The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-17
"SNAKES!" SAYS MRS, BURNETT
COCKTAILS" RETORTS BI RNETT
AND ISSUES JOINED.
Husband OF the Young Woman Who wouldn't
Elve with Reptiles. and Who Would
Dance. Charges That she Smokes and
Drinks and IL Altogether Too Sporty.

Dance, Charges That She Smokes and
Drinks and IL Altogether Too Sporty.
Harold Livingston Burnett of AZ Living
ston street. Brooklyn, whose wife, Cornelia
Cary Hull Burnett, is suing him for sep
| aratlon on the ground that he keeps snakes
| in the house and will not allow her to 20
| to dances and parties. says that in his opin-
| ion his wife is lust as fond of snakes as he
il and that during their courtship and
honeymoon she used to fondle and feed
them with apparent enjoyment
He admits that he forbade her to go to
dances, as he considers dancing to be ex-
tremely injurious TO the moral welfare of
women whose temperament is similar to
that of his wife. He says that his wife
has consorted with improper persons,
not withstanding his circumstances, that
she drinks strong liquors, especially cock
tails, and that, worse than all she smokes
cigarettes persistently, both in and out
of the house,
All these statements of young BuTnett's,
and many more besides, are contained in
the atficiavis which he submitted to Supreme
Court Justice Lambert in Brooklyn YES
terday, in opposition TO Mrs. Burnett's
application for temporary alimony pending
the trial of her suit. Justice Lambert
reserved decision.
The Rurnetts were married in October,
1901. and went Immediately to live with
his parents, where they remained, except
for short intervals, until she left the house
last month after an alteration caused by
her ha wing danced at the Brooklyn Poly
technic Institute.
Mrs. Burnett says that her husband
abused her, both in actions and in words.
and that the premature birth of her child
was due to his cruelty. Briefly summarized
her complaint is as follows;
He has only bought me two dresses since
we were married, and only gave me 50. so "A
week pocket money, lie stopped my credit
at the stores. ana then began to abuse me
violently. left his house. going to my sis
ter's but he begged me to return and did
That was only last May. but he started in
abusing me again right away.
He has always been reptile fancer, keep
Ing as many AS seven snakes around the house
Most Of them were harmless. but some were
poisonous. lie kept one boa constructor
and several venomous fer-de-anCe snakes
Often when opened drawer or went TO the
bookcase | would be confronted by one of
them. Once tainted on seeing a big snake
in the bookcase. as went to get out book.
he PROMISED To give them mp, but never did
When l returned from the Polytechnic
dance on June 10 and he learned that I had
been dancing with Mr.. Henry Journcay,
he few into rage, called me vile names and
ordered me 30 get out feared him so that
] packed my trunk that night and went to
my parents home, where I have since re-
sided.
Mrs. Burnett adds that Burnett has since
failed TO contribute TO her support, though
he has an income of over $1,000 A year
She says li,' has largo bank account and
n credit with Il stockbroking firm of over
900. ard told her that he was worth
over 81 ,OO0.Ooo.
Burnett, on his side, says that he il totally
dependent on the charity Of his paTents
Coming down to snakes he asserts that
before their marriage his wife visited his
parents country horne in White Plains
Tor eight or nins weeks, and during that
time II was h@r habit daily to catch 'oads
and frogs, which she personally fed to his
pet snakes Since their marriage he
allog slle has frequently amused her
self and her friends With his collection,
taking some OF the reptiles around with
her and giving them to her girl friends
Mrs. Burnett, mother OF tho defendant,
makes an affidavit in which she confirms
everything that her son has said She
@vs that the young wife drank hard and