The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-04-23
Wife Sues Him for Separate
Maintenance Today.
Tells of Alleged Life of Ches-
terfield Hotel Proprietor.
SAYS He IS WORTH $4,000
She Says He Took Women of Ill
Repute to Their Home.
Declares Much of Money Spent
With sporting Element"

In face of the alleged statement that
he would fight h out of her if she
ever started any proceedings against
him." Mrs Agnes Fowler of 1921 Polk
street today filed a petition in the
district court against her husband,
Wood Fowler, one of the owners of the
Chesterfield hotel, asking that the
court grant her separate maintenance.
The Fowlers own property valued at
$4,000, according to Mrs. Fowler's pc
tition, and she asks, that in the light
of her assistance in accommodating that
money, the court grant her an eQuita-
BILE division.
The petition contains numerous SEN
sational paragraphs. Not the least in
teresting is one to the effect that when
she and Wood Fowler began life to-
gether in 1892 Fowler was a poor ten
ant farmer. Now he owns a half in
terest in the Chesterfield hotel. two
Topeka store buildings and their home
at 1921 Polk street
Mrs. Fowler says her husband was
a steady sort of partner until he quit
farming and moved to town when he
became what is commonly known as
sporting man." She charges that
he associated with other women and
that the money he made gambling he
spent with the sporting element. She
charges that absolute characters were
his companions. particularly women
of dissolute and unchaste character.
Just as an after thought she adds
land he still does"
He Promised to Reform.
Ten years ago, Mrs. Fowler says,
she left her husband because of his
associations and his habit of staying
out nights and days without giving
any explanation. But, she says, he
begged her to return and made ''vio-
lent promises of reformation" Up to
that time, she says, he had been sell
ing Intoxicating liquor over her pro-
test; that he was arrested and served
time, also was arrested and fined for
conducting a gambling resort.
He did quit" she says, referring to
his promise to reform, but she adds,
whether it was because of his violent
promises or the Jail sentence, she
does not know. And besides, she says,
he did not quit his improper associa-
tions with other women.
On several occasions Fowler has
scandalized the peaceful neighbor
hood near Tenth and Polk, according
to his wife. She tells of occasions
when he has sent her away for extend
ed periods and taken women into their
home at night, thereby making their
residence a subject of scandal.
The Fowlers ceased living together
as man and wife five years ago, Mrs.
Fowler says. After she had placed
herself under the care of a medical
specialist, she says, he ceased living
with her as a wife.
From that time on" she says. "he
has lived only as an ordinary but dis
agreeable boarder."
Whenever she talked of starting leg
al proceedings, she says, he would in
form her that he would flight h out
of her if she ever started proceedings
against him.
There are no children in the Fowler
family. Mrs. Fowler does not claim
she aided her husband in accumulat-
ing any of the money she alleges he
made from gambling or selling intox-
icating liquor. But she says there is
none of that left; that he spent it with
the sporting element. However, she
| holds that she has done more than
her share in their joint accumulation
of money in legitimate ways. She asks
| for separate maintenance, for an attor-
nev fee and for restraining order
which Will enjoin Fowler from modest
ing her in any way.
The suit was filed by E. D. McKeev-
! err attorney for Mrs. Fowler.