The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-05-25
Wife Of Ex-Mayor Declares
Husband Made Absolutely
No Provision for Her.
CASE CAUSES BIG SENSATION
Couple Supposed to Have Sailed
From New York on
May 18th.


urc from the city Of former Moyar Rob-
ert c. Davidson. The subject was dis
cusscd to-day as a choice bit of gossip
outstanding everything In interest.
Mrs. Davidson, wife OF the ex-Mayor,
who was seen ut her residence, No. 335
Dolphin Street. this afternoon chatted
i calmly and without emotion OF her hus-
bands disappearance. and declared that
his travelling companion on the ocean
trip to Europe It Miss Laura b. Noycs,
q graduate nurse, formerly of Port De
posit. Md. Miss Noyes spent the past
two months at tho Hotel Stafford; MIR
Davidson had been. frequent caller. and
SOME Of the hotel people thought he was
an unmarried man. He often took Miss
= Noycs driving in n stylish runabout, and
they as often lunched and dined to-
e gethcr at leading restaurants and other
places.
II would be only too glad to think"
r Mrs Davidson said. "hc had not run
away with this woman, but my cool
Judgment does not permit me to enter
tain such an idea. My dominant thought
Is not indentical to anger, but pity.
I've never auarreed and his atten-
tions to me never dnviatcd from lover
to husband He called me his queen.
z and no two people in the world were ever
1 happier or more congenial until this
trouble came between us.
Shortly before the fire Mr.. Davidson
began drinking hard. and for awhile he
came home every night in state Of
intoxication. 1t distressed us all dread
& fully. but we could do nothing | never
scoded him. but Just talked to him. He
was formerly n trustee OF tho Eutaw
Place Baptist Church, and was sccre-
nry of the Sunday school for eighteen
years. but resigned to let younger man
and one with more spare time take his
place. He continued to attend church
nearly every Sunday. 1t is sad. sad
story of n man rising to such a position
OF prominence and then falling In such
manner. Our home was perfectly happy,
and he had the affection Of his relatives.
Il the regards Of many friends and the
confidence OF the business community. *
~ do not know what Mr.. Davidson's
wealth was. but do not think II exceeded
q $500 900 He converted everything into cash
and took 1t with him. II Is a Illuminating
statement for me to have out but he
made absolutely no provision for me.
Z am not yet prepared to say what my
course will be-
Miss Noycs Is described as being at
least six feet tall her mother. who is.
the. widow OF Connecticut business
Il man. $livcd for n ting near Port De-
FL poslt but has returned to Connecticut.
Her brother attended one OF the mcdi-
cal colleges here and has also left.
Davidson and Miss Noyes are said to
have sailed from New York May 18th
on Hamburg American liner. AS his
name was not on the passenger list, It. Is
supposed he sailed under an assumed
name.
Wound Up Business Affairs.
Mr.. Davidson had made careful dis.
position of his business affairs. 1t Is
believed that his holdings OF personal
property were either converied into act.
ual cash or put In such shape as 10 be
made available for such conversion at
rs largest business come ctio H., was
tee Company of which he was president
many years. He had a box in the vaults
q this ny IN Theh MSre d ee9s
SON Vas vas continued in tie directory OF
the company for sens time hy after ne was
Baker. A short time ago he severed
his connection with the corporation, and
Is not now interested in 1t.
He notified President Baker n few days
ago that he had disposed Of all his
stock In the company CON and on saht ur
the vaults were returned to the compa-.
3 ny's Offices. This was taken to mean
that the box had been empt!ed and that
It was surrendered for rent TO any
other person.
Wall Street "Plunger."
Mr. Davidson was believed to have held
large quantities OF securities in local
and in general corporations. or late he
New as De York stock market ana. possess.
Ing good Judgment with inside inforina-
tion available to him In some instances,
in in his his speculative ventures In the rise
in stocks last fall and winter he was q
frequent visitor TO brokers' Offices. where
orte stocks was Norfolk and Western
He bought this at 20, carried 1t up, with.
further purchases. and Is believed to have
ward movement in this issue. which was
well above 70. Mr.. Davidson frequently
spoke to his friends of his winnings In
"A banker who has had business rela-
lions with him says there has been a
decided ehange In his habits abb and manner rSr
banker attributed this to the, practical
] IF oso Mq% an me M asSns
bankers, 1t is said saddlcd Mr.. Davidson
and the trust company; of which, he
Burden s and responsbiiiy It IS trae he
had well-organlzed and capable COM
mttee to ! assist IN settling the, affairs
to the satisfaction Of the creditors, hut,
Mr., Davidson must have been trying.
i4 LIVED IN KlChrnOnQ,
MIR. Davidson was born on a farm seven
miles from Lunenburg Courthouse. Va, De-
cember e5, 1880. being, rs has been said, a
Sc e hs Rarsns Ills f.
insurance business here. and died, several
= years ugo. His mother was before her mar
rage Miss Annie Il, Johns. daughter Of Mr.
Joel Johns. Of Virginia, She died when Mr.
X Davidson was boy 43tt
When Mr.. Davidson was 10 years old his
father moved to Richmond and remained
i k,or unit
& In 1865. at the age Of 10 years, Mr.. Davidson
entered the employ Of Daniel Miller 4 Coz
as shipping clerk lie successfully filled a
number OF positions With tho firm until no
was finally admitted as a partner and for
q number of years had charge OF its credit
business Spine time before this he married.
his wife being a daughter Of the late Samuel
jackson, a well known Baltimore merchant
Mr. Davidson has no children.
& While well known In business and financial
M circles, Mr., Davidson was an unknown quanti-
ty in politics until nominated by the Demo-
cratic party for Mayor In the campaign of
1889 At that time there had arisen demand
for a business administration of city affairs.