The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-01-05
BRIDE ASKS ALIMONY
Mrs. Tower Wants $1,000
Monthly Pending Suit.
SHE ALLEGES INFIDELITY
Former Telephone Girl Says Million
aIre Ironmaster Was Attentive to
Other WOmen-Eiis Lawyers De-
clare that Her suit Is Prompted by
Most Mercenary Motives.

White Plains, n. Y, Jan. 4-The
family troubles of one of the richest
families along the Hudson River were
exposed In the Supreme Court at White
Plains to-day, when Chas Morschauser.
representing Mrs. Mary Bogardus Tow
er, former Central" girl In the
Poughkeepsie phone office, made appli-
cation to Supreme Court Justice Isaac
n. Mills to force her husband. Albert
Edward Tower. a millionaire iron mas
ter, of Poughkeepsie, to pay her ALI
mony at the rate of 81 800 per month.
She asked this amount pending the
trial of her zuit against her husband
for a separation, alleging in her com
plant that her husband has deserted
her for a noted Southern beauty. Law
yer Morschauser declared that Mr.
Tower was worth. according to the
affidavit of his client about 100000
and that he has not contributed toward
Mrs. Towers support for two months.
Opposition ia AIimony.
Former Assistant District Attorney
Charles f. Lebarbier of Manhattan,
appeared for Mr.. Tower. and he strenu-
ously opposed the granting of alimony,
alleging that all the charges in the
complaint were false. and that the suit
was a scheme to get possession of the
fortune of Mr. Tower. He declared that
the marriage of the phone girl and the
millionaire was loveless one.
Mrs Tower did not appear in court, but
| her husband was there. wearing a big fur
overc0at He had the collar pulled up
over his ears so that photographers could
not get a picture of him. Mr.. Morschauser
In his argument declared that Mr.. Tower
had a yacht on which he employed TWEEN
ty men. and that he insisted in taking on
yachting trips not alone his wife. but
Mrs. Weiss" declared the lawyer. 'He
also bought her jewelry. and insisted
that she sit at the head of his table.
We also allage that Mr.. Tower drank
considerably for three years. I have tried
TO get this couple reconctled. At one time
Mrs Tower. while at the Waldorf. sent
/ for me. At that time Mr.. Tower said he
/ hated his wife, and that he would get
/ rid Of her by fair means or foul and /
will make an affidavit TO that effect"
/ He also told how the FIRST Mrs Tower
/ had killed her son and then committed
suicide.
Quarrels between the couple his failure
/ to give her more than $i00 month after
/ they had signed the agreement to live
/ apart. neglect, desertion. and cruelty are
named in Mrs Towers complaint and in
addition thereto it is alleged that he
showed infatuation for Mrs Weiss
Denial from Tower.
Mr.. LebaTbier, in setting forth a gen
eral denial on the part Of Mr. Tower &C
all the charges, said. among other things.
For the first time We present our side
Of the case. tt has always been one
sided I intend now to present TO the
court the history and give a bird's-eye
view Of this Ioveless and happyless mar
rlage. All the stories Of the plaintiff are
not only ridiculously silly. but ] shall
prove that they are feloniously and viii
/ fully wicked perjury"
/ Lawyer Lebarbier, In denying the
| allegation Of Mrs. Tower that his client
had abandoned the telephone girl. said
1T is We who have been driven from
/ our house and home. We say that IL tbe
/ skeleton Of the family is TO be exposed
/ let it be exposed now. Let the plaintiff
/ live with her divorced sister. All attempts
! have been made TO entrap this defendant
and even efforts have been made TO get
! him in an asylum. II is not question
Of woman and wine. but money. money
| that is all the plaintiff wants She has
: expressed hatred for the defendant. The
sinister influence of the plaintiffs sister
/ has destroyed the family happiness oil
I this couple. This much-marTied sister
! has guided the plaintiff in everything
! This was loveless marriage, and money
was the keynote. The scheme Of the
plaintiff and her sister WAS to entrap
rich man and it succeeded. The plain
/ tiff has been given $4,000 house al
/ Poughkeepsie and has also received
/ thousands of dollars from her husband
/ She has violent temper and Otter
! smashed things. The life of the defend
and has been made simply miserable by
! this plaintiff"
/ Lawyer Lebarbier declared that tn,
allegation of Mrs Tower that her hus
band drank heavily was false, becaus,
] he went TO business in New York daily
/ further was the commander Of his owl
( yacht Justice Mills directed that brief;
be submitted before he rendered his de
/ cisIOn