The Washington times., 1914-03-18
GOELET SCORED FOR
CRUELTY TO HIS WIFE
MuItimilIionaire, Who Was Con-
demned by Judge, Is Ar
raigned by Public Today.

NEWPORT. R. l.. March lS-Resi
dents of this city. from multi-million
aires down to stableboys, today are Sc
rere in their condemnation Of Rober
ioelet, whose wife obtained a divorce
yesterday on grounds of extreme
ruelty. gross misbehavior. and wicked
ness in violation of the marriage
~ovenant''
story of the Goelets' marital relations
pecame known, when the dispositions in
the case were made public.
The continual nagging of the million
aire Is blamed by Justice Barrow. OF
he Rhode Island supreme court, for
Mrs. Goelet's physical breakdown. In
his decision the justice arraigned the
husband for his cruelty.
II was not an ordinary system OF es-
pionage to which Mrs. Goelet was SUBJ
jected. It was constant-not ever her
bedroom was sacred from the eyes of
the watchers with which, she said, her
husband surrounded her. His valet, the
butler. the watchman. the maids, were
al instructed to note every move she
made, every gown she wore. every per-
son she saw and talked with.
Decree Was Anticipated.
That there would be no contest and
nat Mrs. Goeet would get the de-
rec had been anticipated 1t was the
manner of the presentation OF the
Tife's case in court that was the in
teresting part Of the proceedings.
Every effort had been made by James
Collins, Of Providence, Mrs. Goelet' 6
attorney, to nave the hearing in secret
This Judge Barrows peremptorily de-
MED. But Mr.. Collins parity succeeded
N his purpose and at least made it
axtremely difficult for the reporters
o hear anything.
He had had printed copies Of the
deposit;cns bound in leather. One of
hese large volumes he handed to the
court and another to William P. Shelf
reid Mr.. Goelet's attorney, who was
present to protect the rights of his
client. Thus Mr.. Collins was able to
Tead very low and to humble his words
n such a manner that 1t was often i'm
Pcssibl- to catch what was sad. The
effect was dramatic In the extreme.
iere and there a few words or a few
phrases would be caught, often without
he context. but in the end enough had
been heard to get the gist of Mrs. Goe-
lets story.
Valet Was Spy.
Mrs. Goelet's deposition included the
statement she had left her husband
on January 21 last, because Of his
conduct toward her. Drake, the valet,
) ad spied on her constantly. she said,
and had kept a list of guests she en-
tertained. Drake, too. had induced
the coachman to tell him who she had
been out driving with and where she
had been. He would hide behind the
staircase or in the curtains. Wherever
she went outdoors she would see his
face. The watchman also spied on
her. and she caught him at the door
Of her bedroom listening to converse
lions she was carrying on over the
telephone.
MIR, Goelet," she continued. has at
Ii times derided me, quarreled, and
vas always rude to my friends. Mr.
Goelet took his meals in another
Dom to where / was having my
meals. SO the guests could see him
eating. He would slam the door in
the faces Of my friends and would
advise his bachelor friends to remain
single. While so speaking he looked
directly at me, saying marriage was
failure. He antagonized me in
every possible way since last April
md d'd not speak to or notice me-
All communications from Mr.. Goelet
to me were through Drake"
Mrs. Goelet further deposed that she
vas not living on a scale in excess
II her husbands finances. but he had
pbtected to articles she had ordered
for meals. and she cited one occasion
when there was not sufficient lunch
10 go round.