Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-11
KESSEL ASKS DIVORCE
Files Suit as Sequel to Horse
whipping of EmpIoye.
WIFE IN POLICE COURT
Case Against Her and Her Brother
Postponed Until Saturday.
SAYS CLERK SLANDERRED HER
Husband Demands That She Be Re-
strained From Interference
With His Business.
SAYS CLERK sLANDERRED HER

Mrs. Mary kessel and her brother
James F. Lotus. ir.. on the charge O
horsewhipping Walter Mountjoy. an EN-
ploye of her husband, Louis J. kessel. a:
punishment for remarks defamatory Il
her character, procured a postponement o.
| the hearing of their cases in Police Cour
today until Saturday morning at the in
stance of the prosecuting officers.
Late yesterday afternoon, as seque
to the horsewhipping incident. kessel flee
in Equity Court No. 1 a petition for
legal separation from his wife. Through
Attorney Albert Sillers he also secured
from Justice Barnard a rule on his wife
ITO show cause next Tuesday why she
should not be restrained from interfering
with her husbands business.
Horsewhipping Was Thorough.
The horsewhipplng occurred Tuesday
afternoon In the liquor store kept by Kes-
sci at 425 10th street. 1t was thorough
according to witnesses.
Many contradictory statements were
made today in Police Court during the IN
vestigation by the prosecuting officers. II
was declared that revelations OF sensa
tional nature would provide grounds fol
the divorce suit between the Kessels.
At the time of the alleged assault as
sstance was telephoned for to the frs,
precinct. Detective Kleindienst responded
The arrest Of Mrs. Kessel and Lotus was
insisted upon at the time.
Kleindienst however. refused to act. al
he had seen nothing of the assault. War
rants were subsequently sworn tout II
Police Court for the arrest of the pair.
Kessel's Story in Court.
kessel told Justice Barnard that last
NSrc EosSoI carno 70 his Dlaco al
business. accompanied by her brother
James f. LOTUS. jr.. and without right
or reason assaulted his head clerk and
locked the door of his place Of business
While the brother held the clerk, he AYERS
his wife administered a severe beating to
him, causing a large crowd to conHregate
in front Of the place and greatly annoy
ing him.
The couple were married at ST. Joseph 6
Church. April s. 1891. and have tour
children. ranging in age from 1t to =
years. and lived happily together until
recently. Mr.. kessel says he spent
81 800 in purchasing home at 1913
Irving street and furnished it through
out.
During the past year. he declares. his
wife has repeatedly cursed him in the
presence of his children. While he
was an invalid under the care of ply
stefan she repeatedly visited his place OF
business, he STATES, dlu dSSouieO SoheA W
of 1t.
When he recovered, he AYERS, and took
charge Of his business the wife came
to the store and by her language and
conduct annoyed his customers and
caused his business to fall of considera-
bly,.
Lotus Defends Course.
James F. LOTUS. jr.. brother OF Mrs
Kessel who is charged with holding wal
ter Mountjoy, the clerk, while his sister
piled a horsewhp. stated today to re-
porter for The Star that he was striving
to keep Mountjoy from being whipped.
my sister asked Mountjoy to leave the
store. If he had done so he would not
have been molcsted. When he would not
go. asked him to leave and took hold OF
his coat in an effort to persuade him.
MY sister may have given him couple
of lashes while my hand was on his coat.
But had no intention of holding him SO
that she could beat him.
II know that Mountjoy made SANDER
Gus remarks against my sister. and that
he repeated them to her husband. who up
braided his wife.
Mrs. kessei has retained Attorney W.
F. Ambrose to represent her at the hear
ing next Tuesday before Justice Barnard.
Attorney Ambrose says many Of the allie
cations OF the bill are untrue and that
he will resist the granting of the desired
Injunction.