The San Francisco call., 1908-11-24
Wife of CIubman accused Of
Stealing Family Plate
Makes Charges
Urges InhdeIity, Failure to PrO=
vide and Cruelty as Her
Grounds for Decree
Claims Defendant Made Life I'M
bearabIe for Her at His
Parents Home

George Booth Root Jr.. clubman and
former railroad book keeper. was sued
for divorce yesterday by Mrs. Ruth
Godfrey Root. following his arrest sun
day night on a charge Of grand larceny.
Charges Of inhdelity. failure 10 provide
and cruelty were contained in her COM
plaint, in addition to the charges of
the theft Of the Godfrey family plate,
for which alleged ofense he was ar
rested
Roots exposure followed the alleged
discovery that nearly all the silver ware
owned by the Godfreys had been stolen
and pawned by him. according to Miss
Marion Godfrey. Mrs. Root gave promi-
nence in the complaint to alleged i'll
treatment which she had undergone at
the home Of his parents. Mr.. and Mrs.
George B. Root Sr.. at 1905 Sixth ave-
nue.. East Oakland.
TOOK HER TO HIS PARENTS
After his extravaganza had rendered
him unable TO care for his wife and
their four children. Root was said to
have placed them with his parents.
Then. Mrs. Root said. he poisoned their
minds against her so that her position
in their home became unbearabIe.
She reasserted that the family plate
had been stolen and pawned by Root
and that several pieces had been re-
covered from pawnshops. The money
So raised had, in Mrs. Roots opinion,
served him at Chinese gambling places
or in carousing.
That she had lost friends because he
lad borrowed money of them and neg
legted to pay it back was an aIlega-
tion. She said that he had been able
70 earn $3.50 a month, but had failed to
work OF 10 provide for herself and
children for long time. In addition
the piaintin said that he had abused
her with foul language.
COLONEL GODFREY'S DAUGHTER
Mrs. Root is the daughter of Colonel
john F. Godfrey, civil war veteran, and
The man for whom the G. A R. army
post Of that name at Pasadena was
called. She married Root at Concord.
contra Costa county, in June, 1900. the
wedding being a social event Of the
year They have four children, whose
custody she asked. They are Romola,
aged : years; Ann K, aged years, and
The twins George Booth Root III and
John Godfrey Root, who are 2 years
old. Mrs. Root alleged that her hus-
band was not At person to have their
care. She asked $3.50 counsel feees. $50
costs and 500 alimOny.
George 3. Root Sr., father Of the de-
fendant. is secretary to ". C. Ralston,
United States subtreasurer at san
Francisco. His mother is a niece Of
United States Senator Stewart Of Ne
vada-
Miss Marion Godfrey appeared at the
oakland police station yesterday morn
ing preparatory to swearing to COM
plaint charging George B. Root Jr. with
grand larceny, but friends Of the pris-
oner interceded and prevailed upon
Miss Godfrey not to take formal action
then against her brother in law
When seen at her home Miss Godfrey
admitted that she was undecided as to
what course to pursue and that the
matter may be settled on a compromise
basis. the nature of which Miss God
frey refused TO divulge. It was said
that the compromise involved the COM
ing Of his mother to the assistance of
the accused man. She may furnish
funds with which to recover the pawned
silver ware and heirlooms.