The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-06
c. ?. BAILEY GETS A DIVORCE
FROM THE WOMAN WITH WHOM
HE WAS SHOT BY DIR. DADE.
Charged Her with DesertiOn After Proving
Conspiracy In Connection With the
Divorce Action She Began-still Suing
Her Brother for Putting Up the Job.


PHILADELPHIA, July 5.-A divorce was
granted to-day to Charles F. Bailey, vice
president Of the Bailey, Banks h Biddle Com
pany, from his wife, Selma Coe Kerr Bailey
1t was the climax to litigation that has in
cluded many suits and counter suits. The
decree, which was handed down In the
Court Of Common Pleas, was on the appli-
cation Of Mr.. Bailey who charged his wife
with desertion.
Mrs. Bailey was the widow Of Chaunoey
F. Kerr and became the bride OF Mr.. Bailey
In November, 1900. The wedding was the
sequel to somewhat sensational ad-
venture In the Adirondaoks Mrs. Kerr
was the hostess at the mountain Gotta &c OF
her brother. f. Holloway Coe, and Mr..
Bailey was one Of the guests. One day
Mrs. Kerr and Bailey were walking through
the woods. At the same time Coe and a
DR.. Dade. another OF the guests. were gun
ming. Unknowingly, they came into close
proximity to Bailey and Mrs Kerr.
rustling OF the leaves was mistaken by
the gunners for the movement OF deer.
DR.. Dade raised his Winchester and
fired. There were loud cries from the
thicket and the gunners hurried In the
direction whence they came. They found
Mrs. Kerr and Bailey each wounded. Bailey
was wounded In the back. while Mrs Kerr
was struck In the thigh. Bailey was seri-
ously injured. but recovered after few
weeks. Mrs. Kerr's life was saved only
by the amputation Of her right leg.
wedding followed Mrs. Kerr's recovery.
On Jan. II. 1902. Mr.. Bailey received a
cablegram announcing the death OF his
mother In Paris. His wife accompanied
him to the dock and ba de him an affectionate
farewell. On Feb. 10 Mr.. Bailey arrived
home on the Touraine In company with
his father and the body Of his mother
On the dock he was met by a messenger
who informed him that Mrs. Bailey was
suffering from nervous prostration at the
home OF her mother. Az fast as horse
flesh could get him there MI. Bailey hurried
Fifth avenue. There he had stormy
reception.
His wife charged him with infidelity and
declared that she had in her possession a
written statement to prove it. Mr.. Bailey
thou ght that his wife was laboring under a
deusion due to hysteria
Her brother, f. Holloway Coe. who was
present was appealed to. but he sided with
his sister and remarked; II have seen the
statement. Mr.. Bailey left the house. 1t
was his last interview with bis wife and the
beginning Of a long, hard fight for the vindi-
cation OF his name.
Mr. Bailey, coming to this city retained
John q. johnson, Richard p White and
Thomas W. Barlo " to defend him. He
several times tried to get in communica-
ton with his wife, but failed, and was
finally informed that she was going to sue
for divorce on evidence furnished by
Philadelphia woman. Through counsel re-
peated demands were ma de for right to
inspect the evidence.
After many refusals Mr.. Bailey was
shown an afida Wit. alta ched to photo
graph Of himself. The affidavit was made
before local attorney and was signed
Violet Walsh. The woman swore that she
had accompanied the man whose photo
graph was ttached TO various places and
was known as his wife.
Months OF investigation on Bailey's
part followed, and on Jan. Is, 1904. the
climax came when he caused the arrest OF
Z. Holloway Coe in a suit for $4,000 based
on charges Of conspiracy and the aliena-
ton Of his wife's affections,
Accompan wing the order for Goes arrest,
MIR Bailey filed sensational papers, parts
OF which were confessions by William
Virtue, Henry johnson and Maizie Allen,
alias Violet Walsh. Virtue. it was alleged.
was former secretary to Coe. 1t was
alleged that the men, at Coe instigation, had
secured the woman to sign the affidavit.
Maizie Allen admitted she had signed
the name Violet Walsh to the affidavit and
had been paid for doing so. She said the
affidavit was entirely false and that she had
never known Mr.. Bailey in her life.
The suit against Coe, it is said, is still
pending Apparently Mrs. Bailey never
pressed her claim to divorce,
After the legal limit of two years had
expired Mr.. Bailey entered his suit here,
alleging desertion. After a hearing before
master "A favorable report was made,
upon which the decree of to-day was entered,
Mrs Bailey inherited 81 600 900 from her
father. f.. Frank Coe. Her first husband
was rich.