New-York tribune., 1912-01-19
CALLED MRS. BANCROFT
my DARLING WIFE
HeibIer, Her German Admirer,
Offered to Provide for Her
and the Child.
HINTS OF COLLISION IN CASE
Husband Is Said to Have Known
of Wife's Conduct and to Have
Condoned Actions Com
planned of in Suit.
tBy Telegraph to The Tribune. ]

| Wilmington, Del. Jan. B-John Bancroft
jr. who is suing his wife. Madeleine du
| Pont Bancroft, for divorce on statutory
! grounds. rested his case in the Superior
Court this afternoon.
! The complainant and his mother and
father were on the stand. The sensational
incident that occurred at the Hotel Bel
mont, New York, February % last, when
the young wife was intercepted by the hus-
band, his father and mother and their
lawyer. and prevented from fleeing to Ger
many, was again detailed. Young Ban
croft graphically described a scufle he had
with his wife in her room in the hotel. dur
ing which he obtained possession of four
affectionate letters that Max Hebler. Of
Munich, the correspondent, wrote her. They
| were IN German.
! This was nearly two months before the
| birth Of the alleged illegitImate child whom
the husband calls MAX HeIhler, jr.," and
makes a codefendant. The boy was born
| here on April 10 last.
! Bancroft. senior. admitted he told Made
leine, ten days after the birth Of the child.
that she and mis- son should separate. The
| husband identified sixty-nine letters written
| 10 his wife hv the correspondent, Max
! Heihler, who addressed her as MY darling
wife" little mother" and other Ike terms
| The fact that Heibler called Mrs. Bancroft
wife" was new phase.
After an argument the court admitted the
letters They were introduced, however, as
| tending to show the conduct Of Mrs. Ban
| croft, and not as showing the illegitimacy
OF the child. This was a strong point for
/ the defence. In one OF the letters Heibler
| called the couples first child. John Ban
/ croft Sd. my dear little Hanse." In others
he admitted. it is said the paternity Of the
second child. and offered to provide for the
little one and Madeleine II love you"
| Heiber wrote. and know you love me
Following the Introduction Of the letters
the birth certificate OF Max Helbler. jr.,'
also was admitted. a portion OF the birth
certificate in which Max Heibler' is given
as the father OF tho child Is IN the hand
writing of Dr. Rumford. who attended Mrs.
Bancroft during hor confinement. and the
rest is I'm the handwriting Of Mrs. Ran
, croft The latter. Il Is stated. instructed
the physician 10 make the entry as he did.
Young Bancroft admitted while on the
stand that as his wife showed desire for
the company OF Heibler ne wrote the CO.
respondent letter. signing his wife's name,
asking him TO come 10 this country.
John Bancroft. senior. the father, denied
that he and his son entered into collusion
with Madeleine for the purpose Of allowing
young Bancroft to get divorce quietly.
Wife's Confession Barred.
one Of the most important developments
Of the day was the refusal Of the court 20
allow an alleged confession OF the young
wife 10 be admitted. The Judge ruled IL
would be very close to showing collusion.
This was r blow to the husband.
The defence on cross-examination.
brought out that on Easter. week before
the birth OF the alleged illegitimRte child,
the wife was frightened and Jolted by un-
! ruly horses while driving with her husband.
II also developed that the wife strongly
Forfeited to a shooting gallery young Ban
croft had IN the cellar of their home here
because II made her nervous and cXcit-
able" The purpose of this was TO show the
probability Of premature birth resulting.
Jennie Toman, the wifc's maid testified
that when Madeleine protested against the
shooting gallery the husband replied
! you damn fool. 81 won't hurt you"
| The case for the petitioner was brought
! 10 a sudden end, much to the surprise OF
the lawyers for Mrs. Bancroft. and wit
nesses for the defence were hastily sum-
moned. The most important OF these was
Miss Emma Dollinger. the young woman
who has been imported from Munich. Ger
| many, to testify In behalf of Mrs. Ban
| croft. II is Miss Dolinger who. IL is said.
will testify 10 the incidents OF a taIicab
|, ride with young Bancroft In Munich. Prac-
ticany before the ride had begun, she was
forced. according 10 her own admission,
10 Jump from the cab. She says, when on
the witness stand, she will tell just why
she refused to remain in the same taxicab
with Bancroft. This taxicab ride occurred
at the same time that Bancroft asserts his
wife was on too friendly terms with Max
| Heibler.
| There is a belief tonight that the de-
fence may ask that the plaintiff be non
suited on the ground that he had condoned
the alleged offences OF his wife In cross
examining father and son the attorneys
for the defence brought out the fact mat
the letters came into their possession
through Mrs Bancroft and that they were
given up voluntarily by her. The attor-
neys attempted 20 prove that the young
wife apparently had no secrets from her
husband, and that she showed him almost
|