New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-18
SUES FOR SEPARATION,
CHARGING CRUELTY
Singer Says Husband Threat,
ened to Kill Her, Their Baby,
and Then Commit Suicide.
CALLED HER MOTHER NEGRO
Tells of Being Choked When
She Interfered Between Him
and Young Girl-Court
Awards Alimony.

AIRS Lillian Lewis is a native Of Ten
,essee and her husband Frederick +.
Lewis is a Virginian. They were mar
lied in Knoxville in 1905 and their mari
taI troubles, that have now got into the
sypyeme Court In the form of a sGpara-
ton suit brought by the wife, began two
wears ago. as they We're 10 start on en-
automobile trip from Knoxville to New
York
According 20 Mrs. Lewis, her husband
spoke disrcspectfully about her parents,
saving Mrs. Lewiss mother was Of negro
blood. This happened just outside the
city Of Knoxville. and, or course the uip
ended right there and then. Mrs Lewis
said she resented the imputaiUn, as a
daughter should" and her husband VIC
lentiy slapped her and pulled ner hair,
almost causing the automobile TO go. over
an embankment. As it was an axle was
broken When she got home, said Mrs.
Lewis. her eyes We're red from crying.
Mrs Lewis charged numerous other In
stances Of cruelty in her complaint. and
said she left Lewis because he threatened
10 kin her and their baby and then COM
NIT suicide 70 escape the electric chair"
Lewis is vice-president Of the Knicker-
booker Motor Truck Company. When he
met his wife she was in the chorus OF an
opera company, being ambitious TO cult
yate her voice. She had studied in a
Boston conservatory. Their baby, a boy.
is three months old.
The baby was the innocent cause Of one
Of the assaults Mrs. Lewis said her hus-
band committed on her. Frederick Mar
tin. the baby. began crying in mis- crib
while Mrs. Lewis was playing the piano.
Her husband ordered: Go in 10 the
child why don't you go in?' asked
the wife, whereupOn, she said, Lewis
tried by force to compel her to go 10 the
crying child, choking her and throwing
her to the floor
Mrs Lewis on that occasion told her
husband that if he again struck her she
would leave him. The climax came on
June o. Lewis, his wife said, had teen
liking a young girl out in mis- automobile.
On this day She found them in Lewis s
Office and Mrs. Lewis took the girl 10 her
parents and threatened TO tell her mother.
Lewis said, so his wife asserts. that If
she carried out this threat she would hot
be alive the next morning.
He came home at o'clock in the morn
ing and began 70 carry out his own
threat TO reduce his wife's tenure Of life.
After choking her, Mrs. Lewis said, Lewis
went away, saying that he would come
tack and kill her and the child and then
cheat the state by killing himself. And
as he went out, she declared, he said:
IN get you yet"
Justice G1yegan awarded Mrs. Lewis S25
week alimony and 500 counse. Zee yes
.erday. In opposition to the motion for
aimony Lewis said that his income was
only $-U a month. lie also mentioned
that his wife was chorus girl when he
met her.
Mrs. Lewis explained her presence In
the chorus BY saying she had studied
three years in Boston conservatory
and then sang in the First Baptist Church
in Knoxville. She saw no opportunity Of
winning fame as a church singer, 50 she
Joined the opera company.