Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-06
HUSBAND, A POLICEMAN,
OBJECTED TO PUBLICITY
Waited Year After Year for the
Making Of a Home.
DIVORCE SUIT OPENED EYES
Declares She First Lost Faith in Hus-
band When She Learned
He Had Charged
Desertion.

The friends OF Police Sergt. Ernest W.
Brown, acting lieutenant of the third
precinct. will be surprised to know that
he has been married nearly ten years.
The first intimation that he is a benedict
came today in the form Of a suit for
maintenance filed in the District Supreme
Court by Mrs. Ella r. Brown, who has
been known as Miss Ella r. Jones by her
friends and fellow clerks at the Treasury
Department.
According 10 the petition filed by At
torneys Alphonso Hart and Edward r.
Coladay. Sergt. Brown and Miss Jones
were married December }, 1890. in Phila-
celphia, and sustained marital relations
until last November. when. 1t is alleged,
the policeman deserted his wife Mrs
Brown says she always endeavored %
III ase her husband and submit TO his
wishes until last September. when, she
AYERS. Brown besought her to allow him
10 obtain a divorce from her. assuring
her. she alleges, that he only desired
divorce for the purpose of setting himself
right before the world and that ne would
again marry her.
SOAoCAIco 10 q OlVOICc.
Relying on these representations. she
says. she consented to go TO Philadelphia
and submit to service of the divorce pro-
ceedings. which papers, she alleges. her
husband put into his pocket She was
not apprised of their contents, she de-
clares, until she had left Philadelphia
and only after vigorous demands that
the papers be returned to her. Her hus-
band. she AYERS. besought her not to
read them, but TO tear them up and
throw them away.
A perusal OF the divorce petition. she
rays, disclosed that she mad been
charged with desertion. which she de-
clares was a falsehood. She had re-
course TO her pastor. says Mrs. Jones'
Brown, and by his advice retained
Philadelphia lawyer. who defeated the
suit.
Until reading this petition. the wife
says. she had always had full faith in
Brown, and had trusted him implicitly.
but she then doubted him, and wrote
10 him. declaring: 'All / can see is
disgrace as a divorced woman for me-"
She announced her determination to
fight the suit.
In reply. the petitioner says she re-
ceived a letter from the police office
dated November %. and signed "E. w.
r." The letter appended TO her petit
tion 10 the court reads:
Agrees to Withdraw Suit.
Miss +. r. Jones:
Your letter Of the 23d instant
ecived. The contents were quite a sur
rrise 10 me. as ! thought what we had
done in Philadelphia was satisfactory TO
you. As told you in the beginning.
/ did not want 10 do anything that was
not proper or would cause you any pub
ltcity As you have taken this view OF
The matter l viii withdraw same. In
view OF the language of your letter I
think IL better for us both not to meet.
~ our differences would make Ii un-
pleasant for US and BY so doing we will
try and avoid worry"
After the receipt Of the letter the plain
tir says she did not see Brown again
until April last. when they accidentally
met on street car. On that occasion.
she says. he said 70 her In threatening
manner: Keep away from me. Don't
you do anything TO harm me and won't
do anything 20 harm you
She next saw him. Mrs. Jones-Brown
says. August il. when she was crossing
18th street 10 the Treasury building. See
ing he was endeavoring to intercept her
and fearing he would do her some bodily
harm. she turned around and reached
She declares she is in fear OF bodily harm
from the officer and requests the court
20 grant her an injunction to prevent him
rnolesting her.
Agreed to Secrecy.
AZ the time of the marriage Brown was
a private on the force. receiving SIS
nanth salary. and had his father and
mother dependent on him. and Miss Jones
had a NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. cierkship in
the Treasury, VIZ an aged mother and
niece objects OF her bounty. She and
Brown agreed because of these condi-
tions. IL IS set forth in the petition. that
the marriage should be kept secret for
two years. at which time he was TO es-
tablish home and they were 10 live
openly as man and wife When the two
years had rolled by. the petition declares
she demanded the announcement of The
marriage. but she AYERS the officer ask
ed delay after delay. insisting that the
time for publication had not arrived
Mrs. Brown allowed her name To remain
on the Treasury rolls Ella r. Jones un-
I'll August last. when she announced her
marriage 10 the Treasury officials and had
her name enrolled as Ella r. Brown. The
news soon leaked out and she was show
cred with congratulations by the Office
force. who supposed the ceremony 10 have
been OF recent date.
During the ten years OF their married
life. the petitioner says. Sergt. Brown has
contributed scarcely more than SO in all
toward her maintenance and not one dol
lar since Christmas. 1875 His salary is
now Slno "A month. the court is told. and
he has only his mother To support who
has pension. Mrs. Brown declares that
out Of her SI5 a month she has TO sup
port widowed niece. who is In delicate
health and has two small children
Justice Barnard this afternoon issued
rule on Sergt. Brown. TO show cause
September IA why he should not be
compelled TO contribute to the support
OF his wife and why ne should not be
enjoined from molesting her.