New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-02
SAYS HEHAD THREE WIVES
B. s.. Strauss, Larcyer and Politician,
To Be Sued Again.

prooklvn. on account Of her husbands relations
with another who claims 10 be his Wlte'
Ida NJ Perkins of Plainheld \. J. AS her husband
has been missing since April IS. Mrs Strauss VIII
make application through her lawyer, Francis
William Russell. for order for service by pub
Hcation.
Mrs. IL NJ Strauss declares that in 1880 Strauss
met Ida NJ. Perkins who claims that she was mar
ried TO him by a Roman Catholic priest; and that
they had four children Of whom Baldwin f
Strauss, jr, the eldest was married recently. A
year so later Strauss met and married Estene
L. Ainsworth. Three boys were born TO them. and
Mr. Strauss sent the family TO Europe
Mrs. E. L. Strauss heard. while she was in Eng
land that her husband was living with another
family in Mount Vernon, where they had fine
place. She returned to this country at once. and
brought a successful suit for absolute divorce.
ce1ving $50 week almony, and $500 for the care
of the children. 1t was for contempt of court in
failing to pay this aImony that Mr.. Strauss spent
some time in the Raymond-st. jail in 1901.
The third wife was acquired the year after the
granting of the divorce. Strauss had been wCoing
her for some time. and they were married at on
tario, Canada, on June 5. 1891. Six children
born of this marriage.
COUNSEL FOR HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
Baldwin T. Strauss at time was counsel for
the Health Department in Brooklyn. and had
remunerative law practice. Once he a candi-
date for the nomination for Supreme Court Justice
He got into difficulties with his clients in recent
years. after the divorce proceedings brought in
1880 by Mrs Estelle L. Ainsworth Strauss.
On his release from Raymond Street Jail Strauss
resumed his law practice. but in April client of
his wanted an accounting, and on April % Strauss
disappeared from Brooklyn. An order of arrest is
in the hands of the police charging him with with
holding funds due a client.
Mrs. Strauss, the third wife is reputed TO be a
member of an old and wealthy Brooklyn family
and is said to be the owner of several pieces OF
property. including the premises at No 2l4 Presi-
dentist Nos. 81 and S3S Hasey-st. and No. $40
Warren-st, Brooklyn She acknowledges that she
knew Mrs Ainsworth Strauss obtained a divorce
from Strauss, but declares that it was not till
February last that she discovered he maintained
an expensive establishment in Plainfeld, n. j.
with a wife and several children
She says that after the divorce Strauss courted
her for several months. She then Mrs. Nc
Corrnack, and they were camping with merry
party at Orra. Ont, in the spring of 1891 She
consented TO marry him. knowing that he was a
divorced man. OF their children only one-Frank-
lin j Strauss, ten years old-survives Although
her husband was often away from home her sus-
picions were not aroused until one day in January
or February last, when she found in his pocket
a Communication pass to Painfed, n. J.
Mrs. NJ. NJ Strauss tells the story of the discov-
cry of Mrs. Strauss No. l as follows.
MRS NJ. NJ. STRAUSS STORY.
I went Plainheld the next day and inquired o.
the haeen at the depot If they knew gSn of one
c aa&n You mean Mr. Baldwin F. strauss the
Wei known Brooklyn lawyer. Yes. he hves az
s SGYSS H aso edes SON BALDWIN F Strauss r.
has Just been married. Drive you up for fifty
imagine my feelings, having been married to him
Existence of this other Mrs Strauss / drove up
to the place. found that it was all that was de-
scribed that it surrounded by spacious grounds
and that Mr. Strauss there maintained horses car
rages and coachman and lived in luxury. re-
turned to our home in President7st. BrookIyn, ana
awaited my husbands return When he came IN
II went over to PIainheld this afternoon, dear
The deuce you did," replied my husband.
easily and then l told him of what had learned
Ap 7y y ant 6Ter MONEY! e matters and
was going to his mothers house. have never
fodV i and gave me blank substGtions and other
Upon 9ns hrg P6 ms a PSdpeF letters and
papers disclosing the double life he had been lead
Since April 26 no definite news Of Strauss has
been heard. Shortly after his disappearance war
rant was sworn out for him. the ground that he
had failed to pay over moneys due to client. and
It is supposed that the expense Of maintaining two
establishments and paying alimony to a third
woman was more than his resources would endure.
In discussing the case, Mrs. NJ. NJ. Strausss law
yer said yesterday:
don't know what Will happen. When you are
oealS Win d LlaH VI Ills hIIS ~ IT, w. @
in ew-Jersey will claim TO be his common law
marriage vas performed about four years ago.
If the man denies either marriage the other woman
will make trouble for him, and II ne acknowl-
edges both he stands self-confessed bisamist. 1t
My client viii not accept any reconciliation. She
is going to obteif her freedom and obtain justice
last cent to ping the man who has betrayed her
woman is willing to receive him yet, but have
not seen her and do not know
ropa but am incned to think not heard from
two men at Bath Beach to-day. who said that Mr.
or four weeks He can't have been in Europe long
il he did that.
HIS PLAINFIELD RECORD.
Plainheld N J.. Aug. (speciaD.-Later develop
nents regarding the family complications of Bald
win F. Strauss, who a resident OF Plainheld
for nearly three years. have not cleared much Of
the mystery. Mrs. Ida NJ. Perkins Strauss. who
says that is the only legal wife. has gone with
her family TO New-York where It is believed she
is visiting her people. According to her statement
she does not know where her husband is. and from
what can be learned is not trying hard to find out
Mr.. Strauss left his family in April last. and Mrs
Strauss says that she has not him since.
While Mr.. Strauss we'll known IN Planheld
chiefly through his failure TO pay bills, especially
house rent. little is known concerning his life
When he and his family to this city. in 1900
they appeared to be well TO do and they lived in
good style. They rented large place in Grove
st. belonging to L. E Barkalew. but IN 1901 he had
to take steps to have them dispossessed for net
paying the rent. They then occupied E. s. F. Ran
dolph's house, in Park-aVe, and when they left 1t
East Ninth-st in James 3 Marines house. they
finally left that, too. with unpaid rent bill of
East Ffth Whc6 IS o % By e99
generally believed that Mr.. Strauss was practising
law in New-York, he frequently came into the local
courts where he acted as counsel for persons in
minor troubles While he defended others at times
he also called on to defend himself in various
just these matters amcably. In the latter part Of
his residence in this city little was seen Of Mr..
great extent with their friends and neighbors.
MORE INTERURBAN TRANSFERS.