The Washington times., 1921-12-25

OF its magnificent furnishing
That, according to the unhappy
story filed in court by Mrs. Mary A.
Schlemmer. il the bitter experience
that has shattered her romance and
has led to one Of the most complex
and sensational divorce and separa-
ton tangles in the history of New
York courts.
Two wealthy families have been
involved. Suits and counter-suits
have piled one on the other. Slap
pings in the street have been fol-
lowed by proceedings in a magis-
trate's court and by an outburst of
heated statements In which start
ing accusations have been hurled
with abandon.
PRINCIPALS IN CASE.
In brief, the principals are VIII
liam F. Schlemmer, of the hard
ware firm Of Hammacher, Schlem-
mer & Co.; Mrs. Mary A. Schlem-
mer, who finds some solace in re-
ligion; William ]. Wilkinson, mil
lionaire owner of color print es-
Enlistment. and Mrs. Elsie Wilkin-
son. petite beauty about whom the
entire case revolves.
And these are the suits that have
been filed:
Wilkinson is suing for a separa-
ton.
Mrs. Wilkinson is suing for
separation.
wilkinson is suing Schlammer for
100000 for alleged alienation Of at
fections.
Mrs. Schlemmer is suing for
separation.
Mrs. Schlemmer. a more matron,y
woman than Mrs. Wilkinson, was
married to the hardware man Au-
gust %, 1914. They have no chill
dren. The wilkinsons were married
in 1904. They, too, are childless.
So far as the public was aware,
both families were contented until
enc day last summer, when a taxi
cab whirled up alongside a lux
urious sedan at Broadway and Sew
enty-second street and there en-
sued a spectacular commotion that
revealed the entire ,tangle.
FIGHT ON BROADWAY.
In the sedan were Schlemmer and
the petite, blonde, blue-eyed Mrs.
wilkinson, far younger in appear
ance and pulchritude than would
be expected Of her forty-four years.
= In the taxicab was an irate hus-
band. wilkinson.
Wilkinson leaped from the taxi,
1erked open the sedan door and pum-
meled Schlemmer. A policeman
pushed through the excited crowd.
Wilkinson shouted:
THAT is Schlemmer! This is my
wife! 1 want to be arrested. l want
the whole business to come out in
court. Arrest us air.
Deciding 1t was squabble for
the civil courts, the policeman
ordered both cars to move on. They
did. Then came the suits, one after
another. And these are the alleged
facts the actions have revealed:
The Schlemmers and the wilkins
sons had homes in Great Neck, l.. l.
As neighbors they became acquaint-
ed. Visits were exchanged. Wilkin-
son noted that Schlemmer was often
in his wife's company. Mrs. Schlem-
mer noted the increasing frequency
of her husbands attendance on Mrs.
=. Wilkinson.
, wILKINSON'S STORY.
Wilkinson and Mrs. Schlemmer
tried to right the situation. The
trip to Europe by Wilkinson and his
wife failed to end the tangle. So
Mrs. Schlemmer besought an attor-
ney, Bernard Sander, to bring suit.
wilkinson sought counsel. And
Mrs. Wilkinson did likewise. Only
schlemmer failed to file action.
Said Wilkinson the other day to
. reporter:
my fight is against Bill Schlem-
mer. What will my wife get out of
the situation? She is forty-four.
She Is very beautiful but few
wears will make vast difference.
In six years she will be fifty. Will
Schlemmer then admire her so
much? Her future looks very dark.
AS for the other woman, she is the
one who gets the worst Of 1t all.
She Is a very fine woman.
ELSIE and ! became acquainted
=, with the Schlemmers in August,
1919. After a short while I felt he
was paying too much attention to
my wife. l demonstrated with him.
He agreed to keep away. But short