The San Francisco call., 1909-04-17
THEATER OWNER
FACES PROBLEM
OF TWO WIVES
j. Charles Green Sued by First
Spouse and Accused of
Deceiving Court
Divorce Obtained in Salt Lake
and Subsequent Marriage
Attacked as Illegal

The domestic relations OF J. Charles
Green, owner Of the Valencia theater.
head of big advertising corporation
and prominent in local business circles.
were plunged into confusion yesterday
afternoon when he was made the de-
fendsnt in divorce suit brought in
the name of a woman from whom he
imagined he had secured a divorce five
years ago. AS matters now stand there
is a legal controversy as to whether
Green has been married once or twice
whether he has secured divorce or
not. and as to which Of the two Mrs
Greens is his wife. Mrs. Green No
was formerly Miss May Gibbons OF
san Francisco.
The contention OF Mrs. Green No. is
that the divorce Green secured from
her was not legal, but Green main
tains it was. The lawyers back up the
contention OF their respective clients
and the affair furnishes as queer
matrimonial tangle as has been aired
In the divorce courts for some time.
DEMAND FOR PROPERTY
Green married Mrs. Green No in
1902, but in December. 1904. he Sc
cured a divorce from her at Salt Lake
City-that is he thought he did A
year later he married Mrs. Green No
., with whom he is now living at the
Fsirmont hotel
Mrs Green No. ], through her mother
IS guardian. contends that the divorce
obtained by Green was not valid. in
asmuch as his wife was an incom-
petent and an inmate of a sanatorium.
and Green did not advise the court of
this fact when he brought the pro-
ceedings.
arguing from this standpoint the
plaintih asks that al the community
property be awarded to her. the law
pelnS tnat where infidelity is proved
In d divorce suit the court may award
all community property to the inno-
cent party.
The petition sets out that Mrs Green
No. had been detained by Green in
4 Sanatorium at Livermore until two
weeks q 90. when she was taken ont Inv
her mother, Mrs. Harriet Goldsmith.
sel Haight street and placed in one
mere. 1t is also said that Green was a
resioent Of San Francisco when he Sc
cured the alleged divorce.
MOTHER MADE GUARDIAN
The opening gun in the case was
nreo yesterday morning when Mrs
Goldsmith was made guardian of her
daughter, Mrs. Green No A few
hours later the petition for divorce
was filed
None OF US was aware that Mr.
Green had secured a divorce and mar
Tled again until a short time ago" said
.'-Is- Ioloslnlth- My daughter was
IN sanatorium at the time this So
called divorce was granted. and if anv
papers were served on her il must
have been while she was there and
not IN proper condition 10 under
stand what they meant AS far as NE
are concerned such a divorce does not
exist We recently discovered that he
was passing another woman off as his
wlie ana immediately took steps to
bring an action against him"
Green was exceedingly ,,or.,,,,,s
over the situation and had a different
tale TO tell I married my first wife
IN 1902, said he, but our life was nor
happy She had an ungovernable and
violent temper, but at that time was
perfectly sane. finally saw that I
could not live with her and secured a
divorce Everything was perfectly
legal and proper. A year later 1 mar
Iied nay present wife.
PROVISION MADE FOR FIRST WIFE
Following the divorce my first wife
from being a person OF violent tenn
Per developed symptoms of melan
cholia. and though / had secured a
divorce from her and she had no claims
on me I could not bear the Thought
of seeing her cast on her own resources
and becoming an object Of nublfc
charity. I therefore had her sent 10
q private sanatorium. Nv motives
throughout this affair were OF the
highest. Ny only aim was to keen her
sad afHiction secret / maintained
her literally, allowing $3.50 a month for
herself and our boy of Is. II they had
needed more money they would have
hao IL.
This vert oa for five years. Some
time ago. in order to assure nv first /
wife Of an income in case / should die.
7 took out q big insurance policy in her
name j have not begrudged her any
thing.
WILLING TO PROVIDE FUNDS
Then. without moments warning
this petition was filed. I did not hear
Of IL until it was mentioned to me nv
The newspapermen. OF course. anybody
can see it is nothing but an attempt
on the part Of Mrs. Goldsmith to get
control Of a lot Of my money. But I
wish 10 state that. while ] am more
than willing to amply provide for my
first wife and give my boy all that is
his due, ] have no intention of giving
ia TO the demands OF Mrs Goldsmith
If it was a mere matter of dollars
alone ] would have paid all they
wanted rather than allow this shame
less scandal TO be circulated"
Attorney Frank H. Powers, repre-
senting Green, said he had not decided
what action he would take.
Pending the outcome of the trial Mrs
Goldsmith asked for $500 a month ali
mony and $500 attorney fees. She is
represented by Sullivan, Sullivan &