New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-29
"LACE KINGS WIFE ASKS
PERMANENT AL|MOM
Mrs. WoIf-Stens, Former Act
ress, Says Husband Left Her
Destitute in Europe.
THEN SUED FOR DIVORCE
Defendant Alleges Spouse De-
prived Him of Necessary
Sheets and Pillow Cases
to Sleep Comfortably"

Justice Giegerich reserved decision yes
terday on the motion Of Mrs. Thea Wolf
Stems. formerly a well known actress on
the German stage and the daughter OF a
high official Of the Austrian government.
for permanent alimony in her separation
suit against William Stems. a lace mer-
chant. whom she married in 1883 when
she gave up her professional career.
Mrs Wolf-Stens alleged abandonment
and non-support declaring that stems
failed TO provide for her. although ne
was receiving from $4,000 TO $1,000 yeaf
as the American representative Of Hotter.
Bosch & Co. lace and embroidery manu-
facturers. of Switzerland. According to
the wife. the defendant represented to her
before their marriage that lie was the
lace king" in New York.
Mrs. Wolf-Stens mas been receiving slo
week alimony. The plaintiff father Is
the director Of the Royal and Imperial
Board of Accountants. in Vienna, and
Royal and Imperial Commissioners of Re
gents for the Science OF Governmental
Auditing He also Is chevaier of the
order Of the Iron Crown. Mrs. Wolf
Stems was a member of the Stadt Thea
ter. in Hamburg. and when Joseph kainz'
popular German actor, came to TINS
country she PLAYED the part of Juliet. N
Romeo and Juliet She also supported
MatkOfsky.
And then there appeared another Romeo
in the person of Stems. But he was not
the consistent lover Of juliet. as Shake
speare pictured him. FOR. a. Mrs Wolf
Stems complained. her husband abandoned
her three years after their marriage. The
Nienrese actress was not Yet twenty-five
yeads old when she married Stems. lie
was forty. She said i'm her complaint she
had achieved high distinction" I'm hec
profession and was earning a high salary.
She rejected Stenss first proposal. 10
pursued her To- Europe and renewed MS
suit and she finally accepted him.
The separation Of the couple comes as
a sequel TO a long standing domestic feud.
which had its actual beginning when
Stems. during the absence of his wife m
Europe. brought q suit for divorce against
her at time when she was destitute
and nearly starving. although after sew
cral years Stems discontinued this action
Tie plaintiff said she had saved 100
guldcn from her professional work, which
she gave him and which he has never re-
turned Stems said his wife had a violent
temper. and on occasions called him
"swindler." "scoundrol" and other such
terms as best lend themselves to the Ger
man language. and that she also broke
her umbrella on his hand. all Of which
Mrs. Wolf stems denied
At the time Of their marriage said the
complaining wife her husband gave her
no money toward the payment OF the
household expenses. which she had 10 de-
fray from her own money. After about a
month he allowed her sl5 a week for all
household expenses. including the wages
of a servant although he spent more than
$3.50 a year for cigars.
At a subsequent period the couple lived
at the ST George Hotel. In Brooklyn.
when the defendant gave the plaintiff
only s. week for meals Another com
plant OF the wife was that after he left
his wife Ia Europe he told her he lived IN
the Hotel Naegeli. Hobokcn. that he as
ISOLATED with Swedish girl that he
went with her on the same steamer To
Europe. that she was a very beautiful
girl with beautiful skin and golden
curls-like "A Chris,kird' The plaintiff
also mentioned a vaudeville singer.
Stems said in his answer 10 his suit that
his wife abused him. deprived him Of the
necessary sheets and pillowcases 10 sleep
comfortably" and threw shoes at him. 10
w. "a
seldom that her husband came home that
his bed was sometimes not prepared for
his unexpected coming. Stems denied most
Of the allegations of his wife
on the argument before Justice Gicgc-
rich yesterday for permanent alimony
Stems said he had received a legacy on
the death OF his mother. but that much
~ the money had already been advanced
and some OF IL went 10 settle debts. lie
said he had been earning 5000 year. but
that now he was not making sufficient -
pay any alimony. stems told about enter
tanning customers at the expense Of 5000
a wear while he was getting 5000. some
times spending as much as Si0" on sim
gle customer.
Mr.. Hofer. son Of the senior member
Of the SWISS firm by which Stems was
employed. testified that this large eN-
penditure for the entertainment Of GUS
toners was hardly possible. That is not
business. but graft said Hofer. He add
ed: "Our customers are mostly Ameri-
cans. and they don't want To 10 treated.
They want only good merchandise at the
right prices