The San Francisco call., 1909-04-01
COLLEGE ROMANCE
ENDS IN DIVORCE
Mrs. Helen Graydon, Daughter
of Local Capitalist, Granted
Legal Separation
Testifies That Her Football
Playing Husband Failed to
Provide Support

That far less bother is involved in
getting out of matrimonial difficulties
than in getting in was the experience
yesterday of g pretty young woman.
Mrs. Helen Beryl Graydon, daughter OF
j. Parker Whitney, local capitalist.
To get married Helen Whitney had to
climb a wall of select girls
school in New York, slide down
a ladder and dodge all sorts of
tutelary dragons and watchdogs.
To secure a decree of divorce
from Thomas H. Graydon, the one time
famous Harvard fullback, Mrs. Graydon
simply had TO quietly slip into a chair
before Judge Graham and testify that
her athletic husband had not crossed
the goal line of home with any certi-
fed checks under his arm to keep the
wolf from the door. Graydon is now
In Cincinnati, where he is engaged in
the shoe business.
J. Parker Whitney, father of the
young woman, testified that he had sup
ported her since August, 1907. Attor-
ney Edgar Peixotto represented Mrs.
Graydon, and Baldwin Wood of the
firm of Weinmann. Wood s. Cunha, a
college mate of the husband, looked
after the interests. such as they were,
OF the defendant, who did not defend.
JUDGE GRANTS DECREE
While Judge Graham is disting nguished
for his talent in effecting reconcilia-
tions between couples who would sever
their marital ties, he made no effort
10 discourage Mrs. Graydon. He granted
the decree as soon as the evidence
was in. There was no motion for ALI
TnOnT counsel fees or
Mrs. Graydon did not enter into the
romantic history of her marriage. She
said that she was married in Walden,
Mass, in 1908; that her husband has for
the last year failed 70 contribute 10 her
support; that he had neglected his
business through idleness and dissipa-
ton, and that since August, 1907, her
father has supported her. She gave
her address as the Fairmont
Attorney Peixotto then called the
father J. Parker Whitney. TO the stand.
In reply to questions regarding his son
in law Whitney said: He's good
enough sort of fellow, but careless and
irregular IN his habits"
is the plaintiff your daughter"
asked Judge Graham.
I believe So" replied whitney care
lessly.
Tom" Graydon, who until yesterday
was the husband of the Mrs. Graydon,
was a football star on the Harvard
team in 1903. His prowess was ad-
nired by Miss Whitney, who attended
the Misses EIys' select school in New
York. When the young folks met Miss
Whitney admired the personality OF the
player and he became infatuated with
the pretty schoolgirl. There was much
clandestine correspondence between the
two, and when Miss Whitney was rusti-
Gated in Connecticut for some breach of
school discipline young Graydon ap-
peared at the penitential retreat and
was introduced as the girls brother.
ATTEMPTS TO ELoPE
Later the romance grew even more
exhilerating. One dark night Miss
Whitney started TO elope with her
swain. She slipped out of her window
and down the ladder and over the
wall, but the sleeping potion given the
school dragon expired by Limitation
about that time and the romance was
frustrated. Two months later the
couple were married in Boston under
the auspices of the brides father. For
three years there was harmony in the
household. but then the game was
called quits and Mrs. Graydon came TO
California and has been living the
greater part of the time at the Whit
ney ranch near Rocklin, Placer county.
Graydon was of the class of 1903 at
Harvard. He is the son of the late DR..
Thomas ". Graydon, a patent medicine
manufacturer, who left large estate.
The young man invested his fortune in
the shoe business in Cincinnati, but has
not made q success of his venture.