
Walter r. Rathbun. who had been en-
gagged to decorate the Erskine cottage at
Elizabeth, testified:
II asked her II she did not think IL
wrong 10 live alone in the house with
Ward, whom she said she had hired 10
take care OF the place, and she replied
am not afraid of man or devil with him
around
He testified that Mrs. Erskine told him
she intended TO give receptions but she
did not know whether her husband would
come TO the house or not. "She said she
was going 10 dress Ward up and make
him master OF ceremonies She declared
she would have no women about She
said she had notified all the Irish police
men that they would be welcome but all
VINO came would have TO have the long
green. -
q. Did she say anything about Mr..
Erskine. A. Yes. She said he would
have 20 have Totes OF the long green"
the same as the Others.
BOUGHT "ToMMY's" CLOTHES.
Arthur Jarrett, who worked with Rath-
bun at the Erskne house, testified that
Mrs. Erskine showed him blue serge
suit, n fedora hat and some shirts and
neckties she had bought for Ward. whom
she used TO call Tommy"
Sarah Randolph, a laundress testified
that Mrs. Erskine and Ward acted as IL
they were husband and wife.
She was scandaiized because "A blanket
she had thrown over a parlor chair for
Tom Ward 10 cover himself with. for
sleep on the sofa, had not been disturbed
over night
Mrs. Erskine told her she and Tommy
played pinochle evenings.
Elizabeth Watkins testified that Mrs.
Erskine anc Ward had been seen out
driving together.