The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-05-11
Frank Maxey. Former Topeka
Catcher, Sues Wife.
Says Helpmeet Left Him to
Sing in Chorus.
TOOK THEIR CHILD.
Doesn't Know What Has Become
of Them.
Why the Plucky Player Lost His
Batting Eye.
TOOK THEIR CHILD.

Because his wife prefers the stage
to the little home in Canada, Frank
Maxey, a former Topeka baseball
celebrity, wants a divorce. HIS COM
plant reached the courts Wednesday
evening and the troubles in the Maxey
home will be carefully reviewed next
September.
1t was in 1906 that Maxey married
one of the prettiest girls in Hamilton,
Ontario, Canada. She was accomplish
ed, too. Maude-that was her first
name-could sing. She could also
tickle the family piano until it pro-
duced all sorts of high grade melody.
Then dancing was another of Maude's
accomplishments.
One day in the early fall of 1905, a
pretty blue-eyed little heir arrived at
the Maxey home. To be sure, Maxey
was overjoyed. Did he not ride the
innocent little heir on his knee and COO
lullabies that were all out of harmony
with the piano accompaniment? He
did. MaXey was happy. In the sum-
mer months he played ball in a Cana
dian league. He swatted the horse
hide to the joy of the fans and fielded
with the energy of a demon. Appar-
emily everything was bliss and joy in
the little northern home. Maxey was
proud of his wife and the new born
daughter. He was giade he was a
ers. His monthly stipend kept the
family in comfort.
Then. one day when Maxey least
looked for trouble, a big musical COM
edy played an engagement at the
Hamilton theater. In the local paper
was a glittering ad that the said COM
pany needed classy. good looking
chorus ladies who could sing and dance.
Maxey did not know that his wife ap-
piled for a place in the chorus. He
did oh fn a
theater one afternoon and was put
through all the difficult tests. Neither
did Maxey know that she made an in
stant hit with the manager of the
company.
But the next night Maxey was sure
som ething was wrong when he went
to the little home. Mrs. Maxey and
the baby were gone. That night the
ball player made Inquiries. He
learned that his wife had Joined the
baby with her. Maxey's heart was
broken For weeks he tried to get
some word from the woman. But no
letter came. That was five years ago
Gradually Maxey's batting eye be-
gan to fail. His former fast, snappy
fielding was on the ragged edge. The
fans hooted him when he made life
less swipes at the ball. But Maxey's
/ heart vas not in the game. He was
wondering of a little woman and a
wee WlSp OF a ch1ld VINO were some
where travelling with a big show.
Somehow these day dreams and
Maxey's performances on tfe baseball
lot became hopelessly tangled. So
Maxey quit the game.
Then he decided that he would run
away. He wanted to get somewhere
away from the old friends and the
old surroundings. Somehow every
thing in Hamilton seemed to haunt
the former baseball slugger and bring
back unpleasant memories. So Maxey
came to Kansas.
Maxey came to Topeka. He signed a
contract for the 1910 season with Dick
Cooleys alleged pennant chasers- News
of Maxey's work in Canada had pre-
ceded him and Cooley expected the vet
eran catcher to prove a record mitt ar
tist. But he didn't. Perhaps the jinks
was still on Maxey. His work was
mediocre. His pegging to second was
uncertain and his lamps were seldom
trimmed when the home team needed
a pinch hit to win. So Maxey's con-
tract soon terminated. This year the
former Hamilton n1itt artist expects to
manage the Salina aggregation. He
spends much of his time in Topeka But
the sting of Mrs. Maxey's desertion
still rankleS in the veterans system.
In his petition Maxey states that he
was a kind. loving and dutiful husband
and that his love and affection never
faltered until the woman was hypno-
tized by the glare Of the footlights.