The Washington times., 1920-02-22

lawyer that IL ID siSnincant mat "i'
shonts's friends are standing behind Mrs.
Thomas" This is significant. And when
the case comes to trial some OF these
friends. Mrs. Shontss lawyers say, Will be
asked to explain some curious things.
II IL is to the credit Of Shonts and my
friend Amanda" that Shontss friends are
standing behind Mrs. Thomas" to whose
credit or discredit is II that the widow and
two daughters stand penniless, without
money to pay their rent. while Mrs. Thomas
rides up Fifth avenue in her big red
limousine?
Shonts had plenty of money, but It was
hard times for Mrs Shonts and the two
daughters. Shonts had salary Of nearly
$4,000 week as president OF the rapid
transit lines In New York-Dut not much
of II did his wife and daughters see. II
his private fortune was four or five mill.
ions or more he must have had further
income Of another $4,000 or $4,000 a week
in addition to his salary as Interborough
president. Where did all this money go7
Not to the wife and children.
Mrs. Shonts was in such Strengthened
circumstances at times that she was I'M
able to pay her living expenses. In Octo-
Der, 1917, Mrs. Shonts was sued In New
York court by Or. Joan Schoen, who had
been In her service as companion and
health culturist. In this suit Miss Schoen
introduced in evidence several pitiful let
tiers from the neglected wife, Mrs. Shonts
Here is one Of the letters:
Dear Schoen: Several letters so loving
and loyal came in this mail from my chill
dren. I wrote that it might prove to be
the best thing for me to get divorce in
stead of a separation, and was afraid
they might oppose it. They prefer the
separation, as they don't want their father
to marry this woman. But they say what
is best for my happiness is what they now
want He is in Europe with this creature.
"The Duchess du Chaulnes is so ner-
vous and frightened about the separation
she telephoned me that no one but an old
and powerful law firm should be en-
ployed. Of course, their father is trying
to buy them onto his side, and you know
he can't do it, but the dear ones must be
taken care of while all this trouble is
going on"
The Schoen woman won her suit and
Shonts paid the claim.
Shonts liked to go to Europe-and more
than once Mrs. Thomas went with him.
Many very interesting episodes of those
trips to Europe will be put in evidence at
the trial of Mrs. Shonts's suit. But the
story Of Shonts and my friend Amanda"
in Europe is only one chapter in the ad-
venturesome career of this woman who
was born Amanda Caskie about forty
eight years ago in little southern city.
When the million-dollar damage suit
comes to trial Mrs. Shonts's lawyers assert
that their evidence will show a happy,
affectionate. united household until Mrs
Thomas came into the life of Shorts. AS
her influence and intimacy grew so Shonts's
indifference and neglect of his wife and
daughters increased, they declare. At
last the affectionate, solicitous, generous
husband and father became fault-finding,
selfish, penurious taskmaster to his family
but indulgent, loving and prodigally ex.
travagant with my friend Amanda" they
aver.
Who ''Ruined His Life?"
The situation became more and more
strained. Shonts was hampered and in
convenienced by having a wife who was
in the way-she would not die, she would
not sue him for a divorce, she would not
do any wicked thing to give him grounds
for suing her for divorce, she would not
run Off and find solace with some other
man! And the two daughters refused to
be bought or bullied into deserving their
mother or in having anything to do with
Mrs. Thomas or in any way helping Shonts
cut in his scandalous dilemma.
It was an impossible situation for
Shonts. BY wave of his hand he, the
powerful president of the marlborough.
could squeeze and abuse the millions Of
helpless travellers on his subways and
other transit lines. He and his Wall
Street friends could rig contracts with
t'jokers" of millions of dollars in them.
But the obstinacy Of his own wife and
daughters he was powerless to break
down. Was a man ever more meanly
treated?
And so 1t becomes clear what Amanda
Thomas means when she writes her lawyer
about the Shonts furnishings and says
,Shonts gave them to her, so that they
should not fall into the hands Of THOSE
WHO HAD RUINED HIS LIEF"
What a situation!
Would a novelist or motion picture d.
rector have the courage to stage such
H.. L. LzII