The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1921-03-02
LEAPED IN CISTERN,
WIFE FOLLOWED,
SWEARS STEICHEN
Artist on Stand in Alienation
Trial Tells of Other Sui
eide Attempts.

Edward A. steichen, artist, took tho
witness stand to-day in the suit for
100000 for alienation Of affections
brought by his wife against Miss
Marian H. Beckett. daughter OF the
late Surrogate Charles II. Beckett.
The case is being tried before a jury
in Supreme Court, Part VIII, Justice
Cohalan presiding.
Asked to relate the facts concern
ing the FIRST time that he and Mrs.
steichen disagreed. the husband said;
'Tt was in 1903, shortly after our
marriage, on our return from n din
ner party. 1 questioned her about her
attitude at tho dinner Mrs. Stoichen
said was always finding fault with
her and that I didn't love her. told
her reserved the right TO crihcise
her, as l would criticise myself She
ran out of the house and walked down
n side street toward the East River.
Mrs. Steichen constantly accused me
of caring more for other women than
did for her"
Continuing his recital of Disagree
ments with Mrs. Steichen, the wit
ness told Of an incident in 1906 when,
after developing some pictures in the
dark room, Mrs. Steichen came into
the room and examined some Of his
plates.
Mrs. Steichen said refused to
show her all tho plates. She snatched
a phial and drank from It. Our little
daughter Mary was standing near.
became desperate and also drank
from a phAl. It only contained
crystals, and gagged me. A physician
treated Mrs. Steichen."
Mr.. Steichen also rccounted an argu-
ment when the name OF person, for
mcrly mentioned in this trial, came
Ivp. lie declared that Mrs. Steichen
followed him about the house and re-
fused to let him alone. lie said no
Jumped into Cistern OF water ana
Mrs. Steichen followed.
How deep was the water?" asked
Mr. Smyth, the counsel for Miss
Beckett.
Three feet answered Steichen. 7
thought It was deeper"
Steichen denied that Miss Beckett
ever posed for him in the nude or
alone.
Another instance Of Mrs. Steich-
ems jealousy" Steichen testified
occurred one evening when l hand
cd Miss Beckett a magazine show
ing a picture OF n blue poppy. Miss
Beckett exclaimed, ON Mrs.
Steichen said: I'm sick Of it all.
You pinched Marian"
Mr.. Steichen testified that, in or
der to scare his wife, he told her he
had sent Miss Beckett home. When
he returned to Voulangis he declared
be found the house practically
stripped OF household effects, and
$40, 900 worth OF bronze figures were
missing. These bronzes, he said'
were the gift OF Rodin, the sculptor
Counsel for Mrs. Steichen admitted
that the bronzes are in New York and
arc in her possession.
After obtaining a furlough while
in the army, Steichen testified he met
Mrs. Steichen and his children at his
New York studio. They quarrelled,
and his daughter Mary said % them:
81 am ashamed of you two. / would
rather he the child of beggars than
to own you as my parents
! Stcichen said nc gave $1,000 a year
TO his wife, which did not include
$500 for the tuition of his daughter
airy. lie said hq also sent his mother
5000 every year. lie now owes 5000
he added.
HAS Miss Beckett ever mlcnatcd
your Affections" asked Attorney
| Smyth.
NO, She has not"
| Miss Beckett. earlier In the day,
was recalled 10 the stand. She denied
! that she ever dined, or went to any
| hotel or tea room alone with
! Steichen. She admitted embroider-
ling a sinner for Mr.. Steichon. Small
dogs was the design agreed upon.
H-atas----