The San Francisco call., 1910-09-27
MARINE OFFICERS
wife GETS DECREE
Mrs. G. M. Perkins Declares
Futile Fight for Vihdication
Broke Up Home
Continued From Page 4

now a cadet in the United States naval
academy at Annapolis She said that
her husband had moods of temper
which caused her and her sons great
sorrow, and in his anger said things
that he would never have said in his
normal condition.
These fits of temper were at the bot
tom of the charges made against him
following his removal from the COM
mand of the marines when the United
States began active preparation for the
policing of the canal zone at Panama
four years ago.
He was relieved OF his position and
summoned before a board of inquiry,
which rendered verdict of "tempera-
mental unfitness for duty" 1t was
alleged in the findings that his out
bursts of passion and his violent lam
guage used to the officers and men
under him disqualified him for further
duty.
The findings of the court were re-
voked, according to Mrs. Perkins, and
his resignation. He was retired under
a pension allowed after 80 years of
service, and the incident, as far as
the naval authorities were concerned,
was thought closed.
Colonel Perkins, however, thought
otherwise, and since then has spent
practically all his time in attempting
to refute the first findings of the
court, and time after time has filed
charges with the Washington officials
The naval board was accused of rail
roading" him out of the service. He
was suggested that he should place the
situation in the hands of his congress
man.
This was done and a bill restoring
him to full position in the marine corps
and back pay for the time of his alb
sence was introduced and passed
through the lower house. The senate,
however. did not take up the bill, and it
died in committee.
Two years after the failure of con-
left Berkeley for the east to renew his
efforts to regain his active commission.
He has spent the last "a months, ac-
cording to Mrs. Perkins. on the Atlantic
seaboard again trying to put a bill
through congress.
He made his departure after a long
but dignifed session with Mrs. Perkins
in which she fatty refused to accom-
many him on what Seap,ad fo her IN he
a useless errand, and said in pointed
words that he should drop the whole
matter, as he was wasting his time and
money in seeking restitution which
would never come.
Perkins is said to have declared that
he placed his honor as a man and his
rank in the marine corps above every
other consideration, and that home and
family meant nothing to him without
them. He then departed with the dec
laratfon that he would never again
come to this state.
After corresponding with him and
sending his personal effects, Mrs Per-
kins few days ago applied to her
attorney. Andrew Thorne of San Fran
cisco, to begin suit for divorce. The pa
pers were filed sealed and at the hear
ing today Mrs. Perkins was granted the
interlocutory decree with alimony at
$40 a month for the maintenance of
her children.
Mrs. Perkins, who is the daughter of
G. T. Whitley, a capitalist of San Fran
cisco, declared that, although the idea
of divorce was very repugnant to her,
she took the only step which seemed
advisable.
Colonel Perkins placed his position
in the marine corps above every other
consideration and his family and home
suffered accordingly. He left here two
years ago with the declaration that he
would not again return to California
therefore, after a reasonable time, sued
for divorce. Although he is a man of
honor and gentleman, Colonel Perkins
has a violent temper and his outbursts
made life burden during his spells"
Mrs. Perkins is a graduate of Mills
college and a woman of culture and re-
inement. She is prominent in society,
army and navy and club life in the bay
cities and is considered wealthy in her
own right. She was married to Colonel
Perkins at Suisun in 1890 while he was
a lieutenant in the marine corps, sta
toned at Mare island.
Colonel Perkins was one of the hest
known marine officers in the service,
He is graduate of the Annapolis naval
academy.
He served in the Philippines and with
the possession of the canal zone by the
United States he was placed in com
mand of the entire marine corps of that
district He had only been there a year
when charges of unfitness were filed
against him and the board of inquiry
summoned.