Norwich bulletin., 1914-02-28

Mrs. Philip Van vaIkenbursh, the
 Former s1o,ooo,0oo Widow. a Resi-
 dent of Pomfret-Proof of Neglect
 and InfideIity Dating from Wedding
 Night.
 Nevada H. Van yalkenburgh. known as the ten million dollar widow, was granted a divorce from Philip Van Ealkenburgf, a New York society man end a familiar figure in European cap itals, in. the superior court here Fri day afternoon, Judge Milton A. Shum- way presiding The case was an un- contested one and the decree was
 Radiating class from every angie that one looked at the charming widow she was a figure or special interest for the small number or very interested persons who heard the tes- timony in the case and obtained an inkling of how her husband grew neg ligent of her charms and went to live apart from her few weeks after their marriage.
 Mrs. Van va1kenburgh was gowned in a modish frock of olive green and her dainty pumps and silk hosiery were of shades to match. She wore chic black hat but severely plain, of small shape with q single pink rose for trimming.
 Claiming Pomfret as her residence.
 
 sue for her divorce in Connecticut. She testified that she had claimed Pomfret as her home since the death of her first husband, Mir Chapman, in 1907. and that she was attracted to the fashionable country place by req son of the fact that she wished to place her then five-year- son in one of the private schools there. and, in- cidentally, because the income tax laws of Connecticut at that time were more favorable to her interests than were those of the state Of New York.
 Although she has travelled extensive ly since the first time she came to Pomfret, she always registered wher- ever she might be. she said, from Pomfret, but has been away from that place the greater part of the time.
 Married in Greenwich.
 Her marriage to MT. Van VaIken- burgh took place at Greenwich, Conn.,. November 23. 1909. After the we'd ding dinner she went with her hus- band to the St. Regis hotel, New York, where they had apartments reserved for the time that they were to re- main in New York before starting on their honeymoon trip to Egypt, which trip was never taken, as. Mrs. Van Valkenburgh stated, her husband eventually objected to going.
 Woman TeIephoned on Wedding Night Tears filled the eyes of the plaintiff as she told of an experience on the night of her wedding when the tele- phone bell in their apartments at the St. Regis rang. Mrs Van Valken- burgh answered the, call and a wo- mans voice inquired for her husband. Other testimony given by witness in dicated that the voice heard over the wire was that of a woman and that she had been an intimate friend of Van Valkenburgh. according to her al Sha wanted sSo.Ooo as balm to soothe her | wounded feelings over the marriage of MT. Van Valkenburgh. Mrs. Van Valkenburgh deeded piece of property valued at s66.o0o away at this time, | to raise the money needed in connec- | ton with this development. she tes- tiffed
 Learned of Another Affinity. l Tn January after her marriage Mrs. Van Valkenburgh learned of her hus- | band being at dinner at another hotel l than the St. Regis with another wo- man. From that time they occupied | separate apartments at their hotel and l Mir. Van Valkenburgh left an order with the hotel management that he would no longer be responsible for the bills she contracted there-saying that | she spent too much money. Although | they continued to live at the St. Regis | she did not see her husband for many months and during the summer he \ packed his trunks and started foz Europe.
 Their Final Interview. l On the night before the Titanic sank. having learned that he had re- | turned from Europe on the Lusitania she wrote to him and invited him tc | come and see her. He did not come but subsequently, an interview was ar ranged. At the close of this, she said l MT. Van Valkenburgh put her in hel | car He wae very pleaSaut and kissed her hand as she was about to b' driven away. She invited him to come | to Pomfret but he never did so. Sh' said she had not lived with him since January, 1910. and that she never talk ed with him after the close of thu interview noted
 Sued Husband for S1o0,oo0.
 Mrs. Van VaIkenburgh told of bring ing a suit against her husband afte 1 she had been apart from him for mor' than that length of time for a sun sufficient to meet the expense that sh' had been to for her maintenance fo two years The suit was for s100,000 An attempt was made by the counse engaged by herself and MT. Van Val kenburgh to bring about reconcili ation between the two. but this Wa! | unsuccessful. Following these unsuc cessful efforts the suit mentioned wa adjusted without trial. Mrs. Van Val kenburgh receiving a satisfactory casl consideration just how much was no stated.
 Plaintiff Wept.
 At various times during her tesh 1 mony Mrs. Van Nalkenburgh wept an' buried her face in her dainty lac handkerchief. She talked very rapid lv in answer to the questions of tn court or counsel and at times whel under unusual stress of emotion he