The Washington times., 1921-12-02
WILCOX s WIFE
DENIES He WAS
FORCED T0WED
Feared His Life Was in DAN
ger" All Nonsense, Ayers
Woman.

Voicing bitter denunciation Of her
husband, Frank s. Wilcox. internal
revenue official, 141S Belmont road
northwest, to whom she was married
two months after she gave birth to
child, Mrs, Elizabeth F. Shaugh-
messy Wilcox today told The TlnCs
she would present a statement which
she claims was signed by Wilcox In
the presence of Rev. James E. Coen,
st. Pauls Church, in which Wilcox
| freely declared he was not physically
forced to the altar.
Mrs. Wilcox's statement today
came in answer to Wncox's suit,
filed yesterday in the District Su-
preme Court, by which he seeks 10
have the marriage set aside, claim
ing he went through the ceremony be
cause he feared his life would be
! in danger"
In his bill Of complaint, Wilcox
says that he and Miss Shaughnessy
wer married November "under CO.
ercion and duress." He states that
he left his home on the evening Of
that day, and was met by Miss
| Shaughnessy at the corner Of Four
teenth street and Florida avenue
northwest. He declares he was "ac'
cused of being the father of her
child, born August 49, and that she
asked him for money"
Denies Being Father.
Wilcox says he at that time denied
being the father of the child and
! that he refused to give Miss Shaugh-
messy money. He says. he walked
over Florida avenue toward Fifteenth
street, Miss Shaughnessy following.
Just as they left Fourteenth street.
Wilcox says he was seized by two
men who threatened his life If he
| made an outcry. He says he was
! taken to 1413 V street and informed
by one of the men accompanying
him that, you are here to be mar
ried." He declares he was married
over his protestations, and that the
certificate and even the ring were
supplied by Miss Shaughnessy.
When Mrs. Wilcox learned of the
suit being brought against her by
her husband, she Immediately men,
toned the statement which she says
Wilcox signed a few moments prev
ious to the marriage ceremony.
THE two men mentioned by Mr..
Wilcox in the bill of complaint were
my brother, w. Mcdonald, and a
friend, j. Mangum. They did not
threaten Wilcox's life nor otherwise
intimidate him. We went to Father
Coen's and he had talk with
Frank and myself. He asked Frank
II he feared my brother and his COM
panion, and he said he did not.
Father Coen told him II he did not
want to go through with the cere-
mony he would personally see Mr..
! Wilcox to his home. Mr.. Wilcox
said he would go through with the
ceremony. Then Father Coen made
him sign a statement that he was
not being forced into the marriage.
Paid Hospital Expenses.
"As to the legitimacy of the baby
Mr.. Wilcox arranged for my presence
at Georgetown Hospital during the
summer. He gave me the money with
which to meet the bills and he sent
me flowers during my confinement.
These flowers were always addressed
to Mrs. Frank s. Wilcox Mr.. VIII.
cox's people, especially his mother and
his sister, Mrs. Helen Mcmahon,
showed me many kindnesses before
end after the baby was born-up I'M
til we were married. Since that time
they have been bitter against me,
and / believe they have influenced
Frank to enter this suit to have the
marriage set aside.
"Mr. Wilcox and myself have been
acquainted since 1918. He sent me
oceans OF letters protesting his .affec-
tions-even special delivery letters and