The San Francisco call., 1909-07-23
NEW YORK FOR
HAYWARD
FOR HIS WIFE
Il Have Been Bitten by Bug of
Ambition" He Writes
From the East
She Is Not Welcomed When
She Reioins Author
Spouse in Gotham

OpOuSC III OUtlldlIf
The literary romance of Phil
Verrill Mighels, the author, an,
his wife, formerly Ella Sterlin;
Cummins, also writer, was brough
to an end yesterday when Judge Va
Nostrand granted Mrs. Mighels' sui
for divorce on the ground of deser
ton.
This comes as decided surprise
for although the papers were filed b
Mrs Mighels' attorney, Lucius Solo
mons, on June II, all knowledge wa
kept from the public by the use of tn
name Michaels instead of Mighels il
the publication in the court calendar
Mrs. Mighels tells sad tale of he
desertion by the author of 'Bruvve
Jims Baby" and of his attempt to kee
her on their Hayward ranch while h
lived in New York.
bug of Ambition"
4 have been bitten by the bug of am
bition.' he wrote her. and my battle
field is New York city"
She said Yesterday that she had mar
ried the young lawyer journalist -autho
in Chapel Hill. n. J., on June Il, 1896
and for nearly 10 years their home wa
made in New York and England. h
writing busily all the time.
They had been in California severa
times and spoke of making their per
.manent residence insthis state. Finally
about two years and a half ago, the
bought a ranch at Hayward and de
cided to live there for all time. In
stead of this about three weeks, spen
in readjusting conditions there. was tn
limit OF their dwelling in the country
Then they went to New York an
plans were made continually to com
back here and live on their propert,
for at least the winters.
They remained in New York, how
ever, until Mrs. Mighels fell i'll. The
her husband suggested that it wouI
be a good plan for her to come west t
recuperate.
Wouldn't Leave Him
Il told him." she said, that 1 ha
made up my mind never to leave hir
again. I had promised myself that
would not"
Evidently Mighels had great persua
sive powers for she broke her persona
promise and went to Hayward Nigh
els promised to follow in a month, bu
this he did not do.
Then Mrs Mighels. having recoyere
her health sufficiently to return to Ney
York went there to join him.
Il arrived there" said she. "and go
ing to him inquired what the troubl
was. He would not allow me to re
main in New York. although L toll
him I had come to him"
California for Her
About year ago he wrote to he
that he had decided never to come I
California to live with her and mad
the above quoted reference to his bat
tlefield being in New York.
Mrs MigheIs' only witness yesterda
was Mrs. Virginia r. Dingee. the wifi
of William j. Dingee, who gave th
Fairmont as her residence.
She said she knew that he was writ
ing to his wife all the time and som
of these letters were very insulting
Quite beyond endurance, 1 though
them" said Mrs, Dingee.
In conclusion, she said in speaking o
the Mighels, 'sThe trouble is, she love
him yet
Mighels was represented in court yes
terday by his attorney. A. Everett Bal
who filed formal denial of th
charges, but took no part in the pro
ceedings. did not question the witnesse
nor offer any evidence.
Mrs Mighels, who is as well know
in eastern and English literary circle
as here. is a daughter OF the late L
H. Haskell, who was townsite manage
for the Southern Pacific railroad, unde
the old Stanford regime. Her first hus
band, Adley H. cummins, was law
yer in San Francisco and was note
as a philologist. He died about 2
years ago.
She has written several books. among
them The Story of the Files bool
of the earlier writer's of San Francisco
some verses, and a later work is 'sTh
Full Glory of Dianthus.
She is to receive about $40 mont
alimony. it is said, and although sh
owns the Hayward ranch, two flats o
Baker street and other property, sh
is by no means a wealthy woman.
Mighels, who is some years younge
than she, was born in Carson City. New
and was a newspaper man here and i
New York until February. 1895, sine
which time he has devoted himself I
-. =.