The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-01-29
MRS. SCHBNK, FREE,
SUED FOR DIVORCE
Papers Served on Her as She
Leaves Jail.
WILL FIGHT FOR ALIM0NY
Prisoner in Famous Poison Case
Now to Appear in Divorce Court.
Attorneys Say AlimOny Must BE
Provided or Counter Suit Will Be
Filed-WiIlins to BE Separated.

Wheeling, w Va, Jan. S.-Free upon
a bond of SO, 900, Mrs. Laura Farnsworth
Schenk left her cell in the turret of the
Jail here this morning and enjoyed the
open air for the first time since Novem-
Der 3. when she was arrested on the
charge OF having poisoned her millionaire
husband, John o. Cchenk.
But her real enjoyment of outdoors was
cut very short, for just as she was about
to step into the automobile of her law
yer, oJseph O'Brien, a process server,
stepped UP &c her and showed into her
hand apers summoning her in suit for
absolute divorce. Her husabnd names as
CORRESPONDENT Dan Phillips. the young
society blood" who during the trial which
just ended, admitted that he and she
were guilty of misconduct on Joy rides, I"
while the husband was away in Europe.
The divorce suit will be heard. it is said
here, before the echoes of the poison trial.
in which the jury disagreed eleven to one
for acquittal. have died away. Mrs.
Schenk undoubtedly will make a big fight
for alimony.
Willing to Be Separated.
Il am willing to be separated from my
husband she said this evening. IF he
will properlyp provide for me. though l
dread the loss of my two little children.
He will have to do better by me if he di-
vorces me than he did when we were liv-
ing together.
why. with his millions" she went on
bitterly, al he gave ME to keep up our
house on Wheelin Island and to dress
little Virginia and Robert was $40 a
month. During our married life he al
ways refused to keep servant. and
had to do even the washing. Only once
a week he consented to hire a girl to
come in an dclean the house. That was
my afternoon Off
Nobody knows what L have gone
through with for fourteen years from
the meanness of that man. The culmi-
nation was this charge of attempted
murder which his family has brought
against me because they hate me. But,
thank heaven, a ury has practically ac-
quilted me of that, and 1 am sure that
If am ever tried again on the same
charge L will be found not guilty in a
few minutes
May Be Counter eNit.
Here Attorney O'Rrien told of plans
that viii still further enliven the divorce
controversy
IF John o. Schenk does not make
proper alnnony provision for his wife,
said the lawyer, there will be a counter
suit fled, in which there Will be more
chan one correspondent. We have dis
covered certain occurrences in many
European cities ranging from a half
dozen in Paris to one in Oberamagau,
where he went to see the Passion Play.
Mrs Schenk hurried from the prison to
-
ing Il closed, went to the residence of
Mrs William LaSch, a rich and elderly
neighbor. who caused pretty little scene
by kissing her in the court room one day
during the recent trial.
Mrs. Schenk, when seen by the report
crS after her arrival at the Lasch home
laughngly admitted that she had re-
ceived several offers of large sums to ap-
pear in vaudeville and to write her expe-
riences. But she will not accept any of
them.
Public opinion is now largely in her
favor. The general hope is that she will
not be tried again Cor will be acquitted if
she Isl, and that she will receive liberal
almony When she first went on trial it
was popularity hoped that she would be
convicted.
Curious Change of Feeling.
A curious bit of psychology is RESPONSE
BILE for the shift of feeling. 1t occurred
when Dan Phillips took the stand against
her.
Why didn't he lie like a gentleman"'
demands gallant Wheeling ESPECIALLY
after she had showered presents on him
and openly manifested her love for him?
He had nothing to lose. since all the Joy
rides were taken in Ohio, and he could
not have been prosecuted in West Eir-
ginia.'
From the moment of Phillips first adj
mission. sympathy was entirely with the
woman and contempt was expressed in
various ways for the man.
Nearly all the jurors admitted they |
were disguised with Phillips betrayal of |
the woman. and that this sentiment fig |
ured partially, at least. in influencing |
eleven OF them to vote for acoli;ttaI |