The San Francisco call., 1908-04-24
LET WIFE THROW
FITS, WAS TIP OF
THE DOCTOR
Charles F. O'Brien Followed It
and Got His Hair Pulled
When Lady Revived
Testimony in Divorce Suit
Brings Colonel Maddox Into
View, but He Chews Gum
Husband Tells of Box of Cigars
Which Clubman Smoked
All but Six
Matron's Gay Eye Greetings Of
Stranger Are Described as
re. -.

A new way to manage hysterical
wives was divulged yesterday for the
benefit of all husbands by Charles F.
O'Brien, who is suing his wife, Mary
Alice, for divorce. His wife had a
habit of falling on the floor and
screaming in fit of hysteria, said
O'Brien, and he consulted a physician
about it. Following the advice of the
physician he sat quietly in his chair
reading newspaper when Mrs.
O'Brien threw one of these fits. The
more she kicked and struggled and
screamed the more deeply he became
engrossed in the news. 1t worked like
a charm. In few minutes she recov-s
cred, got up and pulled his hair. The
court laughed when OBrien related
this incident. and the plaintiff Joined
in the hilarity.
The imperturbable Colonel Caleb
Maddox was again the central figure in
the proceedings. Chewing gum, loung-
ing carelessly with his arms across the,
listened without apparent emotion
while his name was mentioned over
and over again BY O'Brien. The order
against the entry into court Of wit
nesses was Withdrawn yesterday In
discussion between attorneys, r.. ".
Whiting. counsel for Mrs. O'Brien,
charged that special endeavor. had
been made by the other side to be-
smirch the character OF the colonel
Attorney John J.. Barrett responded
that the colonel was the villain in the
case and had betrayed his friend.
Maddox merely smiled wearily and
chewed gum.
The mystery of a box of cigars was
partially Investigated. but left unex-
planned. "I had box of rather fine
cigars sent my by friend in Kansas
City, O'Brien testified. This was In
March OF last year. 1 smoked three.
At the end of April there were only
three left
'Tommyrot! 1 move that this 20
out angrily interposed Frank Gould
of counsel for Mrs. O'Brien.
All right, but submit the colonel
smoked, the colonel called and the
fgars disappeared" airily remarked
Barrett, dropping the subject
Many instances of his .wife's ieaI-
ousy were related by O'Brien. She
was Jealous, he said, because he 1eft
open door at his. office leading to an
adjacent room in which a steno1ra-
pher was working. Later she was
jealous because he shut the same door
when another stenographer was In the
room with him. His wife said he was
stuck" on the girl and that he kent
the door closed so he could talk to
her. She demanded that he dischar1e
her, but he decided the time had come
for him to make a stand. and refused.
The girl is still in his employ.
While he was discussing business
with female client, o Brien said. his
wife came into the Office. looked ut tho
woman in a peculiar and Offensive
manner. said "Ohr' rudely and sat
down and stared at her. The client
went away and never returned.
O'Brien testified that his wife. who
is AZ years old. was divorced before
she married him.
Joseph O'Brien, brother of the
plaintiff, also testified a great deal
about Colonel Maddox. He said that
one evening he was dining In a res
taurant with his wife and daughter
when the colonel entered and sat at
another table. In few moments
Maddox walked over to O'Brien's
table, sat down, said that the pre-
vious night he had been the guest of
the captain" (meaning Charles f..
O'Brien), and tonight was entertaining
Mrs. OBrien at dinner in return for
her husbands hospitality, and was
awaiting her. Mrs. O'Brien walked in
shortly afterward.
why. this is an unexpected sur
PRISE" she observed to the colonel.
Continuing his story. O'Brien said:
THE colonel said nothing-just looked
at her. laughed. They ate at our
table, but when went out I paid
only for myself and daughter"
OBrien testified also that he took
his sister-in-law to dinner several
times while her husband was out OF
town. but got tired of paying for the
colonel and for Mrs. Seaman, who also
came along. Mrs, O'Brien told him
the colonel was very wealthy, and that
Another time he was dining in res