New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-10-12
RECTOR'S WIFE
CHARGES CRUELTY
The Rev. B. II. Lee, of St.
PauI's, Ossining, Sued
for Separation.
BISHOP GREER TRIED
TO RECONCILE PAIR
Husband Says Mrs. Lee Is Angry
Because He Ordered BOarder
from His Home.

On allegations Of cruelty, Mrs.
Margaret Lee has flied a suit for
separation in the Supreme Court
against the Rev. Burton Howard
Lee, assistant pastor Of Sing Sing
Prison and rector Of ST. Psul's Prot
estant Episcopal Church IN Osslnlng
Even the efforts Of Bishop Greer to
bring about reconciliation between
the couple have been without result.
Mrs. Lee sought to spare her hus-
band the notOriCty she believed would
come from her action by filing II IN
WeStcheSter County. and so brought
The suit in New York County. In his
answer to the suit, denying the ale
cations Of cruelty made by his wife,
Mr. Lee said that Mrs. Lee had not
made any definite or substantial
charges against him. Whereupon Mrs.
Lee fled supplemental affidavit,
simplifying her original charges.
Mrs. Ice is the daughter OF George
lfallock. retired insurance broker
OF New Haven. II was IN that city
that the warning couple met while Mr..
Lee was p student AZ the Yale Diyr
ity school They were married IN 1901
and have two children. Three days
after the marriage. says Mrs. Lee, her
husband used indecent language TO
her and assaulted her.
On one occasion. Mrs. Ice charges,
while She Was looking out Of window
Of their home, her husband shut the
window down on her. Mr. Lee says
his wife abandoned him vithou, cause
and that he invited her to return 10
y i'm
he attention Of Bishop Greer 20 the
troubles Of the ices was indicated III
n letter written ny Mrs. Leo. Follow
INK this letter, the minister and his
wife had 3 conference with the bishop.
Mrs.. Ice told him she wanted her
freedom Mr. Lcc says Bishop Greer
replied: "Why1 Mrs. Lee, you and
MIR. Lee cannot separate, YOU have no
grounds. Such course would harm
both you and Mr.. Lee"
The hus band says he then inter
posed: bishop. Mrs. Lee is upset and
nervous because J requested Thorpe
Sturgis 70 leave. She has been sitting
up nights with him in the kitchen. tax
ing long walks with him at night and
meeting him IN New York without my
Her present condition is also
due 10 the fact that she has been tax
ing too much valerlan. Bishop, ! was
a very poor boy and ! worked very hard
to get an education Even after was
married I left good position 90 go to
the Church. Ny reputation has always
been as clean as hounds tooth"
BishOp Greer. who made an affidavit
saving Mr.. Lee had borne good repu-
tation in the nine years he served in
this diocese. made the suggestion that
Mrs. Lee 20 away on vacation and
that her husband pay her so a week
while she was away. Mrs. Lee agreed
10 this.
The clergyman has replied TO the
affidavit Of his wife: 81 love my wife
md children. want my wife to come
back 10 me and take her accustomed
place as ml . 90 and the mother Of my
children. -t could be heartily vel
coined by uc. would extend TO her
nv love. confidence, trust and support
to the fullest extent. She is angry, ir-
ritated and piqued because ordered
from my home Thorpe Sturgis, board
or, and her nerves have become over
wrought and excited by reason of the
suicide Of her sister and be
cause of her own oyerindulgence in and
use Of drug which she originally took
as medicine
Mr.. Lee said that his wife had acted
indiscreetly. and that when he dis
missed Sturgis from his home his wife
said. Il hate you for this Mr.. Lee has
denied all Mrs Lees charges of mis-
conduct. or the ahidavits made by
members Of the minister's congregation
Mrs. Lee said: They are village Cos
sipcrs. scandal mongers and mischief
makers"