The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-08-25
B. c. lee DENIES
HIS WIFE NEEDS
$4,000 PER YEAR
Answer to Divorce Bill Dc.
MES He Has One Of largest
Incomes OF Any ,u.lsluudI
in State.
SHE BOARDED AT $50
PRIOR TO MARRIAGE
Their Views Of Life, Its Pleas
ures, Duties and 0bliga-
tlons Differ Too Widely for
Reconciliation.

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kfnying that he enjoys one Of "the
largest individual incomes in the state
OF Tennessee, adding that his
wealth is greatly exaggerated, Bayliss
y. Lee, ice manufacturer, steamboat
owner and land holder, Monday filed
answer to the divorce suit Of his wife,
MIS-. Minnie Peters Lee. The answer
was, filed in chancery court by Mr..
Lees attorneys, A. B, Knipmeyer and
Rtddick & Rddick
Mr. Lee admits that he left Mrs
Lee on May q after having been forced
70 the conclusion that Mrs Lees
view Of life, its pleasures, duties and
obligations were so different from his
own that they could not be reconciled"
He declares that he thought a tenn
porary separation was at least ad-
Mr.. Lee declares that Mrs. Lee does
not need $4,000 a year. or $1,000 a
month alimony for her support and
maintenance. Prior to theirI marriage,
less than two years ago, he declares,
she boarded at rate of $50 per month
and her income prior to their marriage
was less than $4,000 a year.
Mr.. Lee takes issue with Mrs. Lee
when she says in her amended bill
that the original bill was brief because
OF the death of Mr.. Lees mother, who
died only short time before Ii was
filed. He declares the brevity of the
former bill was because Of the dearth
says further that Mrs. Lee, by her
conduc; and conversation during the
last and fatal illness OF his mother,
gave evidence that she was utterly
indifferent and even censured him be-
cause he felt 1t to be his duty to
attend attend, upon and mi minister TO bis dying
4 had returned from the funeral service,
Apmplainant Immediately launched forth
Nkpon a statement relative to a remark
de by complainant, but Of which de.
Afant had not been advised, to the
eSkgct that defendants mother was old
am useless and should be chlofo-
Spent His Money Freely.
Mr.. Lee admits that Mrs. Lee occu-
pies a position second to ione,. as she
AYERS, among the ultra fashionable and
states that Mrs. Lee did not exaggerate
the amount Of money which She spent
upon herself from month to month in
her statement she made when asking
Tor $1,000 a month alimony, pending
the trial of the divorce suit, but de-
clares he supplied the money she spent
himself. He charges that his wife is
extrayagant but that he has been in
dulgent with her and has only mildly
admonished her for this. He says he
sought inNmany ways to excite Mrs.
Eee's interest in works of charity and
patriotic efforts but failed entirely.
The sum of $4,000 a year, Mr. Lee
says is more than Is expended by any
Of the best and foremost persons re-
? siding in Memphis. He said he can't
help but feel that his wife's ''wanton
and reckless extravaganza Is almost
criminal in view Of the destitution. pri-
vation and suffering now prevailing
throughout the world" and says he
never encouraged or approved Of Mrs.
Lees apparently 'purposeful waste. Z
Mr. Lee denies that he neglected his
wife last May when she was Ill, He
understanding with his wife but failed
and that was the reason why he
thought temporary separation might
adjust things.
Voluntary Alimony.
He denied that he sought to gain a
technical advantage whhe his wife was
suing for divorce on grounds of aban-
donment and failure to provide by de-
posting 5000 in the bank in her name.
He says he has been accustomed to
making this deposit for her benefit
ever since their marriage and will con,
tnue to do so. The facts In the case,
he declares, are that his attorney in
response TO proposal of Mrs, Lee &
attorney for settlement of the suit
In accordance with Mrs Lees de-
demands suggested that both parties
be conferred with in regard to- a tenn
porary and agreed separation, pending
which Mr.. Lee should provide neces,
sary support and maintenance for Mrs
Lee without her being required tc
resort to income from her own estate
Since their separation, Mr., Lee sayi
he has continued to pay rental on Mrs
Lees apartments, has had products
from his farm delivered to her ant
had paid for other household expenses
incurred by his wife. He further de
clares that Mrs. Lee continues to pur,
chase goods and to have them charged
to his account. Moreover, he says h,
has given Mrs. Lee income bearing Sc
curities, has paid off mortgages on he
property, has betrayed expenses ant
outlays In connection with her. proper
ties left her BY her former ns husband tY,ss d
a railroad wreck. She says he ha
disposed of none of her properties.
Denies Deciding Property.
Since their marriage, something ovci
Is months, Mr. Lee says he has ad
eanced for the benefit or Mrs, Lee,
ezN4te, the sum of 900u, In addition Z
arge sums advanced previously. HI
said Mrs. Lees own income nov
amounts to 5000 year and the ne
value Of her property, held in fee sim
pit lfSe ITOn1 ueDI is LHdi
10000, and is entitled to the income
during her life from the estate of he
former husband
Mr.. Lee admits he entered into al
ante-nuptial contract with Mrs. Lee b
which neither was to inherit the prop
erty OF the other at death, but deuie
that the agreement was made with
provision that Mrs Lee was. to be givel
in fee simple a piece OF property o
Madison avenue tt
The answer states that Mai. T..
Wright.s her former husband, left in
suranceA amounting to $50, 900 and tina
same had been paid TO Mrs. Lee a
executrix. Gen. Luke E. Wright. pa
ternal grandfather and guardian c
William Fowlkes Wright, con of f.
and Mrs. Wright, contended that thi
insurance belongs in equal shares I
the mother, Mrs. Lee, and the sol
because the insurance YVES not express
iy mentioned In the will 1t was ais
claimed by Gen. Wright that the dam
ages paid to Mrs. Wright by the n
linois Central Railroad company on &C
count of Mai Wright's death shoul
be equally divided between widow an
son. Mr.. Lee says that he has mad
no claim for the property of Mrs. lie
since the -nuptialN contract wa
signeds and does not propose to max
any
MIR. Lee. through his attorneys, vii
file writ OF supersedeas before tn
court Of civil appeals TO have set asid
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