Los Angeles herald., 1909-06-26
MRS HARPER RFPIIFS
lFssAOs ss saNs -
IN ALIENATION SUIT
SAYS CHAUFFEUR'S WIFE WAS
CRUEL TO HIM
Pasadena Woman Denies Charges Of
Stealing Affections and Makes
Allegations Against Mrs.
Jane Harris

Mrs. Grace Velie-Harper. the
wealthy Rock Island woman agai9st
whom a suit for damages in the sum
of $150, 200 was filed in the superior
court several weeks ago by Mrs. Jane
Harris, alleging that Mrs. Harper had
anenated the affections of Sidney
Harris, husband of the plaintiff, re-
piled to the charges yesterday in
twelve-page document, in which she
denies generally the accusations
brought against her, and, in addition,
defends Harris actions in leaving his
wife on the ground that the latter
treated her husband with extreme
cruelty.
Mrs. Harper is still living in Pasa-
dena. Mrs. Harris is in Los Angeles,
employed in a downtown department
store, and, according to her attorneys
Goldberg & Meiley, is being continual
ly followed and watched by persons
supposed to be employed by Mrs. Har-
per in an effort to frighten her into a
dismissal of the action.
For the purpose of fighting the suit,
the trial of which has not yet been
set, Mrs. Harper has retained A.
torneys Theodore Martin, Henry L.
Gage. w. l. Foley and Grant jack
son. In the answer filed by these at
torneys yesterday Mrs. Harper denies
that she won Harris affections away
from his wife, and says she has no
knowledge concerning other matters
contained in Mrs. Harris complaint.
Alleges Wife Was Cruel
Harris. she adds, was employed by
her as stableman, coachman and
chauffeur in Rock Island from Novem-
ber, 1904, until August, 1908. His
domestic life, she says, from the time
of his marriage, June z, 1905, until
November last, was marked by extreme
cruelty on the part of his wife, who,
she claims, was insanely Jealous of
him.
"A month after the marriage" she
continues, Mrs. Harris told her hus-
band she did not love him. called him
vile names, endeavored to persuade
him to neglect his work so that he
might run errands for her and re-
fused to wash his clothes or, cook his
meals. He frequently was compelled
to pay for his meals at restaurants,
and when he had no money he begged
for something to eat at my kitchen.
Among other acts of cruelty, Mrs
Harris accused him of immoral con-
duct with other women, and in jan
uary, 1907, she attacked him with a
butcher knife, and might have killed
him had other persons not inter-
fered.''
A year later says Mrs. Harper in
her complaint, Mrs. Harris locked her
husband in a room, and when he ef-
fected his release by taking the
hinges off the door she beat him, tore
his hair and clothes and scratched his
face In order to pacify the conten-
tious woman the defendant says
Harris took his wife on a trip to Eng
land and Ireland, the steamship voy-
age being filed, however, with
immortality.
Says Harris Was Deserted
''In June. last year." continues Mrs.
Harper, Harris wife deserted him,
remaining away a long time. She
finally asked him to take her back.
saying she was in the wrong, and
promising to make their home pleas
anter. She returned home, only to re-
sumo her quarreling."
The final smaSh-up in the Harris
home, according to Mrs Harper, oc-
CURED last November, during which
month Mrs. Harris compelled her hus-
band to make his bed on a sofa. "On
one occasion" she says, Mrs. Harris
pulled him off the sofa by the hair.
and after a two or three hours one
sided quarrel took the baby to an ad-
joining room, locked the door and
turned on the gas. Harris broke in
the door and saved them from asphyxi-
alton, and for this action his wife
threw dishes, kitchen utensils and
household furniture at him.
"She was continually fault-finding,
nagging and abusive" Mrs. Harper
says, in conclusion, adding that in
stead of deserting his wife, the charge
of desertion must lie against Mrs.
Harris, who. she alleges, left her home
and has since refused to return.
The case will be tried before Judge
Hervey on some date not yet set.