Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-10-17
Case Declared MiStriaI Be-
cause of Attorneys Attack
on Wife of Defendant.

NEW YORK, Oct 1T will show
your honor, and this jury, that Abraham
L. Erlanger swore in judicial proceed
| ing that his wife, whom now he says he
loved and wished to chivalrously shield,
was a bigamist, a perjurer vandal
and"
This statement made before Supreme
Court Justice Page by John V. Bowler
Jr., counsel for Miss Edith St Clair, the
! actress, in her suit to enforce a $25,
600 contract against Klaw & Erlanger,
abruptly ended the trial of the case.
A juror was withdrawn and mis-
! trial" declared because of Bouviers at
tack on Mrs Erlanger. This does not
effect the merits of the case, but simply
delays the trial The action will again
be placed on the calendar and tried be-
fore another jury,
Immediately after granting the motion
to withdraw a juror, Justice Page fined
Attorney Bowler $50 for contempt OF
court, The contempt" was charged be-
cause Lawyer Bowler asked a question
in line with the subject matter of ar
other question which had Just been eX-
cluded from the evidence by the court.
Miss ST. Clair In Tears.
Miss St. Clair, who is suffering from
until Max D. Steuer, her personal attor-
ney, informed her that in due time she
would have her day in court, Mr. Steuer
is anxious to have the day come soon,
because Erlanger has answered Miss st.
Glars suit with the charge that Steuer
"blackmailed' him into signing the $685.,
900 contract
Attorney Bowler, who has been en-
gagged by Mr. Steuer to try the case, be-
gan the session with a summary of Miss
St Clair's side of the case. He eX-
planned that in 1908 she claims, Mr. Err
LANCER promised to pay her SIS a week
for life In consideration of her services
as an actress. The payments were made
regularly, he said, until 1909, when they
ceased
Then Miss St Clair consulted the firm
of House. Grossman & Vorhaus, and was
told that she had a cause of action
against Klaw & Erlanger Because this
firm of lawyers handled good deal of
theatrical litigation, they referred her TO
Max u. Steuer Steuer was introduced to
Mr.. Erlanger by big Tim" Sullivan,
friend of Erlanger and Steuer
Refused Second So, 500.
AS result of this conference with
Steuer the firm of Klaw q Erlanger
signed a contract by which they agreed
TO pay Miss st. Clair $1,000 in ten
annual installments. in release for her
claim that they had agreed to pay her
SIS a week for life. The first INSTALL
ment was refused. Miss St. Clair brought
suit to recover the $500 and have the
court decree that she is entitled to the
other installments when due.
The opening skirmish in court yester-
day made certain the fact that Attor-
neys Steuer and Bowler are going to
make determined effort to uncover all
the interesting events" in Mr. Erlan-
gers past life The evidence in Mr. Err
langer's divorce action, which was tried
secretly a year ago, was referred to yes
terday. and the mysterious suit of AIDE
aide L. Erlanger against Abraham l.. Err
LANCER, and Ruth Lit was mentioned.
This latter case was withdrawn last No
vember before trial
Miss ST Clair was born in 1882, and
was fifteen years old when she entered
the employment of Mr.. Erlanger," Mr..
Bowler told the jury. she had been in
Mr.. changers employ only about three
weeks when certain things changed con-
ditions between employer and emplos ee
Miss ST Clair had talent and ability ana