The San Francisco call., 1903-12-18
Wife of DIR. Richard Anthony
Testifies in Suit to Set Aside
Husbands Divorce Decree
CRUEL ACTS ALLEGED
Unhappy Woman UnfOlds a
Story of Alleged Ill Treat
ment That Borders on Torture

thOny in support or her plea to have a
decree of divorce secured by her hus-
band, DR.. Richard S. Anthony, set
aside, the latter has been extremely
cruel to his spouse. The story of ner
sufferings, unfolded by the woman, is
a sad one.
Mrs. Anthony accuses her husband
of sending her to a sanatorium and
keeping her under drugs in order that
he might secure separation from her
She charged that he wanted to send her
to an insane asylum and nearly accom-
plished his purpose. She accuses him
of having compelled her to confess that
she had been guilty of acts of infidelity,
of which she was entirely innocent.
Throughout the giving of. this sensa-
tionaI testimony the husband laughed
and seemed to enjoy it.
1t will be shown by Attorney Grant
Carpenter, who represents the unfortu-
nate wife, that as soon as DR.. Anthony
secured a divorce from her he jour
neyed to Yuma, Ariz., and married a
woman who had nursed the first wife.
The story of the husbands alleged
cruelty and the facts leading up to
their marriage have been told before,
but will be read again with interest.
COMES OF RICH FAMILY.
Mrs. Anthony before her marriage
was Miss Vessels She is a native of
South Africa and comes of one of the
leading families of that distant coun-
try She is a cousin of President
Steyn, the great Boer leader, and one
of her uncles represented the Beers at
the peace conference. 1t appears that
she met DR. Anthony when he was a
missionary in South Africa. She fell in
love with him and used her influence
and money to elevate him. She took
him to Battle Creek, Mich, and he en-
tered a preparatory school for the
study of medicine. Having completed
his studies he came to this city and
entered the Cooper Medical College
and upon graduating he was able, by
the assistance of his wife. to take
post-graduate course at Ann Arbor,
Mich. subsequently he went to Africa
and was given charge of big sanato-
rum owned by the relatives of his wife.
About this time the BOer troubles be-
gan and Dr. Anthony became mixed up
in them He was charged with nigh
treason by the British Government and
came within an ace of being shot. 1t
was through the efforts of the woman
he is alleged to have wronged that he
secured his release.
DR. Anthony came to this country
and Joined his wife and two children,
who had come TO this city. DR.. An
thony is alleged to have begun his
cruel treatment of his wife while they
were living at S13 Oak street. He ac-
cused her of having acted lin an un-
Iadylike manner while coming to this
country. He accused her of kissing
men and being found in their apart
ments, all of which she denies.
FILES SUIT FOR DIVORCE.
While his wife was in the st. Helena
Sanatorium the doctor filed suit for a
divorce on the ground of desertion. The
papers were served on her and she did
not offer any battle in court. On the
contrary, she tried her best to save her
husband and believed that if 'at the
end of six months she was chastened"
he would remarry her Judge Hebbard
granted Anthony a divorce on July 16,
1902. because the wife made no appear
ance.
On April 90 1903. the wife brought
suit to have the decree of divorce an
nulled, and in her complaint alleged
that during the time said suit for d-
vorce was pending, said plaintiff was
restrained of her liberty by said de-
fendant and was held in confinement
by said defendant and was by said de-
fendant prevented from obtaining
counsel and from making any defense
Of the said suit for divorce"
She further alleged that she was
given drugs while an inmate of the ST.
Helena Sanatorium and was forced to
write letters in which she admit
ted that she had been guilty of
improper conduct, and that the SAID
admissions were false.
The suit for annulment came to trial
Yesterday. Messrs. Lee, Coglan and
Carpenter appeared for the plaintiff,
and Messrs. Dorm, Dorm & Savage ap-
peared for the defendant.
John T. Stanton, q mining man whose
office is in the Chronicle building, was
the first witness called. He testified
that he had seen DR.. Anthony and his
wife on the street during the pending
of the suit for divorce. This proof was
offered to show that Mrs. Anthony had
not deserted her husband. Mr.. Stanton
said he knew of the divorce proceedings
and evinced surprise at seeing the hus-
band and wife together. He said the
doctor became excited and told Stan
ton and the lady he was accompanying
that he would explain all some other
time. Both Stanton and the lady with
him were somewhat Mortified at the
doctors peculiar actions
DR.. r. A. Buchanan was called as a
witness to tell of Mrs. Anthony's stay
in the branch of the st. Helena Sana-
torium at 1896 Market street He was
unable to give any relevant testimony
and was allowed to depart.
MRS. ANTHONY ON STAND.
Mrs. Anthony was placed on the
stand and occupied the entire day tell
ing of her life with the doctor. Her
story was dramatic in the extreme
and held a large crowd in the court
room.
She told of her arrival in this city