New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-26
VALENTINE CONFESSED
DOUBLE LIFE TO WIFE
Banker Wrote That Mothers
Curse Was on Marriage and
His Love Had Waned.
SEPARATION SUIT EXHIBIT
Awful Secret" Penned in Bit.
ter Tears" He Soon Went
to Europe with Other
Woman and Baby.

The confession Of penitent husband
figures as an important exhibit in a sepa-
ration suit which Mrs. Elsa s. Valentine
has brought against James r. Valentine.
who, prior TO February, was the manager
Of the Columbus avenue branch OF the
Colonial Bank and president and princi-
pal stockhode- OF a stable company. In
q letter he rote TO his wife after he left
her on February Is (St Valentines Day
tle husband barred secret tha, had long
burdened his m!nd-that he had been
leading double life.
The day Valentine left his home for
the last time there was nothing in his
manner 30 far a. Mrs. Valentine OBJ
served to indicate the mental stress
under which he must have been labor
ins As usual he teuderly kissed his wife
before departing for his work. That nigh.
no did not come home. The next day 10
sent this note TO his wife,
Just line 20 say that viii not be
home, as I am heartbroken a. myself.
will explain i'm full when able 10 write
Everything IS o x at the bank. Do not
worry about me, as | sm not worthy Of
your thoughts. I am all at fault.
A few days later Mrs. Valentine re.
celved from her husband the letter OF
confession. II read:
Dear Elsa: 1t is certainly hard for me
20 declare myself Just what l am but
have held back the truth long enough. !
will begin and tell oil to you, rs II Will
be better for both OF us and will clear
my mild of the awful secret Tho la st
words my good mother spoke 10 Dle Were
to say Sh. would rather see me dead
than 10 marry you and declared If did
she would leave curse on me and /
would never he happy with you.
AZ times | was happy. but the last few
years ] was not and slowly my love fof
YOU passed away and into my life an
other person came who made ME happy
unknown TO you. | have met this un-
known person and been friendly with
her. with the result that a baby was
born 10 u.s. q boy. now ten months old.
I love his mother and him above all
things In this world.
II has been a long. bitter fight within
me 10 live as | have done and try 70
pretend To 1--we as ! should. but the good
ord above, I trust, has directed me 10
take tie right course, either TO continue
with YOU or deeert the other and our
dear baby. I could not 10 that, so this is
the full truth OF the awful silence I often
maintained.
God. 7 hope. will have mercy on me.
and / ask His blessing for YOU and hope
treated you very near: feel IL now. but
thc bridge was crossed before I knew
how far / he'd gone. | am going away
for rest and trv 70 I've down this awful
sorrow With bitter tears | close TINS,
my full confession. Yours truly,
'''' JAMES.
After Mrs. Valentine received the fore
going admission she started an investi-
cation. She learned. she averred, that
he had maintained a home for Miss Ger
,rude Cornwell, az No. 63l East lSsth
street and Mt No. 1912 Hoe avenue. The
Bronx. He kept an automobile for him
self and Miss Cornwell. his wife said.
Ten days after tse alleged abandonment
by Valentine OF his wife. he, Miss Corn
we'll and ths baby sailed for Europe.
In making her appl cation for alimony
Mrs. Valentine told Jus tice Con that for
four months after her husband left her
che received 800 a month from his stable
company. but that these payments
stopped in June. She said her properly
consisted or tS73 in bank. jewelry valued
at $1,000 and furniture valued at $3.50.
Valentine was not represented in court,
and the matter OF alimony was arranged
under an offer made To counsel for Mrs.
Valentine by persons acting for her hts
band Justice Con Yesterday signed an
order awarding Mrs. Valentine 500 a
month aiImony and S00 counsel fees.