The Detroit times., 1910-05-13
OPERA STAR DENIES
SHE OWES MONEY
CONTINUED from Page on.J

Detroit awaiting the present court pro
Ceedings. Attorney James Mcnamara
Is acting for Miss Van Studdlford,
and William Lucking for the PLAIN
tiffs.
Miss Van Studdiford went on he
stand on the opening Of the case. Fri
Cay morning. and testified that the
original transaction with w. A StuI-
icon & Co was the selection of o
chest of silver by her husband. Chas.
Van Studdiford. and valued at $500,
as gift to her. This was in February
or March, 1904. and on April IL of
the same year Mr.. Van Studdiford
visited w. A. Sturgeon e. Co.'S store
end purchased a number of articles
OF jewelry and dressing table acces-
series, which he sent to his wife as a
present Miss Van Studdiford ac-,
knowledged receiving both the chest
uf silver and the other articles. but
declared that she did not know they
rad been charged In her name, and IN
fact did not know anything about the
financial end OF 1t, and, therefore, in
replying to the suit absolutely de-
dimes to acknowledge the existence
az any such debt Miss Van Studdi.
witness, answering questions so quick
~ as to frequently embarras her own
attorney in entering exceptions.
Attorney Lucking for the plaintiffs
tried to prove by three young women
bookkeepers and stenographers in the
employ Of the old firm OF W. A. StuI-
geon 4 Co, that all purchases made
either by Mr.. Van Studdiford or his
49,
Grace Van Studdiford. The books
produced in evidence showed that such
an account had been carried In the
name OF Miss Van Studdford for a
certain length OF time, when il was
transferred 10 the name OF Charles
Van Studdiford, the latter making pay.
ments until the amount was reduced
TO the sum now sued for. $42S.50.
In giving her testimony, Miss Van
Studdiford declared that she always
paid her personal accounts promptly
as she dislilSed owing bills, and that
she had frequently paid her husbands
bills to save annoyance. She said she
understood he had the reputation Of
being SLOW pay"
Examination Of witnesses for the
plaintiffs was still under way at the
HUJOuTHHlpuI
The fact that Miss Van Studdiford
and her husband we're divorced in
her home city Of ST. Louis, Mo-, last
October, while not mentioned in the
present proceedings has a greater or
less bearing upon the'case.
"Just because | earn my living I'm
public way and am supposed to
make lots OF money, I am counted
x,in ooll
diford, rather bitterly In speaking OF
the case, when court adjourned Fri.
day noon. Il feel do not owe this
bill and will fight the case to the
end" she added spiritedly.
Miss Van Studdiford was a member
of the Bostonians opera company
when she met Charles Van Studdiford,
then wealthy st. Louis society man.
They were married and the brilliant
singer retired from the stage. Mis-
fortune overlook the couple, however,
and their fortune was entirely swept.
away, Mrs. Van Studdiford returning
to the stage She was unusually sue
cessful as a star and her domestic
relations were supposed to be of the
happiest until her friends were start
/. led by the rumors OF a separation and
finally the proceedings for divorce.
Mr.. Van Studdiford fled petition in
bankruptcy in the st. Louis courts
Just previous to the granting Of the
divorce to his wife, last October.
When the singer was in Detroit last
winter at the head OF her company,
"The Golden Butterfly an attach
ment was served upon her in the
= name OF w. A. Sturgeon & Co, and
har ,naraonal belongings seized She
gave a bond at the time. but later in
the season. In Buffalo. the attorneys
for the Detroit firm attempted to at
tach the box Office receipts and effects
of the Golden Butterfly" company.
The present suit in Judge Mandell's
court Is the outcome of the former
proceedings In the effort to collect the
payment OF the alleged bill