The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-12
WIFE INVADES
UNION LEAGUE,
BUT is ROUTED
Servants stop Mrs. Claudia
Carlstpdt Wheeler From
Arresting Spouse.
SAYS BANKER OWES
HER $4,000 ALIMONY

by deputy sheriff on one side and one
Of her lawyers on the other. invaded the
Union League Club late yesterday after
noon. intent upon arresting her husband.
Albert Gallatin Wheeler. Jr.. OF J. y.
Russell & Co. bankers. In order to keep
him in this vicinity while she Is trying
to collect $4,000 back alimony. which
she says is overdue.
The invasion was only momentarily
Gibson. the doorman, to rally the hal!
men and porters. rout the invading party
and save Mr.. Wheeler from an evening S
hunt for a bondsman.
The defeated forces were not entirely
discouraged by their election. but their
morale was sorely shattered. Mrs.
Wheeler retreated to a comfortable chair
In "A building across the way. Deputy
Sheriff julius Browner and Abraham
Upton. the lawyer In the case. mounted
guard In front OF the club carrying on
an intermittent parleying with Sup;.
Rogers. who maintained an attitude OF
strict neutrality In spite OF his Job. But
three hours later the invaders decided 1t
was futile TO try to match wits with the
Union League forces. So they left Mr..
Wheeler comfortably ensconced in a safe
corner OF the clubs reading room and
went away until morning.
Rail Fi.ed at $1,000.
The order OF arrest for Mr.. Wheeler.
from whom his wife obtained a separa-
tion early In 1912. alleging abandon
ment. was signed by Supreme Court
Justice Greenbaum. The complaint
-
Chicagos subway builder. had failed to
pay her $30O n month almony. allowed
by the court. since April last year. 1t
appeared from the paper. too. that Mr..
Wheeler had led his erstwhile spouse a
merry chase for alimony payments from
New York to Boston and Chicago and
back for several years without any sue
cess to boast about on the part Of Mrs.
Wheeler.
Some Of the details Of the chase were
recited In the complaint. but the main
part OF It stated that Mrs. Wheeler
wanted her husband arrested and held
in $4,000 bail in this Jurisdiction so
II any motions were made in her alimony
Mr. Wheeler would be
within reach OF the Sheriff. Justice
Grcenbaum fixed the bail amount at
$500 in the order of arrest, but II
might Just as we'll have been many
times tina; amount last night SO far as
Mr.. wheclers immediate arrest MAS
Anyhow, Deputy Sheriff
Browner. Mrs. Wheeler and Mr.. Upton
took n brave chance. Aud this Is what
happened:
About 4 10 o'clock tn. invaders reached
street and Fifth avenue.
Mrs. Wheeler approached the Union
League Clubs taXicab starter seeking
about her husbands car, The
starter knew it not. So the besit gers
went into brief consultation. mustered up
courage and mounted the steps 10 the
club front door. Browner flashed his
tin on Gibson'---to use the starters Eng
lish. meaning deputy sh. riffs badge
and Gibson fell back in disorder. The
invaders were inside. Mrs Wheeler saw
a good looking young man crossing the
foyer and poker her elbow into Browneis
ribs.
Invaders Push~d BacL.
There he is," she whispered and
Browner advanced. But Eibsohs nd
vance was better. So was Supt Rogers's
and others of the club staff. Determined
hands prevented Deputy Browner from
laying his legal hands upon the vanish
ing Mr.. Wheeler. In fact. those first
ment oned hands were 50 determined that
Mrs. Wheeler. Deputy Browner and Mr..
I.ipton found themselves as gracefully az
possible backing out past Gibson's sta
ion and down the steps. their retreat
by such admonitions az
''You know you hav. no wight here.
you must get out right away "Wad
diva mean comm IN here Ike thst?' Ac.
After the retreat 1t did not take long
for the news to travel In next TO no
time at all there was n small army OF
reporters, photographers and plain curl
osity seekers outside the club and sur
rounding Mrs. Wheeler In the hallway
OF the building across the street Dep
uty Browner tried to send In word to
Mr. Wheeler to surrender. reporters
tried to send their cards to him. but
strange to relate he neither surrendered
nor acknowledged his presence. various
club members who came and went did
not like the thing Mt all and earnestly
petitioned the throng not to throw any
bombs and please go away,
Mrs. Wheeler. bundled in black furs.
told reporters that her husbands tactics
had left her penniless and Ill. de-
pendent upon the charity of friends. Mr'
and Mrs. John r. Morris. sos West l3Ath
street.
Wa. Comic Opera star.
Mrs. Wheeler was married to Mr
Wheeler on March 81. 1898. She was
known then as 1.-The girl In red" OF THE
Mandarin musical comedy company
and later as the star In several OF Frank
Daniels's comic operas. She was Miss
claudia Caristedt. They lived together
IN an uptown apartment until 1910 and
Mrs. Wheeler won a separation suit In
February. 1912. At first she was granted
800 a month alimony, but that was re-
iuced to $500 by the Appellate Division.
She said her husband paid II until May
1. 1918, when he went to Boston to live
until October, 1914. Mrs. Wheeler fol-
owed him to Boston early that year and
me couple reached an agreement about
Alimony.
According to the aEEeement, she was
% receive back alinony In part pay
uents, but was not to institute court
to compel payment. In Oc-
,ober, 1914, Mr. Wheeler sued his wife
'or divorce and lost Mrs. Wheeler al
eyed a conspiracy ana the court exon.
,rated her. Following his failure at d..
yorce. Mr.. Wheeler went to Chicago.
where he lived until last December.
Mrs. Wheeler. Deputy Browner, Mr..
linton and Jonah J. Goldstein, Mrs.
Nheeier's other attorney. finally decided
lhout Z 80 o'clock that they would rive
ID the siege until this morning. Deputy
srowneF said no would be around at the
,iub early with his order OF arrest.
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