The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-17
'NEIFERT ASSERTS
HIS WIFE SMOKED
Also Played Cards for Money,
Rector Testifies in Denying
Her Charges.
HE DEFENDS THE NURSE
Minister Declares His Children
Were Prompted to Tell
FalsehoOds on Stand.

The Rev. Josiah Martyr Neifert.
rector of st. Johns Episcopal Church. at
Pressure Isle, Me-. and former assistant
rector of st. Marks and St. James's
churches OF this city, made a vigorous
and categorical denial Of the charges Of
unfaithfulness brought against him by
his wife when the trial OF the divorce
action was resumed yesterday before
Justice Gieserich In Supreme Court.
Statements made in court last week
by Mrs. Emile Neifert and his two
children. Isabelle. aged 16. and Morton.
aged II, were characterised as deliber-
ate falsehoods by the minister. who de-
clared he saw in his wife's charges
desire to revenge herself on him by
running his ministerial career. He ex-
pressed belief that his children were
prompted to go on the stand and testify
against him by the seeds OF animosity
which their mother had sown in them
against him.
Countsr-charRes were made against
his wife, whom he accused of undue
friendllness with a former member OF
one OF his New York parishes. Under
the direct examination OF his counsel he
testified that he first started to drink
after he had met her, and that the
greater part OF his drinking was done
in her presence.
Asserts HIS wife Smokes.
Mrs. Neifert also smoked cigarettes
and played cards for money before their
marriage, the minister asserted. but he
declared he found no fault with her
smoking so long as she did II in his
uhnp hA I'D
cigarettes In public or in the presence
Of their children. he said. that he found
1t necessary to admonish her. He did
not think such action befitted the wife OF
a minister.
Emphatic denial OF anything but a
feeling of friendship for Miss Caroline
Elizabeth Cooper. the nurse named as
correspondent. was made by Mr.. Neifert.
II was brought out in evidence yesterday
that Miss Cooper had been divorced and
had resumed her maiden name Mr..
Neifert said he knew nothing Of this
until II was brought out during the trial,
adding that had he known II before II
would have made no difference In his
treatment OF the nurse In his own home,
where, he said. he wanted her to act in
the capacity OF governess to his chill
dren because OF the absence of their
mother.
discreet and unbecoming in a rector to
play cards. drink wine and attend NOV
ing picture theatres with Miss COOPER
asked counsel for Mrs. Neifert
do you want me to 60 around with
a placard on my back saying that am
minister and a married man whose
wife had left me-" angrily returned the
defendant.
Continuing his testimony, Mr.. Neifert
said that one of the reasons he was
prompted to take Miss Cooper into his
household. even after he had recovered
fully from an illness due to rheumatism,
was because of the depleted state of his
finances. She was paying him $40
week for her room. he testified, and he
thought II well to have a trained nurse
near who could take care of his chill
dren in case OF illness. Miss Cooper
testified to leaving a 81 a week room In
Harlem TO board at the home of the
minister.
Mr. Neifert characterized as false the