The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-29
DIAMONDS 60 Up, LOVE DOWN
MAIDEN LANE EXPERTS CALLED
IN MAYER DIVORCE CASE.

wife Ayers ina Husband Left Her When
He Got Prosperous and Asks for All.
mony AccOrding-Her Demand for
800 q Week Scaled to o by the COurt
The market for diamonds In the last two
years plays an important part In the action
for divorce brought by Mrs. Matte Mayer,
who is living at the Manhattan Square
Hotel In West Seventy-seventh street,
against David Mayer, one Of the best known
diamond dealers In the Maiden lane district.
Several Of the diamond merchants down
town have been asked to make afldavits
concerning the market and the opulence Of
David.
Mrs. Mayer, to whom has been awarded
$3.50 counsel fee and 900 q week alimony,
married David on September 0. 1900. He
was then q clerk in a diamond dealer'e
Office, making $40 a week, but he soon
branched out for himself; and by specu-
lating made quite a little pile. His repu-
tation for integrity and business ability in
the district Is 30 good that, as he says him
self, he could easily get credit for $250,00o
worth Of stones.
The Mayors got along pretty well TIL
about a year ago. He makes two trips a
year to Amsterdam, and on some of these
trips she accompanied him. But in 1905,
she says, he began to be neglectful. In
fact, she AYERS, as he got richer he paid
less and less attention to her. Finally, on
November 20 last, she says, he left their
apartment In the Manhattan Square, saying
he would not return.
AS she was penniless, Mrs. Mayer con-
suited her friends and tried to effect a
reconciliation. He refused to return and
declined to pay her bills for food an d
clothing. But after some conferences
through a mutual friend he agreed to
allow her $40 a week. Meanwhile she
had gone to Hoadley, Lauterbaoh d john
son, and detectives were sent out to watch
Mayer. 1t Is on the testimony OF these
men that she accuses her husband OF
adultery at tho Geneva Hotel, 1902 West
Fifty-seoond street, with an unknown
woman. He denies that he was ever
there.
Mayors statements to the mercantile
agencies were attached to Mrs. Mayors
application for alimony. These reports
show that while in 1901 he asserted that
he was worth SIS, 800 above all Liabilities,
he reported himself as worth $50, 929 in
1908 and Ss2, 72O In 1904. His net earnings
between May 10, 1908, and December 28,
1904, he reported as $2s, 100. Onthe strength
Of these reports Mrs. Mayer asked ior an
dllOW dIlCS VI SlUO u WCths
In his replying affidavit Mayer denies
that he Is worth as much as his wife de.
olares. he admits that he made a lot OF
money specializing in diamonds IN 1904,
but says that he lost most Of this in 1905
through a depreciation in the value OF
certain classes Of stones. He attributes
a loss of $50 900 to the failure Of a number
Of his customers. He also dropped $500
in the Arverne Pier, at Arverne, and IS 500
in the Mayer Realty Company. AS q
r,attar &c Foot ha aaua ha Hnnqn'f consider
himself worth more than SIS, 900 all told.
due to her constant flirtations with a cousin,
Arthur Roseman, and a friend, Saul Cans
But he does not accuse her Of infidelity.
In support Of his declaration concerning
the diamond market, he has got affidavits
that the profit in stones averages about
8 to s per cent. and that they believe Mayer
lost through his purchases In 1905 OF stones
that deprecated instead Of increasing in
value.
To offset these ~af1davits; Mrs. Mayer has
got sworn from several other
merchants, who declare that Mayors profits
range from 8 to 10 per cent, and that there
was no class Of good stones, such as Mayer
would buy, that deprecated in value In the
past twelve months.
Mrs. MAYER denies absolutely the charge
of Irritation, and has afidavits from several
friends, including Roseman and Cans,
testifying TO her excellent wifely behavior.
She saws that David made such statements
In his affidavit because he Is "a man. fire.
quently In litigation, and keen, shrewd and
,pooy,,p,,lopa