The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-10
ACTING hAYOR'S WIFE SUBS.
ups FORNES SEEKS A SEPARA-
TION, ALLEGING DISCRETION.


Ie Has Decided to Her House In
west End Avenue-He Says That In.
trixuery Have Sought to Separate Them
Charles V. Fornes, President Of the Board
NJ Aldermen and Acting Mayor while Mayor
Mcclellan IL on vacation, declared yes
,erdav that the news that he Is defendant
IN a suit instituted in Rutland County, Vt,
Wv his wife for a separation on the ground
NJ desertion was news to him. Mr. Fornes
d,d not deny that such suit had been
hro,pht. he said he did not know, but he
maintained that he had never been served
with any papers.
Mr.. Fornes says that his wife is being mis-
led by designing persons, whose ambition
IA to hurt him politically. He Is strong
catholic, and that Church recognizes neither
divorce nor separation.
From man who knows the Fornes family
troubles intimately it was learned that Mr.
and Mrs. Fornes have not been on very
good terms since year after their marriage,
which took place about six years ago. when
Mr.. Fornes was SIS years old Mrs. Fornes
sccompanied her husband to Paris then, and
was 40 much attracted, 1t is said, by the
charm of Continental life that she did not
core to return. She did return, but only
to 20 back to France, where she eventually
STAYED for q considerable period.
She came back, to this city some months
ago. and after a short stay at the Martha
Washington Hotel went to Poultney, VT,
where her family owns farm. Her mother
died there in the early part OF this year,
and Mrs. Fornes went there, 1t is said, to
establish legal residence.
As Mr.. Fornes is not a resident Of YER
mont service in any action would have to be
made by publication. even thou Oh there were
arersonal service. 1t is said that nsu ccess-
ful efforts were made to serve the President
NJ the Board of Aldermen before he left
for Europe six weeks ago.
mo pagers in any such suit have been
served upon me-" said Mr.. Fornes yester-
day. and did not know that such suit
was contemplated. can neither deny nor
affirm that it has been begun or is con-
templated-'
Later Mr.. Fornes consented to make q
statement concerning his relations with
Mrs. Fornes, He said:
my wife has been a nervous wreck for
some years and l have tried my utmost
to do all that loving and willing husband
could to relieve her. She is victim to in
sonnnia, due, believe, to q fright received
throu Oh having been accidentally looked in
house that was on fire. That was before
our marriage. but it has had permanent
effect on her health.
In my efforts to make her happy and
comfortable I have taken her to Europe
by medical advice three times, and have
sou Rht in every way to obtain relief for her
BY change Of surroundings or otherwise.
Icertainly feel that have nothing for which
to reproach myself.
when her mother fell i'll I telegraphed
to Vermont that the old lady should have
every attention at my expense, and when she
died buried her. Her father have always
car.d for. providing him with pension
when he was no longer able to work in my
employ. But still Mrs. Fornes seems to
have had her mind perverted by evil ad-
visers. who have induced her to forsake
the counses Of the one man who has sworn
to love and support her, myself. I am
to-day and always have been since our
wedding day her best friend on earth.
These advisers, or intrisuers, have sought
to separate us, and it would look as il they
are succeeding in their aims. What their
IlcllNcS Gail INC tdiihOe SNS"os S|NSSpS
that il be a political one, with the object OF
hurting me among my friends. For that
motive l care not. do not believe tsey
can succeed"
Whom do you mean when you mention
Mrs Fornes's legal advisers2" Mr.. Fomes
vas asked.
4 understand" he replied, 'that William
NJ Sutherland has been her lawyer, but
do not know il he is her lawyer in this suit
for do not know that there is such suit
In existence
4 have sacrificed ell my domestic COM
fort and arrangements whenever l. have
tho nght could by 40 doing afford Mrs
Fornes the slightest happiness, and stand
ready to-day TO provide for her, in my own
home or elsewhere. 1t is surely ridiculous
to accuse me of deserving her. She Is
living at my expense now, and is welcome
ct any time To my home. understand that
she was in New York until lately, but have
no idea whore she is at the present mo-
ment.
Il have hoped" concluded the Acting
Mayor, speaking in broken voice. thai
Mrs. Fomes would come to appreciate al
that have tried to do for her sake and al
that stand ready to do. But shall GER
tainly feel it my duty to defend any suit fol-
a separation, based. as it must be, on al
legations which have no basis in fact. Fol
the rest, can only trust that the friends
who have known and believed in me for &c
many years will not be misguided by the
statements OF persons whose motives
cannot fathom.'
Mrs. Fornes, who Is remarkably at
tractive woman. according to her friends
Is said to have had social ambitions which
the position OF wife OF the President Of thu
Board OF Aldermen did not satisfy. She
has sister Efie Ellsler, an actress, and ii
said to have had stage ideas herself at ont
time. Mr.. Fornes has been allowing he
$500 year lately, besides the income o
hn... 4 and EirhfN