Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1903-05-17
BUT CORA LoTHRoP PATTERSON GOES
Collision Of Two Women at Council Bluffs
Interrupts Excursion.
IFE REsENTs INTRUSION OF DIVORCE
Intrigue is Said to Have Been in Progress
Many Months.
PARTIES PROMINENT IN OMAHA CIRCLES
Sensational Outcome of = Society
Scandal that Has Been Quietly
Brewing in HiEh-Up
Places.

Places.
People who were on the platform at the
northwestern depot in Council Blufs were
treated to the novel sight OF seeing ono
well dressed, handsome woman take
genuine Jeffries poke at the face of an
other well dressed. handsome woman.
The first woman was Mrs George p.
Cronk Of this city, wife of the grand ex-
alted ruler of the Elks, and the second
was Mrs. Cora Lothrop Patterson, who
very recently figured in sensational di-
vorce suit in Omaha. In the party tho
most interested spectator was George p.
Cronk.
Mr.. Cronk had started for the east on
the night flyer over the Northwestern,
leaving the Omaha depot at S:l5 D. m. Mrs.
Cronk, whose suspicious had been aroused,
insisted on accompanying her husband as
far as Council BLUFFS. On the platform at
the uptown depot was Mrs. Patterson, ac-
companied by her little son and usual lug
gage, all ready to board the train.
No preliminary sparrlng was INDUCED in.
AS soon as Mrs. Cronk saw the woman
who has come between her and her hus-
band she struck at her, and II was all Off.
Mr.. Cronk disappeared in the darkness:
Mrs. Patterson was assisted on board the
train and proceeded east, and Mrs Cronk
was taken by friends to the Grand hotel.
where she was in state bordering on col
lapse for some hours During her hyster-
ical moments Mrs. Cronk said several times:
He told me he would decide tonight be-
tween that woman and me-"
She was unable then TO make n con-
nected statement of the affair, and the
friends who were with her refused to allow
necessary. About II o'clock Mrs. Cronk
was brought back to Omaha. accompanied
by W. A. Maurer and William Moore.
Neither of these gentlemen would say
word for publication.
Mrs. PattersOn's Maneuvers.
kIrs. Patterson and her son have been
staying at the Grand for about three weeks.
At s:15 last night she paid her bill. and
calling a carriage, was driven TO the depot.
intending to take the. train.s During the
time She was staying at CouncH Bluffs
Mrs. Patterson has met with Mr. Cronk
almost daily in Omaha, the pair going to-
gether quite publicly to a fashionable
restaurant to take luncheon. This in
timacy has been much remarked. as both
parties to 1t are so well known In Omaha.
Mrs. Patterson first broke into public
notice In Omaha about two years ago. when
she came here from Richmond. Va. to an
swer a suit for divorce brought by her hus-
band, who charged her with infidelty and
named a travelling salesman as correspond
ent. She filed a cross-bill and set up
charges of extreme cruelty, alleging among
other things that his father, who is a mill
lionaire tobacco manufacturer. had brbed
his son to bring the suit for divorce. Mrs
Patterson, who is a preposse7sing blonde.
with a fine carriage and good address, and
who admits that she was once on the stage
succeeded in obtaining the entree to a cir
Gle Of Omaha not the most exclusive but
certainly not the most open. She could
sing and did sing in some OF the fashion
able churches, and succeeded in working
up quite a following OF admirers locally
When after many legal maneuvers her case
was finally settled. and she was granted a
divorce. together with the custody of the
child and certain sum Of money for ALI
mony, she dropped from the social circle
in which she had been shining with more
or less uncertain light and left the city
She has been here of and on since then,
but has not been prominent in any degree
Positions of the Parties.
Efforts to locate Mr. Cronk last night
were vain He returned to the city after
the scene in Council Bluffs. and is presumed
to be at one of the hotels. He is well
known, and his election at the Salt Lake
convention by the Elks to be the head Of
their order was looked upon as most
popular move. He was starting last night
on trip to Virginia. where he was to ac-
cept on the part of the order the national
home which is TO be dedicated next Sunday.
Locally he was prominent in social AFFAIRS.
nf he I,o
the Country club. In business no was con-
nected with coal company. 1t is matter
of common report that he and Mrs. Patter-
son had been on other trips together and
that their intrigue had extended over a
year OF more.
Late in the evening. when The Bee re-
porter called at the, Cronk residence at
ZOOS Dewey avenue. Mrs. Cronk was found
IN neglige and hysterical. At first she would
say nothing. and the maid would not omen
the door more than a crack, while Mrs.
Cronk stood back in the hall sobbinR. In
answer to questions. she said that her hus-
band was IN the city. but she did not know
where. He had not returned home since
changing his mind about leaving.
Yes" she said. ''he was going to the
Elks' home in Virginia. and 1 was only
going with him as far as Council Bluffs. I
did not know he was not going alone until
Mrs. Patterson stepped on the train there ."
''Will he come back here, home? No I
wish with all my heart though, that ba
would. l love the very ground he walks
on, but he treats me like dog and spends
his time and runs around with that other
woman"
She would say nothing more. The door
was closed and the blinds drawn down.
Mr.. and Mrs. Cronk have been living 10
gether in a iat at 96Os Dewey avenue
They have two children, both girls. aged
about 10 and 8 years.