The sun., 1916-01-06
TIFF With LAWYER
BARES DIVORCE SUIT
Wife Of A. B. Clements Of L.
s. Wood Preserving Co.
Dismissed Attorney.
II. A. HOLT CORRESPONDENT

The fact that Alfred b. Clements. who
has an income Of S25, 900 a year. Is vice.
president Of and a large stockhoider In
the United states Wood Preserving Com
pany and owner Of one-third OF the stock
OF the American Creosoting Company,
has brought suits in westchester county
for a divorce and for the annulment OF
his marriage to Mrs. Dorothy N. Clem'
ents became known yesterday as the re-
suit Of a quarrel between Mrs. Clements
and her attorney. Herman J. Witte. over
the payment OF his fees.
An affidavit by Mr.. witte alleged that
Mrs. Clements expressed no dissatsfac'
tion with his services until after he had
written TO Homer A. Holt. secretary oi
the Iron silver Mining Company OF 4C
Exchange place. who was named as CO.
respondent in the divorce case. demand
Ing that he return Immediately $4,000
he got from Mrs. Clements for invest
ment. Mrs Clements derAed that sh'
gave authority TO her attorney to de-
mand the money and said that she and
Holt could arrange their financial af
fairs without the aid Of counsel. Mrs
Clements asked Justice Ford TO compe
witte to return $500 received as counse
fees Immediately or be punished fo'
contempt of court, but Justice Ford de
cided that II Mrs. Clements has an,
real or fancied grievances" against hel
former attorney she must sue him.
Mrs. Clements In her affidavit sait
that in September last her matrimonial
| relations required the retention Of an at
torney and she was referred to Mr.
Witte. who called to see her at her homo
259 West Ninetieth street, where sh,
was then living with her husband. II,
agreed to take her case for 5000 anc
she paid him the money. During tn,
next week she saw him several time!
and he told her he was negotiating
separation agreement with her husband
She says he told her that all her friends
had deserted her and that she mus
| rely solely on him.
Mrs Clements said that Witte told he,
| on September 80 he had effected
separation agreement, and in her ''ner
! vous state" she signed II. He told her h,
had arranged for her 10 abandon he
home at ! o'clock that day, and that he
fore she left she would be served witt
certain papers which she was to accept
The papers In a divorce and annulme n
suit were served as arranged. and Mrs
Clements left her home and went TO tn
Endicott Hotel. Three days later sh
went TO the Hotel Seymour
Mrs. Clements said she dismissed
witte as her attorney on October II an,
demanded $500 he got Cor counsel fees il
addition to the retainer. She eubnrtte,
a copy OF the separation agreement show
Ing that she was obliged to live in Nev
York State, and would receive $3.50
month alimony Her husband was T.
have the custody OF their children, Cyri
Melchior Clements. 81. and Elizabet
Ludlow Clements. 1S years old. Mrs
Clements told the court that the SIS
alimony was Inadequate.
In his reply Witte said tat in Sep
tcmber he met Homer A. Holt in IN
Office OF the latters attorney. Herbert +
! Dickson, now counsel for Mrs Clement
and that Holt told him certain Mri
Clements had been ordered to leave he
home by her husband because her rela
tions with Holt had been discovered. 4
the request Of Holt the lawyer called o
Mrs. Clements. who told him she wa
guilty.
Wit;e said that Mrs. Clements toll
him her wires hal been tapped and he
conversations with Holt were overheard
She said detective who had been fol
lowing her had sold her certain informa
ton for 500 The lawyer said Mrs
Clements had told him that her daugh
ter had disclosed to Clements informa
tion as 10 her meetings with Holt.
Wit,e SAID he learned that Mrs. Glenn
ents recently got $1,000 through the sal
of stocks bought fof her by her hus
band and that she entrusted So 900 O
this money TO Holt on his statemen, tha
he would make big profits for her (
war stocks Holt Is alleged 10 have ad
mitted that he got the money. addin
that he had lost half OF IT, but believe
he could make II up.
Witte declared that $500 was not a
excessive charge for the services n
rendered.