Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-26
MARRIED LIFE FILLED
WITH FOUNDATIONS
Mrs Phyllis langhorne Brooks Tells
OF Alleged Bad Treatment at
Hands of Husband
TOLD HER HIS LOVE WAS DEAD
Refused to Live With Her Longer,
and Said lie Hoped She Would
Leave Iiim-WaS Inconsidcratc of
Her Happiness.
Especial to Tho Times Dispatch. !


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Especial to Tho Times Dispatch.1
CliARLO1"rESNlLI.E. VA. January
25--Thc impression prevails here that
Mrs Phyllis I.anghornc Brooks. who
is now In London on visit to her
sister. Mrs. William Waldorf Aston,
viii have no trouble in securing an
absolute divorce from her husband.
Rcginald Brooks the New York club
man At the expiration OF three years.
Tor which partial divorce has already
been granted since II is understood
that h" Will nt"rposc no objection.
The reason for this presumption as to
Mr.. Brooks's attitude is the fact that
lac made no defense whatever TO the
granting of a limited divorce.
Owing to the social prominence OF
the couple. the suit has created no
little interest, especially In this section
OF Virginia, where the bride has spent
much OF her No. Reginald Brooks
and Phyllis Lnnghornc wcr" married
November IA, 1901. at the brandon IIo-
tel Basic CITY. Va. Mr.. Brooks then
being twenty eight years of age and
the bride twcnty-onc. The ceremony.
which was performed by Bishop Rober,
y. Gibson. oF the Episcopal Church
Was "A big social event.
After the marriage. Mr. and Mrs
brooks mad" their nom" a; Wcstbury.
l.. ]. Three children were born to
Reginald. now eleven years Of
age: child born about six years
ago, who died in infancy, and David
J.. brooks. no" in his nth year.
lii her plea. nl"d In the Albemarie
Circuit Court last month. Mrs. brooks
states that her husband wiIfully de-
serted and abandoned her in Scptcm-
tcr 1872 that SIN" observed ~" WAS
becoming critical ard inconsiderate
tD"ndinr most of his Zine ut clubs and
"a "a int, al n,
their mutual happiness and wclfar"
R"alizing tho danger of his habits in
thes" respects, she induced him. in 1905
10 remove TO virginia and make their
home at Greenwood Her expectations
were not fulfilled, she alleges. for sir
BROOKS took no interest in the place
refused TO meet the people In tn.
i"ishhorhood, frequently absented
himself for long periods from home
and while at Greenwood spent most Of
ms time alone In his own apartments
CHITICIZEs CONDUCT
or HOUSEHOLD AFFAIRS
rs time passed on. Mrs Brooks ayers
matters grew worse. While not as
swm!nE any responsibility. the husband
criticized and snecred at the way in
which tho wife conducted household
affairs, her interest In the local church
and in the work she was eudcavoring
10 do among the school children and
the poor IN the neighhorhood. Further.
II" attempted To thwart any arrange
IncNt which his vile Nigh, make for
IN" cducation Of their children, tho
work on the farm and generally to dis
appoint ana humilintc his wife in every
conceivable way.
During the last year that tho couple
lNed together as man and WIFE Mrs
Brooks declares. Mr.. Brooks frequently
accused and criticized her in the most
harsh and uu:celing way. frequently
speaking Ill of the people She associ-
aicd with. while he deprived her OF
his company although In most eases
they had uocn introduced To her by
him as his friends. During this period
Mrs brooks states. h"r husband fire.
Hu"nt!y informed her that he no longer
loved her and that NE would hc glad
II sh" left him.
Mrs. Brooks said that in the summer
OF l"l. Mr.. Brooks rented a house at
southampton, y. Y, for the summer
without consulting her I'm the matter
ana went There IN the month OF June
with their elder child. Later on. when
she Joined him at Southampton. she
FOUND him even more !uConSidcrnte and
critical Of her than ever. going his
own way and following his own pur-
suits regardless OF her TO such an OK
teht mat her remaining there longer
hcchmc IMPOSSIBLE Upon Announcing
l"r intention OF returning to their
HON" in Virginia. Mr.. Brooks made no
protest but expressed his desire that
flc 90 So
MIR Brooks did not accompanv h,s
WIFE 10 Virginia. nor had he returned
In IN" carly part OF September Of tina,
year when she went to New York
h99ohs JAILED to meet his wife there
l"i, learning thar tho husband was
tn N'W YORK; at another hotel she
sought him out for the purpose of
asrrrtainng from him what his in
i"utious we're in regard TO returning
hp'us ana continuing TO live with her
MIS- brooks declares that her hus-
hand then Informed her that II was
his intention not To return to his home
~ Virginia or TO continue 10 live with
her. She returned TO Virginia. ana
has not since seen or heard from her
husband.
Mrs. Brooks states that since her
abandonment she and her husband had
entered into an agreement for the sun
port OF herself and their children and
also In regard to the custody OF the
children.
DID NOT WANT HIS son TO
60 TO SUNDAY school.
maid in the Brooks home testi-
fed that Mr.. Brooks made fun of Mrs
Rrocks's wanting their boy to go 10
Sunday school and criticized the wife
for desiring TO bring him up that way
she said also that Mr.. Brooks com
planned of the food served: that he
frequently left friends who called upon
him, retiring TO his smoking room
The man who acted as SUPERINTENDENT
OF improvements on the farm at Green
wood testified that Mr.. Brooks made
no friends at all in the neighborhood.
BESIDES Mrs. Astor. Mrs. Brooks has
two other married sisters-Mrs Charles
Dana Gibson, of New York, and Mrs
Paul Phipps, OF Vancouver. She and
Mrs. Astor are exceedingly fond OF
outdoor life. Expert and enthusiastic
horsewomcn. they spend much time In
The open, and when In this country are
generally found with the hunting set
While making her homo In Long
Island Mrs. Brooks was an enthusias-
tic polo player. being member OF a