The Washington herald., 1910-07-19
WIFE SAYS CLAWS
OFFERED A BRIBE
government Position for Con-
sent TO Divorce.
REPORT IS FROM SEATTLE
Mrs. CLAWS Has Been III and Lives
in VaIois Apartment-Husban Is
in the West and Making Money.
woman's Brother Speaks Hope
fully of reconciliation.

Unusual interest is manifested here IN
the report from Seattle that Mrs. Maude
CLAWS. wife of Louis R. Claws. whose
charges against Secretary Ballinger pre-
cipitated the Pinchot- -Ballinger contro-
versy. has filed an affidavit in the Supe-
rior Court OF Seattle in which she alleges
that her husband offered her govern
ment position and attorneys fees II she
would consent TO divorce.
CLAWS is now in the West. but his wife.
whom he has named as defendant in d.
vorec proceedings. lives in Washington.
and was an almost daily attendant dur
/ ing the hearings at which her husband
was a star witness before the Senate in
vestigating committee last January.
Wife Attends investigation.
Although she was one of the women
! who attended the daily sessions, she did
so ineognito. and IT was not generally
known she was in attendance. She has
| been living in seclusion in apartment 5s
at the Valois apartments. 1890 Massaehu-
setts avenue. where she has been under
treatment by Dr. w n. Barton, and was
not able TO be seen last night.
That's old stun" said Charles ".
Haas last night, when shown the dis
/ patch from Seattle IT'S nothing more
/ than testimony that was taken here last
| spring In the matter OF the suit for d.
vorce fled by CLAWS against my sister
/ This testimony was sent 10 Seattle, and
( # is probable it has only just been filed-
/ I don't believe he will ever get his d.
voree, and don't think my sister wants
I him to have one I believe there will
! finally be a reconciliation, and that they
/ VIII live together again. CLAWS Is max
/ Ing money hand over fist out West This
government matter has been great adver-
tising for him. I don't care 10 say any
more about e."
PrOtege of Col. Livingston.
CLAWS. after the death Of his father,
was sort Of protege OF Col Leonidas
/ Livingston. a veteran member OF Con-
gress from Georgia. who acted as a sort
of guardian for the CLAWS children after
the death of Dr. CLAWS.
/ =. S. CLAWS, brother Of Louis Russell
Claws, is a clerk for the House Commit
tee on Expenditures IN the Department OF
Agriculture. but could not be located last
night
CLAWS was an agent OF the General
Land once from 1902 TO January. 1904
when he was an examiner OF the Chip
pewa Indian Reservation. Minnesota, for
three months until April Of that year
when he was appointed a special agent
OF the General Land once and served
until he was dismissed by President
Taft in September. 1S9.
Marriage In baltimore.
During the time that he was in Wash
! ington he met Miss Maude E. Haas.
daughter OF the late John Haas. OF this
city. and on March 8, 1885, they slipped
over 10 Baltimore, obtained a license. and
were quietly married. The records at
Baltimore show that Claws gave his age
as twenty-one and his residence as Hell
ens, Mont, although he is 6 native OF
Maryland, and had been appointed 10
/ the government service from Maryland;
also. Miss Haas gave her age as twenty
six years-five years his senior, so that
she Is now thirty-one-and her residencs
at washington. D. c.
Her brother. Charles ". Haas. Of this
city, who fled an affidavit along with
hers at Seattle. confirming her story that
Claws had offered her a government Job
and attorneys fees If she would consent
to a divorce, is employed in the law
offices Of Montgomery Blair, and lives at
81 O street northeast. She has another
brother. Joseph. living at Mount Rainier.
near Hyattsville. Md. and stiH another,
John P. NJ. Haas. jr., clerk. living in
Washington.
Divorce Suit Filed.
The CLAWS divorce suit was filed last
fall. Immediately after CLAWS handed his
report on the Ballinger case to the Presi-
dent The basis OF his suit is not gener-
ally known. but IL Is believed ne did not
charge bis wife with anything more Sc
rious than inability for them to live
peacefully together. Last February af-
ter Claws went on the stand, II was inti-
mated here that Mrs Claws would file a
petition In the District Court for a di-
vorce. but no such suit ever materIalised.
Whether she is now In the city or not Is
matter of doubt, 1t being stated at the
Valois that she cannot be seen, because
. she is I'll, while her brother Charles said
last night that while she was here last
week he is of the opinion that she has
gone to Seattle and that there will be a
I