The Washington times., 1923-02-11
WIFE IN MANY
5. WILD PARTIES
+ HUSBAND SAYS
California clubman, in Counter
Suit, Says Mate Kissed and
Rugged Other Men in Home
HELD UNsEEMLY DANCES
Woman Accused of "Habitual+
1ntemperance' and Visits to
Lonely Cabin with Men
los ANGELEs, Feb. 1O.-"Wild

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 1O.-"Wllo
parties" unseemly Dances" habit.
ual intemperance" and the kissing
and hugging of other men were
CHARGED against Ella Emery Mer-
rift, prominent society woman of
Pasadena. in cross-complaint filed
by Lewis N. Merritt in answer to
his wife's suit for divorce.
The defendant, after denying that
he knocked his wife down the
stairs in their home, and other
charges of cruel and inhuman
treatment, declared his wife Wis
tied with q male escort, a hunt
ing and fishing cabin in the high
Sierras.
The! Mefritts were married May
16, 19G7E and the date of the last
separation was given as October 10
of last year. There is one son,
Huntington Emery Merritt, twenty
years old.
CHARGES ENTEMPERANCE.
The cross-complaint alleges that
his wife was guilty of habitual IL
temperance which disqualified her
for a greater portion of the time
from properly looking after her
business and duties as a wife; and
tina Mrs. Merritt would absent her.
self from home many hours at a
time and her whereabouts We're not
known to her husband.
The complaint also alleges that
between 1917 and October 10, 1922,
the plaintiff would drink intoxicat.
ing llquors to excess in the family
home. would become quarrelsome,
violent and abusive, would throw
toilet articles, furniture and other
missiles at the cross-eomplainant.
That Mrs. Merritt, in the absence
OF her husband, would receive men
guests ard spend entire afternoons
dri1esfik xfcat ting liquors. and
thax a. reslaIt there would be
heMfin the family home what is
condA91nly known as a wild party"
And Asaa result of such wild parties
some OF the guests would become
sick. boistefous and loud:
FLIRTATIUUS, HE SAYS.
The husband also charges that
his wife was flirtatious in her man.
ner with other men and would per-
nat other men to embrace her and
kiss her and dance. with her in a
suggestive and unseemly manner
even to tie extent that the plain
tfff WAS feprimanded in a public
club. for. tie manner in which she
was d4..cihg upon the floor.
Mrs Merritt is also charged with
remoYfns her clothing while guests
were In. he. home and disporting
herself IA an immodest and un-
seemIy manner
Merritt charges that his wife
would vlsf a hunting and fishing
reserve and cabin in the high Sier-
ras with = male escort and remain
in the lonely place over night
:Hs also declares that his wife
was fond o. the cafe, dance hall
anu nien. life of Los Angeles, and
without the knowledge and con-
seat OF her husband would go to
cafes where dancing was permit
ted. and would drink and dance
With; mae. companion until late
hours ma the. morning
She Is charged with being reprf-
manded by the boarC OF governors
OF the Newport Haroop Club for
her excessive use o. intoxicating
liquors at wild parry, ano was
compelled to pay damages cansed
by the party.
Mrs. Merritt charged her hus-
band with roughly. and violently
chpking the plaintiff and kicking
her and chasing her downstairs
ana using obscene and profane