The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-29
MCDONALD AT PIER
PAYS BACK ALIMONY
Wealthy Contractor Served
With Writ Just Before
Sailing for Europe.
CHARGED WITH CONTEMPT
lawyers Pursuit in Taxicab
Ends With New Incident
in Separation Suit.

James r. Mcdonald, a millionaire
over North and South America, and
who has just completed a $1,000, 900
deal in Hayti involving railroad and
sugar interests, received service Of
writ charging him with contempt Of
court yesterday Just as he was about
to sail for Europe on the steamship
Adriatic. The writ charges contempt
for falling to pay back alimony due to
his wife, Mrs. Edith Mcdonald of 500
Wadsworth avenue, from whom he was
separated in 1918, and to whom the
courts awarded $500 a month alimony.
The arrest OF Mr.. Mcdonald was a
result Of the vigilance OF Edward II.
Burger of Burger & Burger, attorneys
for Mrs. Mcdonald. who had been try
ing to serve the writ on the contractor
ever since II was issued last autumn.
Mr.. Burger said last night that al
though Mr.. Mcdonald maintained apart
ments here in the Waldorf and the
Prince George hotels. he always came
to New York on Sundays and other
times when service was impossible. The
attorney kept track of his movements.
however. and when he learned yester
day that the contractor was to sail on
the Adriatic he kept a close watch on
the passport bureau. Mr.. Mcdonald got
his passports at o'clock and went i'm
mediately to the steamship in a taxi
cab.
Mr.. Burgers agents kept him in
formed. and on the contra ctor's heels
followed tsxicab bearing the law
yers and Deputy Sheriff Eisenstein.
They reached the pier about fifteen
minutes after Mr.. Mcdonald got there
aboard the ship. The vessel was searched
and Mr.. Mcdonald taken from his state
room to the wharf, where the Deputy
Sheriff served the writ on him.
While this was being done, and Mr..
Mcdonald was arguing with the Deputy
Mr.. Burger FASTENED to court and got
another order for Mr.. Mcdonald TO
show cause why he should not be pun
ished for failure to pay Mrs Mcdonald
the $4,000 back alimony. said to be due
her. Mr.. Mcdonald finally was al
lowed to sail after he had paid to the
Deputy Sheriff $4,000 In cash. and had
telephoned TO George Evalenke. R
banker, OF III Broadway. He told Mr.
Burger that II he and Mrs. Mcdonald
would call upon Mr.. Evalenke to-day
the banker would pay all back alimony
due and would keep up the payments
while he was away.
Mr.. Mcdonald has many railroad and
other interests in various parts OF the
world, and recently has been engaged
with New York bankers in arranging
for the construction OF a RAILROAD and
sugar refineries In Hayti. He was the
first man to penetrate the plains OF
Ecuador with n railroad project and
built the S25 900, 900 railroad across the
Andes Mountains According to Mrs.
McDonald's attorney he owns valuable
property in Knoxville. Tenn. and estates
in New York and other States. Mrs.
Mcdonald was the widow OF George
Delacey Evans and was married to Mr.
Mcdonald in 1902.
The separation proceedings were
heard by Justice Gavegan in the SUI
preme Court and a decree was awarded
to Mrs. Mcdonald with $500 a month
alimony. According TO her lawyers
this al!nlony was not paid until about
year ago when Mr.. Mcdonald was ar
rested at the Hotel Aberdeen in New
York and paid $4,000 alleged to be due
his wife. Mr.. Burger asked that the
contractor he put under bond to keep
up the payments, and a bond OF S. 900
was directed. which Mr.. Burger says
the contractor never produced. Last
Court was issued by Justice Delehanty
but Mr.. Burger was not able to serve
It until yesterday.