The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1910-06-16
MRS. TENNEY GIVES
The WIFE'S SIDE
Story of Her Grievances Full of
Interest, Though Hinged With
Bitterness, Resulting From
Alleged Grievances-Calls
Husband a Libertine.

telicitieS of George .. Tenney and his
Wife, Emma L., Monday morning. when
lawyer william L. Royal, represent
ing the complaining spouse asked
permission OF the Judge of the Law
ana Equity Court to file an amended
bill.
Originally. Mrs. Tenney went into
the Chancery Court with n mere re-
quest that her husband be forced to
support her, but the action of her
counsei today puts her in a different
category. NOW she asks limited d.
Vorce, which technically is known as
divorce "a mensa ct thoro"-tbat
is divorce from bed and board.
The amended bill goes much fur
ther than the one originally filed and
accompanies the plea for equity with
big budget of exhibits In the yay of
letters, reports and the like
MT. Royal was granted leave to file
the amended bill, but Louis Wenden-
burg, counsel for Mr.. Tenney, of
It later on If he so desires. He TODAY
reserved the right to do this.
IL would seem probable, too, that
ne viii ME an amended answer. as
the case.
The court took the matter under
consideration and will announce a de-
cision later.
The proceedings this morning were
OH less than three minutes duration
Mr.. Royal handed the papers to
Judge Ernest IL. Wells. who is sitting
Tor Judge Grinnan, and Immediately
lett. They consist of hfty-one type
written pages
Extracts From the Bill
To quote Mr.. Royals own language
the story of the couples domestic
mtehcitleS reads like a chapter from
Balzac, and certainly this is hardly
Statlng the matter too strongly. The
amended bill. which covers fifty-one
4 rR.nf
the readers interest from start TO
hnish, and at times completely en-
crosses the attention, for il embodies
letters and other documents that are
strikingly illustrative of the stress of
human emotions.
The first page recites the fact that
Emma l.. Tenney was married 10
George .. Tenney December 20. 1854
IN New York State, and that there was
child born of this union. She was
named Aleda and first saw the Iirut
FEBRUARY Is, 1886. This child is nov
the wife of Tillman Bunch, of South
Cdrolina, TO whom she was married
In July, 1909.
After the wedding of the Tennevs
they resided in different parts of the
country, as the defendants business
as a contractor called him to Massa-
chuSetts Alabama Tennessee North
Carolina, South Carolina and finally
they moved to Virginia about April
1907, where they last dwelt together
The bill says:
Your complainant was never un-
faithful or untrue TO her said hus-
band in thought, word or deed i'm
any part of her married life but she
now prays for divorce from his bed
and board on account OF cruelty and
desertion.''
According to the bill it was not
Until August, 1899, that the harmony
existing was disturbed. At that time
there happened an event that color
ered and ruined compliments life
Says He Is Tickle.
( Since that event (sic) complain
ant has found that her said husband
is a libertine with no regard what
ever for his marriage vows and with
out any moral principle whatever
One article in his creed is that no
man should be required TO live with
and his life for more than ten
years past has been an illustration OF
this article of his creed"
1.-The Other Woman"
The other woman" according to
the bill, was first detected in her
wrongdoing in Spartanburg, s. c.,
when one of her letters fell into the
hands of Mrs. Tenney. This com
munication is quoted. but II can hard
b y bear repetition in a family news
AAaper:
The discovery of the husbands al
Hged infidelity had a terrible effect
vYlpon the wife. 1t weighed upon har
heart and mind, and her health and
her spirits declined and continued TO
decline. Finally, in October, 1901. her
condition had become such that sh,.
found IL absolutely necessary to OBJ
tain change of scene and surround
lngS, and with her husbands approval
she went to Atlanta, Ga, in October
1901. to spend the time with some
friends"
Despite her sorrow, Mrs Tenney
apparently made an effort to forgive
her husband for his alleged INSIDE
meanors. In a pathetic letter written
him from Atlanta, December 1, 1901,
she says in part: Il first want to tell
you frankly that i am not staying to
pout or TO get rid of your society. /
will state more than this-of ali the
men nave ever met, if / were free
to marry, ! would choose you again
This l am willing for you to know
Notwithstanding l am perfectly and
painfully aware that / am nothing
to you. but woman you are tied to
and remain with because of Leda (the
daughter).
Il consider myself now nearly IN a
normal state OF mind. i realize fully
that the sudden and unlooked-for de-
Veiopment OF your feelings for me
and attitude toward me for years that
the letter from your loved one made
evident, shocked me almost to insan-
lily. For two years and more / have
suuSsleo with nyseI1 not TO lose my
mind-struggled with fierce, trem-
bling intensified by the belief that
there was in our family blood a ten-
dency towards insanity.
The horror OF the knowledge that
all my sense OF morality was wrong
that not the mind or the spirit of
the woman was what appealed 10 a
man even when ne was a Woman's
husband, but her hold over him only
physically-that' a wife was not to be
hVYf he 90
late in coming in my lfes sense of
honor and shook me to the center of
Amy whole being"
Had Sleuths After Her.
Mrs. Tenney lays many other al
legged offenses at the doors of her
husband. She accuses him OF trying
to ALLEVIATE the affections OF her
daughter, of singular lack of consid-
Grafton for her mental and physical
condition, and of a weIl-laid plan to