The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-09-17
WHAT SHOULD WIFE. TELL HER HUSBAND. OF HER PAST L|FE?!.
New York Bank Official Seeks To Annul Marriage Be- cause Wife Misrepre-
 Sented Her Past
By JANE COMPTON Special Dispatch to The Age-Hera1d Copyright, 1929. by Tho Age-Herald)

Speciat DfSpaTch 10 The Axe-Heral0
 Copyright, 1929, by Tho Age-Herald)
 New York. September 16.-Jaded New York has been amazed at the revelations of the last two days in one of the strangest clashes ever re- corded in this country between man and wife.
 The case has brought renewed dis cussion as to just how much of her past life a woman should reveal to her husband. Mrs. Madelaine Hoo ton, veteran probation officer of Binghamton. N. Y, is out with the statement that a woman Is silly to have no place in plans for the fu- ture.
 And yet, Mrs. Beverly D. Harris, wife of a former vice president of the National City bank, is being sued on the ground that she failed to re- veal her past. The charge is that Mrs. Harris claimed to be a descend ant of the Lee family, of Memphis, Tenn, whereas her real parsntage never has been known.
 In statement to the court her at forney confessed that Mrs. Harris did not know the name of her father.
 1outs AC 0AtAdlHlEQs 6tHC0 WHen has illegitimaey become a ground for arnulment of marriage?"
 Sues For AnnulIment
 Beverly Harris is suing for annul- ment on that very groound and the case is unique in the annals of the local divorce courts. The former banker also has charged that his wife was not an innocent woman when he married her. Here again Mrs. Harris attorney. George Gordon Battle, made statement in open court so frank as to take away the breath of old court attaches. This Is what he said:
 "A few days after she met Mir. Harris he made such an impression upon her by his attentions-a mature, brilliant man of the world-that she yielded to him"
 MT. Battle declared MT. Harris could not equitably complain of a condition in which he collaborated. Battle also declared that Harris knew of his wife's doubts as to her parenthood, for he often spoke of her as Hove child" In 1918, when the two were living happily together, Harris wrote this letter to his wife:
 Precious: This is your birthday Of all the handiwork of God in all
 
 quisite beauty than you.
 You are a love child and to you He has given every charm that arr lists visioo or poets fancy could im- agine of wonderful perfect woman hood.
 You are the very radiant flower of love.
 The full-throated songs of all the birds are in your marvellous voice your eyes are like soft skies-your skin like the blush of dawn-your teeth cascade of pearls-in face and form and grace of movement you are all that woman longs for-and that man worships."
 Agree to Separate
 In less than year after this epistle of passion was penned Mr. and Mrs. Harris were separated. It was agreed that Mrs Harris was to receive $500 every two weeks. In the separation agreement the hus- band undertook not "to make any re- Elections, aspersions or unfavorable comments whatsoever on any alleged Incident, episode or occurrence in the life, history, family, communications, activities. manner or place of living or the party of the second part or her associates"
 You may bring out anything against me that you wish since 1 married you" said Mrs Harris, but bring my dead sister. my mother, or myself from vault of the past, many years ago, regardless of what that may be (for I am the innocent victim of 1t alb and I will carry you to the depths of hell, I will compel you to resign. I will defame your name throughout the world and then will have your very soul crushed into he'll"
 Harris attorney claims the hus- band did not know at the time what was meant by all this, but 1t was all made clear in the light of subsequent developments.
 Claimed Memphis Family
 Harris says his wife claimed to he the daughter of Stacker Lee. a family operating the Lee steamers on the Mississippi river, and niece of Eli Rayner, of high social standing and business prominence in Memphis. Tn his plea for annullment the husband se.ys he discovered that Stacker Lee died bachelor, and that instead of being the niece of Rayner. Mrs Har- ris had been the latter's sweetheart.