New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-04-04
Spear Says Wife
Stripped Home;
Pistols Used
Husband of Ex.Follies Girl
Charges He Was Thrown
Into Auto While Fur
nishings We're Removed
Woman Holding Goods
Philadelphia Law Firm, Try
ing to Collect Debt, Calls
Bill Of Sale a Fraud

The unhappy marital affairs of
James Spear jr, Philadelphia clubman
and Mrs. Helen NJ. Spear, who was
Miss Helen Louise Meyer, New York
chorus girl, when she married him in
November, 1914, are interviewed In an
injunction proceeding brought in the
Supreme Court yesterday by James
Carstairs and others as members OF
the Philadelphia firm of Carstairs &
Co.
The injunction issued by Justice
Newburger is to restrain Mrs. Spear,
now living with her mother at 181
West Seventy-ifth Street, from sell
ing household effects valued at $18,-
900, which were transferred to her by
means Of a bill Of sale executed by Mr..
Spear. 1t is alleged by Carstairs &
Co. that this action was taken to pre-
vent them from collecting on a judg-
ment for s26,3o2, obtained In the Su-
preme Court against Mr.. Spear.
Carstatrs & Co. are moving the bill
of sale, which they allege was entered
into ~fraudulently. The. property in
cludes costly Oriental rugs and silver
ware, in the possession Of Mr.. Spear
at his country home at Wallingford,
neal Philadelphia. until Mrs. Spear
on January 28, with the aid Of several
men and a van, took forcible posses
sion Of the articles described in the
bill Of sale.
Spear Barred by Pistol
home of Mr.. Spear was accomplished,
according to the affidavit Of the hus-
band. while he was prevented at the
point Of a pistol from interfering with
the plans Of the movers. This incl
dent, occurred after Mrs. Spear left
her husband and, he says in his affi-
davit, had brought suit in Philadelphia
for q separation.
The household effects figuring in the
alleged fraudulent transfer from hus-
band to wife are now in this city,
part Of them at the home of Mrs.
Spears mother and the rest at the
Knickerbocker Sales Storage. 1t is
alleged that the sale Of them has been
Mrs. Spear was one of the beauties
of "The Follies of 1914" She was Mr..
Spears second wife: The first Mrs.
Spear was Miss Lee Henry, of a promi-
nent Southern family. They were mar
ried in Cambridge, Md, In 1903. Mr..
Spear obtained a divorce in Pennsyl-
vania on the ground of desertion.
Within ten days after his marriage
to his present wife, Mr.. Spear r~ecites,
Mrs. Spear refused to remain in his
Wallingford home and came to New
York. During the winters thereafter
she lived with her mother in this city.
After several separations the couple
became reconciled in the spring of
1918.
1t was in April, 1918, that the disputed
bill Of sale was executed. At that time,
says Mr.. Spear, he owed Carstairs & Co.
$4,000. Although Mr.. Spear had an
income of more than $50, 900 in 1918
from the estate Of his father, he says
he had to obtain a loan to relieve the
situation in which he then found
himself.
Husband Charges Desertion
Mr.. Spear says his wife deserted him
in July, 1919, and has since been living
here. There were conferences between
husband and wife and their attorneys
in January, and Mrs. Spear agreed to the
alimony and property she was 10 re-
ceive. Subsequently, she ~repudiated
the agreement. refused to sign it and
changed her attorneys.
On January IS, says Mr.. Spear, his
wife went to Philadelphia by autome-
bile. When Mr.. Spear reached his
Wallingford estate on that day he
found the chain and lock that fastened