The San Francisco call., 1908-04-24
MRS. STARR GETS
SPEEDY DIVORCE
Wife Tells Pitible Tale OF Cruel
ty Caused by Intemperance
of Husband

SAN RAFAEL, April 23.-Although
shown every consideration by Superior
Judge Thomas j. Lennon, before whom
her petition for divorce was presented
here today, Mrs. Mabel B. Starr gave
way completely for a time to her emo
tions while on the witness stand, neces-
stating the action of both the court
and the attorney present in connection
with the case to endeavor to calm the
overwrought and hysterical condition
OF the beautiful woman, who, In tones
curiously distinct throughout the court
room, but poignant with sorrow. told
OF the abuse she had been subjected to
through the intenperance of her hus-
band, Sidney L. NJ. Starr. a prominent
San Francisco clubman and member of
one of the best known families OF
Portland. Ore.
Mrs. Starr, smartly gowned in black
tailored walking suit and merry
widow" hat trimmed with profusion
or yellow roses. entered the courtroom
at p. m. accompanied by her mother,
Mrs. Nellie Valleau, and Messrs- Bour-
dette and Bacon, her counsel. Twelve
minutes later, and following Mrs.
Starr's and her mothers testimony,
Judge Lennon announced to Attorney
Joseph Rothschild. who appeared on
behalf of Starr. who was not present
during the proceedings. that the decree
prayed for would be granted immedi-
ately on Rothschild complying with the
rule Of the court-demanding an afi1-
davit from the attorney that he was
acting in accordance with the fnstruc-
tions and request of his client.
When called to the witness stand
Mrs. Starr testified that the couple were
married on July s, 1899. and that since
March 1. 1907. she had been living with
her mother. With tears streaming from
her eyes, she related how her husband
had been accustomed to remain away
from their apartments until an early
hour in the morning, night after night,
only to return in an intoxicated con-
dition and then to strike and other
wise rnistreat her, as his mood varied.
In consequence of the treatment ac-
corded her by him, she had gone to
Honolulu following a three months at
tack OF nervous prostration, remaining
there for some 60 days and returning
to San Francisco during the month OF
February. 1906
The couple were then living at the
Buckingham hotel, and fearful and ap-
prehensive of her husbands welfare,
she remained up throughout night after
night, owing to his habits, which were
the cause Of much comment
While at the buckingham and the st.
Francis, where Mrs. Starr and her hus-
band stayed for time, she testified he
was guilty OF frequent cruelties.
Immediately following the fire of
April, 1905, Starr established his wife
In a Belyedere residence, but so iso-
lated from other homes, she said, that
she was left practically alone, save for
the companionship of the servants in
the household. During September of
that year she was again made seriously
III, grief and loneliness coupled with
the fact that her husband, following
short period of abstinence. had again
resorted to the use of liquors, accom-
panied with a repetition of his former
abuse and evincing no inclination or
disposition to reform.
A bare three minutes OF corroboration
on the part OF Mrs. Valleau of the state
ments her daughter had made were
sufficient to cause Judge Lennon to
make the terse announcement: That's
all. the witness is excused and the court
will allow an interlocutory decree on
Attorney Rothschiid complying with
the usual order"
Although Attorney Rothschild had
stated to the court Immediately at the
commencement of the proceedings that
he desired to present an uncontested
divorce suit, and during the hearing of
the case offered nothing in the way Of
rebuttal or in favor Of Starr, he later
stated, outside OF the courtroom, that
Starr had entered general denial of
Mrs. STAIRS charges, and at the same
time denied that there was any cause
to be ascribed to the separation other
than presented before Judge Lennon
and as stated in the complaint.
Rothschild refused to state the
amount of alimony to be paid to Mrs.
Starr. but intimated that the settlement
would be entirely satisfactory to both
parties. The STAIRS have no children.
and neither Mrs. Starr nor Mrs valIeau
would discuss their troubles today more
than to state that the court records