The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1913-12-11
Remarkable Document Written
Ivy Wife of "Jack" Mantell,
Son of Tragedian.
SAYS HE DESERTED HER.
Asks for Food and Better Care
So That Baby May BE
Well and Strong.

A fran little wife In an out of season
blue gown very much worn tucked the
sparse white dresses about her six
months-old infant in It's grapdmoth ci's
arms in tho Supreme Court to-day and
| went TO tho witness char hefore Jus.
tice Lehman. The story she told OF be-
Eng deserted and left pennilcss In a
dinGy New York fiat by her young hus-
band Just one month from the birth OF
her child aroused the sympathy OF
| every one In the courtroom.
She In Mrs. Helen H. Mantei. The
husband Va Jack" Mantell. who. she
says. IL n son OF Robert v. MantelI
| . TRACED
90 where you WISH" she says he
told her: Il don't mind II you go about
with every man In New York"
Mrs. Manteli told Justice Lehman be-
tween sohs that less than two years
after their marriage Jack began TO
stay out nights very late. She told ~
fainting on the street after he had re-
pulsed her. She told the Court how she
tainted. When she regained conscious
ness shc heard persons about her calling
an ambulance. Her husband had fled.
She found her way home and then wrote
4 letter. Tho letter was read while the
crowd In the courtroom held on to each
word.
eAsY cooes As THE LETTER
10 READ.
During tho reading little Virginia
Fisher Mantell. the babe. cooed and
kicked In tho arms OF Mrs. Helen Mills.
Ito grandmother. The letter follows:
''Tuesday. April q. 1913.
"JACK-Don't you intend to come any
more at aiir Or help me with any Of
these finAnciai Or ether worries that are
90 prcssinG-you know you only gave
me ~ on Saturday and that had to be
paid out for, bills that are standing.
Mother wasn't able to give me any
more money last week and ! am very
nearly destitute. Creditors come % the
door every day-they threaten to turn
Off the light. and tho laundryman will
not leave my things because the bill has
not been paid. I have no clothes and !
am sadly In need of all kinds OF cloth
Ing and Observation-Disclosures many things
for the coming baby. OF course. you
know you have given me no money for
ITS impossible for me to live on
the s. \ week you have been allowing
me for oil my expenses. l could only
barely manage with II when I was able
to cook three meals day and strictly
economize. The heat OF the kitchen
Ia too much for my present state Of
health--it makes me faint and III and
sick. cannot cook meals; cannot
get board money from mother.
TROUBLES MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE
TO SLEEP.
II have TO go out to my own meals
or eat crackers and milk. ] am alon.
most OF the time and cannot sleep
nights or rest in the day. ! will have
no strength for the coming ordeal and
I've no one to look to but you. ! have
been a faithful wife and have every
reason To regard you ms responsible for
my care and expenses.
You know l would not have been
able to live n II had not been for my
fathers help these past two months.
II is Approaching very near tse time
for our child to be born and fathers
patience Ia at an end. lie says nv
husband should be looking after me
now. What am / to do for u doctor
~ o nurse or the things that re-
Quire FOR myself and the chiid? I've
u very few little things for the baby
that father paid for. but the doctor
says ! need quite u lot more and things
for my own condition.
Moreover, he says. II would be I'M
DOssible 10 haya "A child upder sa mir , ~