New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-10-12
Wife, Who Was Chorus Girl in
Havana" Company, Alleges
Cruel Treatment.
GHOSTS BASIS OF ACTION
Her Mother Says Spirit of a For
mer Mrs. Dodge Envied Gifts
and Jewels Disappeared
Mans Third Marriage.
lBv ToiecIaph 10 The tribune. |

Common Pleas Court to-day against
Walter Phelps Dodge, to whom she was
married in London on January -, 1910.
Mrs. Dodge, being only twenty years
old, was compelled to file her action
through her mother, Mrs. Mary Bell
Steck, Maurice b. Saul representing
them as counsel.
Mr. Dodge was forty-four years old
VIXEN he met the young chorus girl in
the South. He followed the company to
London to be with her. and after their
marriage they lived I'm London and
resorts abroad. He had already been
married three times. and had a daugh
ter, Rosemary by one Of his prior mar
rieges.
Mrs. Dodge's residence was given in
the. libel as the Covington. 37th and
Chestnut streets. but it was said that
both she and her mother were out Of
The city. Dodge's address in the suit is
given as either the Reform Club, Lon
don, or the Savoy Hotel. New York
The action is based on charges of cruel
and barbarous treatment and indigni-
ties Mrs. Dodge contending that by
reason Of her husbands conduct she
was compelled to leave him on July -.
1910 Judge McMichael, who allowed
the libel. made the suit returnable the
| fourth Monday Of December.
The attorney. Maurice b. Saul. rep
resenting Mrs. Dodge, said tonight:
Mrs. Dodge stood the actions of her
/ husband for several months, and at last
leave him. Although | have heard the
entire story. | can't tell for publication
/ of what the cruel and barbarous con-
duct consisted. All of this will come out
l at the trial"
4 =. w. Miller, an attorney, who had
represented Mr.. Dodge in other ltiga-
tons. said that he had not been engaged
to defend the divorce suit, nor was he
aware Of the whereabouts of Dodge.
Mrs. H. Louise Steck, mother OF Mrs
Dodge. when seen last night al her home.
No. / West sSth street, gave her expana-
uon Of her daughters action in suing for
a divorce Tho daughter, who was sitting
in the room, nodded assent at times.
Il am responsible said Mrs Steck. Il
induced my daughter to apply for a d.
vorce. When We were all I'm London to-
gether my daughter told me one day that
she was being bothered by the ghost of
/ Mr.. Dodge's second wife. who, II appears.
I objected TO the amount of jewelry my
daughter was wearing. This apparition
preyed so on my daughters mind that she
became very nervous and her health was
seriously affected.
Her Jewery Disappeared.
Il tried to smooth things over but finally
noticed that her condition was getting
worse. ! also saw that her iewelry was
rapidly disappearing. one morning l asked
her what had become Of certain trinkets.
and she told me that her husband had told
her he had seen the spirit Of his second
| wife lowering over the bed. lie said the
ghost demanded the icwelry, and she gave
it TO him. \ valuable lace veil went the
same way.
ION another occasion AR Dodge said he
was Of the opinion that his wife was not
| I'M her right mind. Al these things in
nuenccd me i'm urging my daughter to take
the step she has taken. but there We're
many other reasons, too which would not,
however. look very good I'm print My
daughters health is my first consider
alton"
I Walter Phelps Dodge has had three
/ matrimonial experiences. none Of them
very successful lie was born in Beirut,
Syria where his father was president of
Protestant college, studied in Greece,
Germany and at oxford and Yale. and was
/ admitted to the bar in England. Mr..
Dodge was married i'm July 1883, when he
I clopeG with Miss Ida Lena Cooke, an Eng
sh circus rider, after following her faith
I cT's circus around for a year. The High
Sheriff Of Edinburgh married them. but
/ FIVE years afterward his wife divorced him,
getting alimony and the custody Of her
children six months in the year. Two
years later she was married to II. p. Rob
inson. and English army officer, and was
last heard Of at a ranch in Fresno Coun-
~. Cal
In 1905 Mr.. Dodge married Mrs. l.. B.
Coles fortnight after her divorce from
her husband, who was "a connection Of the
Earl Of Ennskillen. She was a daughter
of Percy Harner Adlard, II Stanetou Court.
/ Gloucestershire and % Rangoon. Burmah.
: MI. GOuSt Idu pau jlrI dtltHlIoH LOT a
year or so. and the wedding took place
in the Sioux Falls home Of Mrs. Flora
I Bigelow Dodge the divorced wife OF
Charles Stuart Dodge now Mrs. Lionel G.
Guest.
The second Mrs Dodge died. and i'm jan
uary. 1910 her husband married Miss Helen
Louise StecH at St Georges Church, in
London She was the daughter of Air. and
/ Mrs Edward Milton Steck a Pennsyl-
NaBia coal operator, with homes at Phil
adelphia. New York Haverford. Penn.
and Daytond. Fla About two years be-
fore the marriage she decided. along with
her sister Edna. to become hello girl
i'm the musical comedy. Havana" Their
parents prevented the Steck girls from alb
solutely appearing. Edna married Warner
/ Croxton, Of Norfolk, Va, and they were
afterward divorced.
In March. 1910 Nh Dodge went abroad
with his wife, his nother-in-law and his
sister-in-law and Miss Rosemary Dodge, a
I daughter by former wife In October
while Mr. Dodge remained abroad, his wife
and her mother came back 10 New York
with a curious story Of separation caused
on Dodges part by what he said was a
| constant temperance Of the spirit Of his
/ second wife who cnvied the dresses and
jewels he had given 70 the former Miss
I Steck
Mr.. Dodge belongs 10 many clubs His
I residence is given as the Reform Club.
London. Besides Miss Rosemary Dodge.
| he has a stepson, Adlard Dodge. and son,
! Stuart Dodge. at Yale He IL the author OF