Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1921-09-01
MATE OF LOIS SHOBERT
SAYS MANUFACTURER
WON HER AWAY
DEMANDS $4,000
SENSATIONAL SUIT REVEALING
TRIANGLE IN WHICH WHITE
WAY AND CHURCHES CLASH
FILED IN CHICAGO.

Lois Shobert Powell, daughter OF
the late Harry Shobort, who prior TO
his death was one Of the oity's best
known BARRIERS. Is one Of the prin'
cipals in sensational alienation suit
instituted In the Superior Court OF
Cook county by W. NJ. Powell, a
wealthy Chicago contractor, alleging
Charles Is. OFT, 55. Wheeling, w. va"
millionaire manufacturer, won his
wife's affections from him.
The court proceedings We're insti
tuted Tuesday and reveal a triangle
In which churches and the gay white
way play conflicting parts. Miss Sho-
bert, at the time of her mothers mar
riage to William Swanell removed
to Chicago, where she vas wcocd and
won by Mr.. Powell Prior to that
time she spent all her life here. After
girlhood she prepared herself for a
ytage career but the marriage to Mr.
Powell prevented her going on with
her work behind the footlights. The
mother, after residing in Chicago for
a while. returned to Ottawa, making
her home on South State street, but
left here last spring When Mr. SNa-
nell was called to England on busi-
ness expedition said to have some
thing to do with ancestral estates.
; The Chicago American, telling in a
front page spread containing LOIS
photo, of the husbands claim for
$4,000 damages, says:
"A suit for $4,000 against Charles
b. OFT, So, a millionaire manufacturer
of Wheeling. w. Va, charging alien
alton of the affections Of his young
and beautiful wife was filed today in
the Superior Court by M, w. Powell
wealthy building contractor with of
fees In the Marquette building
Behind the suit, according to in
vestigators for the McQueeny Agency,
il the interesting story Of a romance
which sprung up between the manu-
facturer and Mrs. Lois Powell during
church; a tale of stolen parties
emongst the scintillating glimmer OF
Chicagos white lights, and the pre-
cipitated fight yesterday from Mrs.
poWell's apartment of the coatless
manufacturer.
Attorney John A. Blake, counsel
for Powell, said he would file decla-
ration to the praecipe Of the suit set
ting forth that OFT had aleniated
the affections of Mrs. Powell and as
q result she had filed a suit for di'
vorce against her husband June 20 Of
this year. Charles E. Erbstcin, coun
sci for OFT, said he would start action
to offset the suit,
1.-THE first meeting Of Mrs. Powell
and OFT was in June, 1920, the lnves
igators say. At that time the mir
lionaire went to the Powell home as
a guest. Mr.. OFT is said to havo re-
quested that he be shown around
town. Mr.. Powell consented and
they became close friends.
After that Mr.. OFT was a frequent
caller at the Powell home, and fire.
quently asked Mrs. Powell to accom-
pany him to church. 1t was the
church incidents which finally agous-
ed the husbands suspicious, it is said.
mfr Powell Is said to have express
cd his dCelbts whether the pair always
went to church as they said they did
There were hints of parties, and Mr.
OFT Is said to have met Mrs, Powell
downtown on week days. There was
a quarrel in the Powell family and
Mrs. Powell lived alone at 551f
Drexel boulevard. and the two Powell
children were taken to Mr.. Powell's
mothers home.
"Mr. Powell then engaged investt
gators. Sunday he learned that Mr.
OFT came to town and registered with
friend at the City Hall Square hotel
Yesterday afternoon Mr.. Powell anu
his sleuths trailed taxicab contain
ing the manufacturer to Mrs. POWELL
apartment.
"A short time later Mr. Powell
knocked on the front door. There
was scurrying CT feet inside and il
is charged the manufactures emerged
out of the rear window and hurried
down the back stairs. Without hi'
coat he Jumped into a taxi and dis
appeared.
Later In the day he checked out o
the hotel and engaged rooms on th'
North Side Robert Z. Jeske, inves
tigator, found him and served th'
summons"