Los Angeles herald., 1908-08-28
MRS. MAYR IN
TEARS TELLS OF
UNHAPPY LIFE
SUBJECTED TO TYRANNY BY
HUSBAND, SHE SAYS
NEARLY ,coLLAPsEs AS SHE RE-
LATEs PERSONAL AFFAIRS
Weeps copiously as She Declares Lit-
tie Boy Is Son of Plaintiff-court
Orders Spectators Out to
Spare Defendant

lapse. occaSioned by her continued at
tendance in court and the recital OF
every detail of her married life, Mrs
Ann Eta Mayr yesterday took the wit
ness chair in the superior court in an
| effort to refute the testimony of her
husband, Walter A. Mayr. The effort
proved too much for her impaired
strength, and an hour before the usual
| tie of closing the t-ial was continued
until Monday at 10 o'clock.
| All day long the court room was
crowded by curious spectators, who
| listened intently to Mrs. Mayr's story.
Her weakened condition became more
evident as the session of court wore
on into the hours of early afternoon,
and in order that her mind might be
relieved somewhat and for the purpose
of freeing her from the disconcerting
gaze and curious ears of those present
while she detailed the innermost serets
of her home life, Judge James ordered
the court room cleared.
Mrs. Mayr Overcome
A half hour later Mrs. Mayr was again
overcome, but Notwithstanding tie in
sistence of her attorney that she leave
the stand, begged permission to con-
tinue so that tho trying ordeal might be
over as quickl-. as possible.
Seated directly in front of Mrs. Mayr
while the latter W Us testifying during
the afternoon was Joseph Hardin ayr,
the little 3-year-old boy, the question
of whose paternity has entered as a
material part of the divorce trial. Mayr
glanced occasionally at the child, but
for the most part gave his attention
fully to the statements made by his
wife, taking copious notes and smiling
doubtfully when her words were in di-
rect variance with those he himself
had uttered.
The child also smiled at pictures
made with pencil and paper by his
nurse, and it was at these times a re-
semblance between Mayr and the little
one was most pronounced. A slight
up-turn of the right side of the faces
of both when humor exhibits itself was
noticeable by the spectators, and while
Mayrs face is thinner than the boys
childish features. the same square jaw
is noticeable in both. The eyes and
ears are those of Mrs. Mayr. To fur
ther maintain her assertion that Mayr
is the child's father the little one will.
it Is expected, be introduced as evidence
on Monday and the alleged resem-
blances win be pointed out by Mrs.
Mayr's attorney.
Mrs. Mayr began her testimony i'm
mediately on the resumption of the trial
yesterday, taking up first the charges
of her husband that she had become
infatuated with a Chinese waiter at
the Shanghai restaurant in Chicago and
an italian pianist whom she met in a
Chicago cafe. She said she might have
mentioned the waiter to her husband,
but not in the way meant by .Mayr,
and that the pianist had not visited
her at her home. She had been accom-
panied to both restaurants, she said,
by her husband and other friends.
Says Mayr Complained
Going into detail of their home life,
during which she said Mayr was moody
or sulky more than half the time, Mrs.
Mayr was called upon to relate Incl
dents Once, she said, Mayr had COM
planned because she was late In return
ing from aScall and he had to wait for
his dinner. 81 was visiting at the home
of friend" said Mrs. Mayr land
when I came home tried to tell him of
the pleasant time had, but he said he
didn't care d-n. He had evidently
forgotten that less than week before
he had been late to dinner, so late, in
fact, that 1 feared he had been hurt
and was on the point of telephoning
the police. I say this not to criticise
him for tardiness, but to show his dis
position"
Mayr, she said, told her she was too
particular with her housework, and in
sisted on helping her with those duties,
even against her wishes. AS for wash
ing dishes, he had never done so in
his life, although he may have wiped |
them occasionally, because he liked |
that sort of thing.
HE was always puttering around and |
was generally in the way" said the |
witness. HE seemed to enjoy those
things, and did not exhibit any impa-
tience for that reason. He nearly al |
ways busted Sunday mornings, saying |
1t was the only day on which he could |
enjoy himself. and that he could find |
no greater happiness than keeping
house. He helped me with breakfast,
not at my suggestion, but oftentimes to
my discomfort"
Mayr, she said, had pouty spells, and
when he got over them would do more
housework than ever. apparently as
II paid little attention to
It." said Mrs Mayr, "as it seemed 10
ease his conscience. He believed it
made me happy. He often said he had
better ideas of doing things about the
house than myself.
Little Thought of Baby
"As for the baby, he gave 1t very lit
lie care. He said he was afraid he
would break it. Nevertheless, he stood
'ver 1t and instructed me how to bathe
md dress the child. l couldn't wrap or
'eed the little one without his telling
ne he had better way 1t was most
Kindly meant, of course, but 1t was very
rying. If l didn't follow his sugges-
ions he would become irritable and
Jay 1 knew nothing about the care of
| baby. Perhaps 1 didn't, but he GER
ainly didn't know any more"
Seldom Cheerful
Two weeks and two days was the
ongest period of time according to
Mrs. Mayr, that her husband remained
cheerful. His "pouting
Its" she said would culminate In a
torm of angry words, after which he
vas very penitent. "At first" she said,
I was greatly disturbed, believing 1t ,
0 be my fault, and tried to make him i,
heerful. Later, however, I would pick
lp book and let him pout."
Mrs. Mayr said her husband quar- I
eled with her short time prior to the ,
'irth of the baby, left her with so I
ents and went to hotel. Many other
Incidents of nature calculated to l
isturb her, she said, occurred during I
his period and his fits of i'll temper |
ecame more frequent. HE exhibited I