The sun., 1918-09-25
MELLEN PRODUCES
WIFE'S LOVE NOTES
Former Railroad President
Tells of Her Friendship for
Hotel Employee.
COURT GETS 30 LETTERS
Admits Kicking Her After
Quarrel in Which She Hit
Him With Marble Egg.
Special Despsteh to THn sux.

PIrrsrrE1p, Mass. Sept. "A series
Of sensational letters, alleged to have
been written by Mrs. Katherine Melien,
wife OF Charles s. Mellen. one time
president Of the New York. New Haven
and Hartford Railroad. 70 Harry Doug
las Brown. at the time of the corre-
spondence an assistant manager Of the
Vanderbilt Hotel In New York city. pro-
vlded the climax for the opening day
Of the trial Of Mr.. Mellens petition
for separate maintenance ana decree
enabling him TO live apart from his
wife
As a witness In his own behalf MI.
Meilen admitted that he once had
caused his wife's nose to bleed. but tes-
tined the injury was inflicted when he
ATTEMPTED to ward of blow she aimeH
at him after having previously struck
him twice, once with a marble egg
The blows, Mr.. Mellen testified, were
precipitated by an argument that fol-
lowed his protest against the condition
of their home at Stockbridse. Mrs Mel
lens persistent and long enduring pill
grimaRes to the Vanderbilt Hotel ana
the fact that the Meilen daughters, III
and Is years old, were permitted TO
lounge about the Stockbridge post ONCE,
while one Of the children ''peddled news
papers on the streets"
Letters Are Read In Court.
Mrs. Mellen has a suit for divorce
pending against Mr.. Mellen and an
effort was made to stay to-day's pro-
ceedings until after that action was de-
cided. The effort failed and photo
graphic copies Of the thirty letters upon
the contents of which Mr.. Mellen's pro-
ceedings against his wife are largely
based were offered In evidence. some Of
them being read in open court.
In the course Of his testimony Mr..
Meilen accused his wife Of drinking in
toxicants.
Mrs Mellen was seldom drunk" he
the boys call q load"
When Mrs. Melien failed TO discon-
tinue her pilgrimages to New York. he
testified. Mr.. Mellen cut of her allow
ance Of $4,000 a year. That action had
little effect, however. since. Mr.. Mellen
told the court. his wife enjoyed an in
come Of S11.5o0 . year from the estates
Of her parents.
Again In June. 1917. Mr.. Mellen testi-
Ned. he quarrelled with his wife while
they were In the dining room Of the
stockbridge home. "She struck me a
blow in the left eye which blackened the
eye and made my nose bleed" he said
There was a scuff1e. Both OF us fell.
and when she got up she grabbed a
glass ash receiver and struck me. Then
she ran. after throwing a chair at me. ]
accelerated her departure kicked her."
John w. Grim attorney for Mr.. Mel
len. told Judge Slocum that Mr.. Mellen
frst learned Of his wife's alleged actions
at the Vanderbilt Hotel In the spring Of
1917, when he was called to New York
by the wife Of the hotel employee. Mrs.
Brown, Mr.. Grim told the court. dis
played letters she had intercepted and
which. 1t Is alleged. were written by
Mrs. Mellen to Mr.. Brown.
Letters Caused Separation.
After reading the letters. Mr. Grin,
said. Mr.. Mellen went to Mrs. Mellen's
brother and informed him that 'he wa;
done with MIS-. Mellen." In tho follow.
ing September. Mr.. Grim told the court
Mrs. Mellen left the Mellen home al
stockbridge and has not since returned
Those letters" Mr.. Grim told the
court. deal with the intimate and SACRED
relations which were disclosed by her &c
the hotel employee. The physical ant
. mental effect OF the situation placed Mr.
Mellen. the man who lad not needed the
attention Of a physician for forty years
under the care OF a doctor. where he Il
to-day"
Subsequently II was explained Mr.. Mel
len is suffering from Parkinson's disease
form Of shaking palsy.
Mr.. Grim told Judge Slocum that whel
the wife of the hotel man. discovers
the situation she went to Mrs. Mellen'
apartment at the Vanderbilt and chase
Mrs Mellen out OF her room and dow
the hotel stairs. Later he said Mri
Mellen employed the services Of an as
wife Of the hotel man to see II she In
tended to sue for a separation"
Mrs. Mellen was not In court to
day, and her lawyer declined to sa.
where she was or whether she would ap
pear personally to oppose Mr.. Mellen'
petition. II was stated here. however
that the action begun by MIRO. Brown II
the New York courts against Mrs Mel
len for the alleged loss OF Mr. Brown
affections has been withdrawn.
visit to Della Robbia Room.
The letter follows:
SUNDAY AFTERNOON.
DOUGLAS DEAR: Thank you SO muc
for taking me to the Della Robbia room
on Saturday and showing me those won
derful tables. The room looks lovely
dear. II you could do something lik
that every once in a while II would b
lovely There could be no talk and ye
we would be seen together.
Douglas, your talk to me on Frida
noon was a little hard, but dear. II wa
what / needed and my actions sine
then have been different And dear.
has worked wonders NJ. Is like a new
man. really have never seen anything
like It. On Friday when he came to tn
hotel from his office he was like a do
that had been whipped.
"He sank into a chair all exhausted
went to help him I said. You ar
tired. Now would 1t not help you litti
10 talk things over with mer He locke
at me, dear. Then ne began to talk.
sympathized with him and tried I
cheer him all could. We went I
dinner. When we had finished he said
4 am so tired. Do you mind II 20 I
the rooms?' said. No. by all mean
30. ! finished. Then went TO tn
Marshalls' table and had a cocktail wit
them. ] then went up.
I'VE sat In the salon and talked
little. At last he said, 4 am so tiret
I'm going to bed He went to his room
In few minutes followed. The shad
in the little candle by his bed wa
crooked. I Strengthened II, and 70
something to say, said. This shade
on the blink He then said Kit,