The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1914-01-03
COURT REBUKES
WOMEN COSS|PS
IN A W|FE'SSU|E
HOmebreakerS, He Calls Them,
and Says They Testified
Through Malice.
TEN GO AGAINST ONE,
Neighbors of Mrs. jenkins,
Who Triumphs Over A. P.
Jenkins, Despite Them.

Ten GosslpnG women who testified
against Mrs. Bessie Price Jenkins In her
suit for . separation from Arthur p.
Jenkins. an expert calculator employees
by the Metropolitan Nfe Insurance Com.
pany. were denounced as homsbrsAkeFs
and unworthy OF belief by Justice Lab.
man In the Supreme Court to-day. The
Court gave Mrs.. jenkins the custo1y Of
her child. Helen, and allmony at ~
rate Of I'll q week.
The Jenkinsss lived at No. ~ wet
Thirty.hfth street until June. 1913. WAea
Jsnkins addressed q letter to Mrs.. D
jenkins" accusing her Of wrongs aae
threatening her with exposure and dis-
grace 10 she brought suit against him,
When the trial vas reached jenkins
brought ten Of his nsighbors-wousso
who lived In nearby apartments oo6t
who had formerly been friendly with BE
wife-into court to testify against Mrs.
jenkins. The husbands group Ailed enc
aisle Of the courtroom. The wtfe's w.t.
nsssss. relatives and friends. oocupioG
another section. The suit vas utterly
fought. l
LETTER THE LAST STRAW 70
Break FELICITY.
The letter, which was the cu,minAti oa.
Mrs. jenkins swore. of . married ~
Of continued insults" was produced 10
court. II read In part:
Before punish you a. you deserve
will wait for you TO take tho frse
| step that will lead 10 your losing
| the child forever. A. you have the
child and love her you will work for
| her. When you are tired Of doing
| 90, turn her over 10 me. You eao
then 20 on your way.
| will stop At nothing. when oaos
your case sets Into court Il win - :
the most sensational ever prinse1.
Before I crush you win expoeusO
and disgrace you forever In the ~
OF the public. who read your career.
your past-that 10. that you 70 q
work for Helen. II you - thAs
promise not to molsjt ysu Or ~
child In any way. In fact. WIN
make no effort 70 - slehsr Of you.
COURT PiNoo TIVE WIPE WITH.
| OUT QUILT.
At the trial Mr.. Jenkins denied -
had ever been cruel or inhuman.
II an . gentle. mid hammered and
courteous man." ne said. and have
always 30 conducted myself toward
my wife"
Regarding the letter. Jenkins e.
Of extreme excitement caused By ~
wife, constant disregard Of her masst.
monAi duties and her looss behavior
with other mon.
The story told by the witnesses 81
the husband 10 directly contradictory y
the story told by the witnesses Of tie
wife. declared Justice Lehman. "ThoaGh
cannot say that am convinced ~
yond q reasonable doubt Of the tSutA
Of either version. feel that the huo.
band has been shown to be . man ee
Jealous disposition who gave cre1ence
against his own wife to stories cifcu-
lated by heighbors who had Quafrel1al
with her and. further. that he assu1sG
upon utterly insuficient proof that ~
; wife was unfaithful.
1.-The manner Of tsstifying Of his w
nesses showed that they were actuatel
In their testimony by malice asainse the
wife. some Of the charges he nads
were absolutely trivial"
The Court concluded his opinion -
.. ssyinE that the evidence was insumcieol
to lead him 10 hnd any guilt on the past
!. OF the wife lie said the evidence WDs
suh,cient to show that the husban6
made charges OF the 'cruelsst nature
against his wife without justihcauso''
and that the wife was justified In lso0-
= inr him,