Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-01-13
Handed Down in Favor Of
Mrs. Mckee.
Divorce Proceedings Aired in
Noted Pittsburg Suit.
Cruelty Alleged Grounds Of Decree
The Affic!avits Sensational.

| who believed they would be denied
| the startling material said to be con-
| tanned il the evidence offered by Eliza
Sutton Mckcen to obtain Il divorce
from her husband, \. Hart Mckee.
| The millionaire clubman, are to have
| their MOI sells after all
| Judge j. }. Evans has handed down
a decree in favor of Mrs Mckeen.
| This announcement in itself caused
stir in Pittsburg and interest WAS re-
| doubled when it became known that
| the strenuous efforts made by both
| sides to keep secret the testimony, even
| after the decree was granted, had
| failed.
The development explained why
counsel for Mrs Genevieve G. Phipps
denied so positively, two months ago.
that she WAS to wed Mr.. Mckee. This
report, coming from apparently author
| itative sources, followed the announce
mcnt that Lawrence G. Phipps had
| named Mckee as one of the core
sponlents III the divorce suit filed
| against Mrs. Phinps. Mrs. Hugh Trevis,
| the rich and beautiful American widow
who sailed for Europe. last October.
ON the same steamer which carried
| Mckee. also denied her approaching
marriage to him. Mr.. Mckee could not
| marry for the very good reason that
| he was not legally eligible
! Mrs. Mckee. her father, DR.. r. SUIT
| ton. and Lizzie Foster il maid en-
| ploycd by the Mckces during their
| residence in New York in the winter
of 1901-'02 and the spring of 1908. fur
| EiShed the most important testimony
on which Mrs. Mckee received her de-
| cree. The decree WAS granted on the
| ground OF cruelty, SO extreme that Mrs.
| Mckee was compelled to seek retreat
| in her fathers home. Mckee, who is
! known as the handsome man in Pitts
burg married Miss Sutton shortly
after leaving Princeton. where he cut
| 4 wide SW3th. thanks to the unlimited
| allowance furnished to him by his
| father, Sellers Mckee. the multimil
lionaire glass manufacturer. Mrs. Nc
I<ec. in her affidavit. tells of the an
| @uiSh that she suffered even before
| the honeymoon should have Waned.
| After our marriage we Went abroad,
sailing in November. 1892. and return
ing IN February, 1898" Mrs. Mckee
states. y received the greatest indif-
|
l was very i'll while ut the Hotel Metro
| pole. Monte Carlo. i'll January. 1898.
was left there alone until a servant
| finally discovered my condition. \
| physician was summoned who re-
| manned until Mr. Mckee's return ut
midnight. During that trip abroad
saw almost nothing Of Mr.. Mckee. and
on Feb. 13, returned to this country
against the advice Of my physician.
| We WenT II housekeeping on our re-
turn. but the unl:ind treatment con-
| tinued. ON ono occasion lie called me
Il 'snipe.' cur and ii viper and
| threatened to make the house too hot
to hold me- on another occasion he
| threw a loaded revolver across my
| body, and he said he would make Pitts
| burg ring with the reports about me-
| This conduct continued through periods
of my early married life. once he
| threatened that his mntl?er would break
| my neck. There We're special instances
of violence at times when | was i'll on
the occasion OF the births OF my two
children.
"onc of our children WIS born on
| Feb. :, 1H35. About that time Mr. Nc
| kcc removed the doors between his
room and the room occupied by myself
| and the trained nurse. He would ar
range mirrors which reflected outside
| his room. | begged him to return the
doors TO their places, but he refused
| On one occasion ] WIS in my dress
| inc-rnnm when Mr.. Mckee demanded
adnittance. ! said would open the
door when | WAS ready to leave the
| n hat 49, H.,
heavy chair Until the lock and panclling
gave way.
| we took the house in New York. at
| No. East A1th street, in November. 1901
ana lived There until the following June
| when We went to Southampton In No
| vcrnhcr moved to No. Is East 36th
street. where We remained until the Sprinc
Of 1908. During our residence in New
| York there We're days at a time that T
| did not g" him. In the presence of a
| malG he sad any man might have me for
all he cared. II" engaged a German but
| Ter who was very inSolent to me and over
whom l had no control. This butler, vino
| was Mr.. MckCe'S confidential man. took
| charge of the servants. took Mr.. Nc
| KEGS telephone messages and paid the
bills. Mr.. Mckee threatened to take away
|
| deposit box. on one occasion | objected
| 10 a woman coming to the house, and Mr..
| Mckee told me that she would come there
| when she wished and if | did not like it I
ccul i get out. one time | met him on the
| street and bowed to him, but he did not
| return the bow. once when | gave an
| order ito n Stahieman he called the man
on the phone and in the hearing of two
| servants asked whose orders he was obey
| ing and told him to obey only himself.
| Mr.. Mckee always kept two revo!vers
under his pillow. l was in fear of bodily
| harm. While | was i'll. before my second
| child was born. Mr.. Mckee struck me in
anger
| Mrs. Mckee said she left her husband
on Feb. Is, 1903. Lizzie Foster. the maid
testified as to Mckec's cruel trea ment Of
his wife. Or. Sutton her father. testified
that when his daughter returned to his
| roof she was thin and i'll from starvation.
and that neither herself nor children had
Sufficient clothing.
| In FormoSa a man must have Ii
cense before he is allowed to smoke