New-York tribune., 1905-08-10
WIFE SUES c. Y. FORNES.
SEEKS Il SEP4R4TION.
President of Board Of Aldermen
Denies Charge of Desertion.

II was learned yesterday that papers had been
served Charles Y Fornes. president of the
Board Of Aldermen. and now acting Mayor of
the city. in a suit brought by his wife for
separation the ground of desertion Mrs
Fornes wants annual allowance of $4,000 a
year instead OF S25OO. which she has received
through the four five years in which she has
lived apart from her husband. The papers were
served on Mr. Fornes just as he landed after his
recent trip abroad. When he was seen in his
Office at the city Hall yesterday afternoon he
expressed surprise that the story of his marital
troubles had reached the public. He said;
No papers IN any such suit have been served
upon me. and l did not know that such suit
was contemplated My wife is nervous wreck.
suffering. she has suffered for long time,
with insomnia, and this suit, if such suit has
been begun. shows that she has listened to de-
signing persons instead of trusting her Oldest
and best friend. My wife was in poor health
before marriage. the result. as understood
IL. Of narrow escape from death in a burning
house. | married her with the sincerest desire
10 make her A happy home. and have nothing
with which to reproach myself. For fear that
she might be lonely took her father and mother
and sister 10 live With When her mother
was III l had the best medical care for her and
paid all the bills. When she died ! buried her.
Her father. when he became too old to do his
work. came 10 me, and | made him an allowance
of $50 month
/ sacrificed all my hopes of domestic comfort
for the sake of Mrs Fornes's health and sent
her. under medical advice. TO Europe three
times. I paid all her bills and grudged her moth
ing Our house was allowed To her and when
she returned TO New-York from abroad and
went 10 live at the Martha Washington Hotel
paid all her bills. and she had the rent from
the house for her own.
OF course I shall defend any suit that is
brought I am deeply grieved that my wife
has permitted herself to be led away from the
advice Of the best friend she has ever had or
will have | have allowed her anything she
wanted. and am still ready and anxious to pro-
vide for her I have no more sincere desire
hQT nd f.spd oT ma
was poor when married and all her people
were poor. and 7 thought she would appreciate
the fact that all ] have have made for myself
from the beginning of a poor farmers boy
/ do not know where this publicity came from,
hut attribute it To a lawyer. ". ". Sutherland
VINO desired 10 lnJure me in the public eye.
don't believe he has succeeded in hurting me in
the estimation Of any OF my friends but he GER
tainly has succeeded in hurting my feelings and
erieVing me greatly.
Mr.. Fornes appeared deeply affected. and there
were tears in his eyes as he spoke of his de-
votion TO his wife and his sorrow al the stand
she has taken
The case is tn come 10 trial In Septen1her
Mrs. Fornes was married to her husband sly
years sFo. She was a Miss EIisler sister Of
Ef1e Ellsler. the actress Her father worked
for Mr.. Fornes for many years as a salesman
IN the woollen goods business At the time Of
his marriage Mr.. Fornes was hfty-fve and his
bride thirty years old. The couple have no chill
dren- Mr. Fornes is now sixty-one
Soon after the marriage Mr. -Fornes purchased
and then decided to his wife the house at No
ooS west End-ave. Mrs Fornes did moi care
Tor the house a home and went with her
husnaho TO live AT the Waldorf-Astoria Not
long after this she left him TO go to Paris and
remained there several years. While she has
been absent from him President Forms has con
tinued TO pay her an allowance of 50 500 a wear
IL is said II is also stated that he paid ali her
expenses and never had any quarrel with her
At one time she thought of entering her sis
teT's profession.
After the death of her mother a short time
ago. Mrs. Fornes went Poultney Vt and
lived in the house she inherited there She
then began the action for separation. President
ForTaes escaped the man who attempted to serve
papers on him in the action before he sailed
for Europe by keeping away from his stateroom
until the vessel had sailed.
MI Fornes has been president Of the Board of
OF Aldermen since 1901 He will run for Con
gTess next year in the 11th Congress District
now represented by William r. Hearst He was
president Of the Catholic Club several terms