The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-02-09
SAYS WIFE OFFERED
ATRIAL MARRIAGE
; Snow, Millionaire Attorney, Re-
plies to Petition for
Divorce.
ADMITS HE HAS FORTUNE
Declares He Made $4,000
Ante-NuptiaI Settlement on
His Bride.

That his wife Adds H. Snow, who
Is suing him for divorce, urged him
TO enter into "a trial marriage" and
that he made an ante-nuptial settle
ment of $4,000 on her. are allegations
of Chester A. Snow, millionaire patent
attorney and Humane Society worker,
pin his answer to his wife's suit filed
in the District Supreme Court today.
The husbands answer was filed
through his attorney. George p.
Hoover.
Averring that he is now seventy
three years Of age, the respondent
admits he owns property worth more
than 81, ZOO, 900; that his income from
his real estate and Investments aver
ages $4,000 a year and the income
from his patent law practice is be-
tween $4,000 and $4,000 a year. His
wife, the respondent says, is now
about forty years Of age.
Against Extravaganza.
The millionaire attorney sets forth
that he met the plaintiff when she was
living in an apartment house owned
by him in Georgetown and that he
told her from time to time that he
NA4 AON BCAlCNc III cANI ant
ing" and "that during his whole life
he had lived in simple and unOsten-
tGtious fashion"
Emphatic denial is made by the
defendant that he was persistent
and ardent in his attentions" to the
plaintiff.
On the contrary, he AYERS that the
plaintiff was persistentNand ardent in
her attentions to him and was anxious
and DESTROYS that he should marry
her, even to the extent OF urging the
defendant to enter into a trial mar
2 riage."
Could Separate.
The plaintiff explained, the defend
ant says, that 'ff they found that
they were not suited to each other that
they would agree to separate: that as
their acquaintance grew she made
numerous suggestions OF marriage.
and finally began to importune the
defendant to marry her."
On numerous occasions the husband
AYERS, he told her that conditions
were such that he did not believe such
a marriage would be a successful or
happy one. He says he explained that
he was nearly seventy years of age,
and that she being in the neighbor-
hood OF thirty-five, the disparity
seemed too great
He further explained, he states, that
i'while he was a man Of some wealth
his habits of life were simple, and
that for a man OF his means he lived
unostentatiously; that his love had
been buried with his former wife, the
mother of his son, and that he did
not think he could give her the love
and affection that a wife usually re-
Quires."
willing To Take Consequence.
that she was willing to take the con-
sequences resulting from such a step
and would be willing to live as he
did.
The millionaire defendant AYERS
that "often the plaintiff stated that
she did not desire to marry him for
his money. or in order to gain
wealth, and that in order to show
that she was sincere in this statement,
she advised the defendant that he
could put his property beyond her
reach"
1t was at this suggestion. the de-
PENDANT explains. that the ante-nup-
tial agreement was caused to be pre-
pared. The defendant AYERS that the
method that the fixing of the sum of
$4,000, by the terms of the agreement
was arrived at by the defendant
after due consideration of the mode
of living of the plaintiff and her sta
ton in life prior to her marriage"
"NeTVous and HysterIcaI."
While they were on their honey
moon, the defendant declares the
plaintiff became nervous and hyster-
teal end apnaarad 70 reaIiza ,h,, -.
had made a mistake in marrying the
defendant"
He denies that almost immediately
after the marriage he forced his wife
10 leave him and his home and to re-
main away from him.
How, owing to his age, he was