The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-11-10
FAIR HAW Allan
WINS DIVORCE
May Mott-Smith Bird, Heir
ess and Artist, Is Freed
From Man Who Left Her
BROTHERS. DEPOSITION
Honolulu Lawyer Says the
Husband Was Too Proud
to WOrk-Many Suits Filed
BROTHERS. DEPOSITION

Judge Hebbard yesterday granted a
divorce to May Mott-Smith Bird, artist
and one of the owners of the Mott
Smith estate in the Hawaiian Islands.
from John E. Bird, who deserted her
because her family would not let him
handle her finances. The affidavit of
the wife's brother, Ernest A Mott
Smith, a lawyer of Honolulu and man
ager of the estate, was read Bird is
in Norwood, Massachusetts,. When he
married the heiress in Boston in 1898,
the book value of her wealth was
$SS,742 81, but the brother says that in
reality it was only about $4,000 be-
cause of the depreciation of securities
held by the estate, which had not been
charged off the books. At the present
time the books show her to be worth
S13,539. but the real fortune, accord
Ing to the brother, is about S31, 900, and
Mrs. Birds sole support is her income
from this and her earnings as a de-
signer Of antique jewelry in this city.
Bird was working on the Boston
Herald for $50 a week and said that his
wife caused him to lose his position.
After that he would not accept a posi-
ton that was not in keeping with his
pride. In consequence he did nothing
but speculate with his wife's money.
When the Mott-Smith heirs We're pre-
pairing to incorporate the estate Bird
opposed and said that he was going to
manage his wife's property himself.
However they Incorporated and the
estate Is worth more than 100000.
WORK IN ISLANDS.
In 1900 the proud husband was in
duced TO go to Honolulu and was prom
1sed a position as clerk and book
keeper for the estate. Mr.. Mott-Smith,
however, found it advisable to retain
his old bookkeeper and made Bird
auditor. He was also paid to write re-
ports of the plantations owned by the
estate on several of the islands, but,
according to Mr.. Mott-Smith. these re-
ports were of little value and Bird de-
voted his trips to pleasure and So
ciety.
In August, 1909, says the deposition,
Mrs. Bird followed her husband to the
islands and three days later Bird told
his brother-in-law that they had some
differences which Mott-Smith was ask
ed to adjudicate. He declined to in
terfere in family troubles and selected
lawyers for Bird and his wife. No
settlement was reached, and three
weeks later Bird sailed for home. Prior
to that time, Mott-Smith offered to set
him UP in business, but his enterprises
came to nothing. He shrank from be-
ginnings," said the dependent. Refer
ring to Birds relations with his wife
her bore the ear-marks of spasmodic
infatuation, rather than sincerity. His
disposition darkened her natural buoy
ancy'
Divorces were granted yesterday by
Judge Graham to Anna NJ. Lingerfelder
from George F. Lingenfelder, a Union
Iron Works employe, for cruelty; by
Judge Hebbard to Edith NJ. Christen-
sen from Peter n. Christensen, deser-
ton; by Judge Sloss to Annie Maud
Shelton from Robert j. Shelton, deser-
ton. Judge Hebbard ordered Hippo
lyte Pradels, a lodging house keeper. to
pay his wife, Marie Pradels, $50 a
month alimony pending the trial of her
suit for divorce.
DIVORCE SUITS FILED.
Actions for the legal separation of
unhappy married couples were filed as
follows: Frances A. Brown against
Edward ]. Brown, desertion; Laura B.
Arthur against Edwin Arthur neglect
and desertion: Catherine c. Wheeler
against r. A. Wheeler, desertion; Mag
gle Kamalade against Herman Kama
lade, cruelty and desertion; Norma L.
Smith against Eddie P. Smith, neglect;
Annie Mabel Williamson against c.
Cyprus Y Williamson, cruelty lin this
case there are three children
the youngest six weeks old; John
Eberhard against Anna Eberhard, de-
sertion; Victoria l.. Grove against
Warren C. Grove, a seaman on the
u. SIS. Independence, intemperance and
neglect; Ethel c. orion against Arthur
w. orion, cruelty.
Bertha Joseph sued Isaac Joseph for
500 month maintenance. They were
married August 8 of last year and he
deserted her October last. She says
he has $1,000 in cash and earns $40 a
week.