Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-25
KENDR|CK IGNORED
H|SM0THER'SPLEA
III Rod Marries Mrs. Wakefield
I'll Have to Keep Them Both"
Parent Says '
WIFE LAUGHED At FEARS

Oakland. Calf. Aug. 25.-"If Rod
mnrries Mrs. Wakefield. I'll have them
both to keep. They are both irrespon-
sible. Neither of them has ever
grown up"
The speaker was Mrs. Rodney Ken
drick. Sr.. mother of the man for whose
love two women are waging n battle.
One. Mrs Nellie Kendrick. has legal
claim to the man. ITe is her husband.
father Of her fourteen month old child.
The other. Mrs. Edith Huntington
Sprcckels Wakefield. holds that her
claim is the greater. "1tod loves me
and love him." is her announcement.
The mother. Mrs. Kcndrick, Sr.,
told thia story:
II have pleaded with and stormed Mt
these children for the last two months.
but all to no avail. Nothing could end
their mad ifffatuntion. Rod wouldn't
listen. Edith laughed my fears to
scorn and Nellie assured me ] was II
fool-thnt everything was all right.
the Wakefield home Mt Sausnlito. but
she would 60. She called me silly for
protesting. She said the affection be-
tween Edith and Rod was the most
bcnutiful thing in the world--pure and
clean. above the sordidncss Of life. SO
"Rut I knew different. knew that
throwing Rod and Edith together In
such close quarters was like setting a
match to dynamite.
II went to the Wakefield home and
pleaded again and again.
Laughed to Scorn
"A,l three laughed me to scorn. I
wos determined that little June, my
onddaughter, should not stay there,
co took her away and brought her
to this cottage.
Nellie was the first one to tell
mo thot she had been offered 500 n
month to release kod-to get di-
vOrce.
II was Mortified and told them all
so After ! thought it over, l con-
cluded that the divorce had to come,
sooner or later.
Nellie grew worse. Rod sent her
to n sanitarium. He rented an o,d
shack back of the HNcl Oakland and
fitted up studio, where he lived.
Every cent that boy made went to take
care of Nellie in the snnitarium at
Ross.
Mrs. Kendrick has hundreds of can
celed checks for money which she paid
out for her sons wife. She turned
them over slowly as she continued the
tale:
"Thc breach between them widened.
Nellie grew rescntful, though she said
repeatedly that she never loved Rod.
1.-Two months ago he met Mrs. Wake
field. like Edith Wakefield. She has
n thousand faults, but also thousand
virtues. Great wealth has been her
undOing.
"If Edith Wakefield had to earn her
own living she would have made Won
derful interior decorator. She can take
a shack and make it bower Of love-
! lness. 1t is this talent that attracted
my son. He and Edith had so much
in common. That is why l was fearful.
But they would not listen to me-"
Mrs. Kendrick paused and gazed
about the little cottage which she Is
remodeling for Nellie and the baby.
She mlrmured:
II hope Nellie will come back and
bring the baby here. Here is where she
have nothing but pity and love in
nv heart for her and the baby-it is
such darling. After all, she is Rod 8
wife, and Rod-well. Rod has done
wrong. but he is just a mere boy and
has never grown up.
"What do you think he said to me
the other day when threatened to
thrash him, beat him to pulp? He
told me to make it raisin pulp and he d
get $50 gallons out of 1t.
"You see how irresponsible he is.
Edith Is the same way. What she
wants she goes after, and I'll have them
both to keep.
"As long as Nellie and the baby
live. I'll be here waiting for them
whenever they need me-
Mrs. Kcnlrick, Jr., has planned to
| file suit tomorrow for $4,000 for al
legged alienation of affections. But there
were reports yesterday Of possible
settlement outside court. John ID.
Spreckels, Sr., capitalist, grandfather
of Mrs. Wakcfield's three children. was
in San Francisco, but would not discuss