New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-05-05
WIFE LOYAL TO CONVICT
NOW WANTS A DIVORCE
Deserted, She Says, Though She
Was Faithful During His Sew
eraI Terms in Prison.
GETS AWARD OF ALIM0NY
Clara G. Spencer, in Action
Against Pennsylvania Rail
road Police Inspector,
Pleads Her Own Case.

Justice Lehman has awarded alimony
to Mrs. cara c. Spencer in her suit
against George F. Spencer. The case
is one Of the most peculiar that has
come before the Supreme Court in
long time.
Spencer is chief inspector of police
on the Pennsylvania Railroad. with an
office in the Pennsylvania Station. He
has served several terms in prison, but
through his wife's appeals TO exGov-
ernor Hughes Of New York and Gov
ernor Fort Of New Jersey he was re-
stored 10 citizenship. Since then Re
has followed the straight path. The
devotion of IIrs. Spencer figured
strongly in the litigation before Justice
Lehman.
Mrs. Spencer's attorney gave up her
case before It was submitted to the
court and she then made her appeal n
person. She said she married Spencer
in 1857. They lived together little
more than a year, when Spencer. under
the aliases Of Frederick Shekson and
RED" Spencer, was sentenced in the
Court Of General Sessions TO six years
and eight months on a plea Of guilty
Of burglary in the second degree.
Didn't Know Of Conviction.
Mrs. Spencer said her husband had
been convicted in 1885 Of grand lar
ceny in the second degree. serving two
years. but she did not know this whan
she married him.
When Spencer was released from his
second term In prison he again lived
with his wife. But in the following
year he was convicted in Paterson,
| y. j., under the name Of Charles Will
son and was sentenced TO serve five
years. He returned to his wife III
| 1897. In 1898 he was convicted Of hav-
| ing burglar t OILS in his possession and
was sentenced to nine months in the
penitentiary. Spencer had hardly re-
gained his liberty when he was again
|
seven years. He was paroled in 1903.
All this time Mrs. Spencer remained
loyal TO her husband. They lived in
Newark from 1904 to 1911 and during
that time she said he abused her ard
| frequently drew a revolver, threaten
| ing to Kill her. Spencer became a spe-
| cial officer in the employ OF the Penn
sylvania Railroad in 1904. Three
years later he was captain of the force
for the New York division having l31
men under him. He became an inspec-
tor in 1910 Mrs. spencer said she OBJ
tanned the job with the railroad for her
husband through the Rev. Aloysius NJ.
Fish, Of Trenton.
In 1911 Mrs. Spencer alleged. her
husband deserted her. When she called
on him at his Office in the Pennsylvania
station he struck her over the head
with a waste paper basket and hit her
on the arm with a blackjack. He told
/ her when he left her that he no longer
/ loved her.
In her application for alimony Mrs.
| Spencer said while her husband was in
prison she supported herself by sing
ing but that now her voice was gone
and she could not earn her living.
| Spencer said in his defence that he
never married the plaintiff. He regret
ted the necessity Of presenting all the
facts that came before the court. He
made no denial Of the story Of his
career as pictured by his wife.
Spencer also alleged that while he
was in the Trenton prison Mrs Spen-
Ger married one John Walsh, and when
| Spencer got out Of prison he went 10
live with Mrs. Spencer and Walsh.
| Justice Lehman. in awarding alimony
to Mrs. Spencer. said that on the trial
Of the separation suit there was rea-
sonable probability she would be able
| to prove she was Spencers legal wife.