New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-30
RICHARD HARDING DAVIS
IS SUED FOR DIVORCE
authors Wife Begins Action in
Chicago. Alleging DeSertlon
Two Years AGO.
MO DEFENCE is EXPECTED
Plaintiff. Who Was Miss Cecil
Clark. Wealthy in Her Own
Right-Infelicity Long
Known TO Friends.
y. r.lee-arh % The r,lbur. !

"a. Telegraph 20 Tho Tribur.
chicago Mav 29-Exactlv two 80
and DAY after she had quietly ns .--
up her res!dence IN Chicago with ~ J
tention If obtaining 81 divorce from her
husband. Mrs CecI clark Davis fled her
suit in the Superior Court to-da~ charc
! ine Richard Harding Davis. author. var
corresucndent and PLAYWRIGHT with de
/ sertior
! Mr. Davis IS not expected 10 contest
/ the suit settlement has been ar
ranged. - IS reported and although Mr
| Dafis IS expected 20 enter his formal ap-
uearauce I'm the case through ATTORNEYS.
/ {: is thought that h. viii not appear in
/ Chicago when his wife testifes against
him Tho amount ~ tho settlement Is q
/ secret between Mrs Davis and her bus
| band not even her attorneys knowing
| irs amount. thev saw.
! Mrs Davis. the daughter - John VI.
/ Clark former president ~ the Chicago
Telephone COMPANY. is wealthy in he-
|oVn right
Davis and his nifo separated nearly
/ 'hrc" years ago u Now York DTS
/ cr..lng tcmr"r4meuts" was giyon as
| Tho cause 81 tho rupture II vas an
rouucod that either Davis or his wife
| would take up re-ideuc" in some Vest
/ eru stat" and obtain a divorce later.
/ shortly af"rvard. Mr. Davis returned
/ 10 h"r parents homo ~ ~ So Cedar
street Th" legal tim" for an action on
/ charges ot doeertiou vas fulfilled on
Tuosdav Tho suit for divorce vas then
filed for Mrs Davis
sine" her return to chicago. Mrs.
Davis. VII" has gained reputation as a
portrait artist. HIS had a studio near her
/ home ou the North Side. Her parents
ar" at their summer residence in tho
! East. Wh",- Mrs. Davis expects to Join
| them after tn" decree Is granted
Davis was married 10 Miss Clark on
May /. 1899. after an impetuous wooinE
Miss Clark generally WAS accepted as
Mr. Dayis's ideal of his heroine Of sol.
dors of Fortune" one of his first SUI
ccssful novels. just after the publica-
tion of the book, MIR. Davis. being lie d.
tanned in London. sent u messenger bOv
TO the United States 10 give Miss Clark
her engagement ring The marriage
| took place at Marion, Mass. where the
author has his summer home
During the first few years Of their
| i,I Mrc no L. l..
husband around the world on his tri2s
as a war correspondent or I'm seeking
material for new books
In January. 1910. friends of tho couple
learned Of an cstranCcment when both
sought legal advice. Mrs Davis retained
William Travers Jerome, while Mr.
Davis placed the case i'm the hands or
George Young Bacnlc. II was then an
nounccd that Davis and his wife had de-
,idcd to separate but that the decree
would not bo sought I'm New York Mrs
Davis then came to Chicago.
The case was placed on Judge McDon-
aids calendar Immediately after being
Fled. II is expected MrS Davis will
appear, testify and AK II decree within
day or so. AS soon as the appearance
~ her husband Is entered.
The separation OF Mr. Davis from his
wife ends romance that began with their
childhood. Mrs. Davis was before her mar
riagc Miss Cecil Clark. daughter of John
NJ. Clark. a telephone company president
She Is brunette of striking type and
many accomplishments. In her dehutante
days she was popular figure IN the
younger set in Chicago society
Mr. Davis is fOrty-cight years old He is the
son Of l.. Clarke Davis. once an editor OF
note. and RebecCa Harding Davis. the
writer From them the Younger Davis in
herted his literary tendencies His first
writing was done while he was a student al
I.chigh. He earned his first three dollars
writing the story OF cane rush for The
Evening Post" Life" published his ,irst
.'erse After course at Johns Hopkins
University he went to Philadelphia and
took up newspaper work. Then he wrote
Gallagher" his first short story TO attract
notice
From Philadelphia he entered the New
York newspaper field. and achieved wide
reputation as q war correspondent. partic-
ularlv IN the Spanish american and Boer
wars Mrs Davis accompan MED him TO South
Africa. going 10 a pdttlehelo WIN MN on
one occasion. while the fight vas in prog
ress
The action Yesterday was Mrs Davis s
second plea for freedom from her husband.
Suit WAS begun here IN November, 1910, but
withdrawn on MAY II last Justice Guy
signing the order. The Chicago petition
now explains the dropping Of the New
York case.