Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-09-27
MRS. STE WART
Ev|CTEO, NOW TO
SEEK DIVORCE
Woman 0usted Bodily from
MOntclair Home BlameS
Mrs. Leeds.
HAS HAD BUT $40 FROM
HUSBAND In SIX MONTHS
Woman in Sensational Suit
Tells of Dire Plight of
Self and Daughter.

Having retained three lawyers to aid
her in her fight to regain possession of
her home, Mrs. w. c. Stewart, who
was evicted from her 100000 mansion
at 208 Mountain avenue, Montclair yes
terday, declared today that reconcile
alton with her husband is impossible
and that she will institute divorce pro-
ceedings forthwith. Mrs. Stewart told
an EVENING STAR reporter that Mrs.
w. B. Leeds, widow of the millionaire
tin-plate king and daughter of Mr..
Stewart by a former wife. is RESPONSE
BILE for her troubles.
The eviction of Mrs. Stewart and her
handsome daughter by her first hus-
band, Miss Ferne Parkhurst, both Of
whom were carried bodily out of the
mansion by officers of the Orange Dis
trict Court. was as sensational an cpl
sode as Montclair residents have wit
messed in many moons. No sooner than
the eviction was completed Mrs. Stew
art installed herself and daughter in
the Hotel Montclair and began her
campaign in retaliation of Mrs Leeds
action. The only effects she had been
able to carry out with her were valu-
able papers that were on her person
when the house was seized by the
constables.
Troubles of Long Standing.
In a. statement Mrs. Stewart con-
sented to give the EVENING STAR to-
day she said that her troubles with her
husband are of long standing. and that
he has treated her as though she were a
servant, rather than his wife. The couple
have been married fourteen years, and
the final separation took place August
last.
"Since, coming here last March," said
Mrs. Stewart, 81 have received but $40
from my husband. Why, when we were
in Newport he was so penurious that
was forced to use old pieces of silk
that had been thrown away by Mrs.
Leeds in order to clothe myself proper
ly Mr.. Stewards eccentric way and
intemperance made life with him al
most unbearable. He had a habit of
doing the most extraordinary things.
For instance he would discharge all
the servants one day without any rea-
son whatever, only to reengage them
the following day. Worse than that, he
treated me as though I were a servant
and not his wife. I have tried to prac-
tise forebearance, but this is the end.
A reconciliation between us Is impos-
sible''
Hid Papers In Dress.
|. 81 believe my eviction was the re-
suit of a deep-laid conspiracy to get
some papers that l have in my pos
session. They let me go ahead in the
belief that 1 was secure in the home
and then they swooped down. expect
ing to catch me unawares But before
those men broke into my room today
had lined my inner clothing with
my most interesting and valuable doc
uments, and there are now in place
where Mrs Leeds's representatives can
never get at them. / have been in
formed that Mr.. Stewart is now with
his other daughter. Mrs. Henderson
Green, at Summit. I have $4,000 worth
of dresses still in the house and all
my own jewelry and that of my daugh-
ter is there, too"
Mrs. Stewart also said she arranged
Mrs. Leeds's marriage with the multi
millionaire.
s3O,OOO,O0O Widow.
The mansion that was the scene of
yesterdays eviction is the property of
Mrs Leeds, who is said to have re-
ceived $90,00O,000 from her husbands
estate. The whereabouts of Mr.. Stew
art is not known, but 1t is said that he
is in Summit with another daughter,
Mrs. Henderson Green.
Events leading directly to the present
situation began last spring, when Mr..
and Mrs Stewart were living in New
York There had been several separa-
tions, with reconcilations said to have
been effected by Mrs. Leeds, when she
bought the Montclair mansion and told
her father that was to be the home Of
himself and Mrs. Stewart for the rest
of their lives. More than $4,000 was
spent in beautifying the interior of
the house and the couple lived there
several months. In August there was
another disagreement and Mr.. Stewart
left the house and has never returned.
During the last week, says Mrs.
Stewart, she has been isolated in the
mansion, with telephone, water and
lighting service cut off and detectives
stationed near the house to thwart any
attempt TO move furniture from tne
house. Sunday was Miss Parkhurst's
twenty fourth birthday, and with fine
irony the detectives helped her deco
rate the porch, giving no hint that an,
eviction was impending
Yesterday afternoon half a dozen
men, among them representatives of
Mrs. Leeds's New York attorneys en-
tered the house. going directly to Mrs.
Stewards room. Mrs. Stewart was in
deshabille and repulsed the invaders
entrance, whereupon, it is charged, the
men brushed by servants trying to pro-
tect their mistress, and, throwing
sheet about her, carried her out of the
house. She says that after she had
gone to the Hotel Montclair in an auto
mobile loaned by a friend one of the
lawyers on the scene In Mrs. Leeds's
interests offered her 800, which she
declined.
Mrs. Stewart and her daughter came
to Newark this afternoon to consult
one of her attorneys, Frederick w.
Smith. whose office is in the Prudential
building.