The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-02-09
ONG PENF |ELD
WEDDING ENDS
SCANDAL
Beautiful Washington Woman
Becomes Bride of Man
Husband Suspected.


field, at one time Washington's
most beautiful and prominent
hostess, has married Eugene w.
Ong, former vice president, d.
rector and general manager of the
100000 United Fruit Company,
thereby patching up a scandal
which shocked society circles in the
National Capital when it was re-
vealed late in 1920.
Word of the marriage, which took
place on January "a in New York
city, was received by friends here
last night, and recalls sensational
charges made against Mrs. Pen
field by her husband, Walter Scott
Penfield, international lawyer and
prominent Washington clubman.
Ordered to Marry Her.
It was in a New York hotel
during a conference between Mr..
and Mrs. Penfield and Mr.. and
Mrs. Ong, in October, 1920, that
Penfield, leaning over the con-
declared dramatically:
"You must marry my wife! My
suspicious have been confirmed.
have robbed her of a name. Now
give her another"
The conference followed a raid
by Penfield and several friends on
an apartment in the Lafayette
Hotel here where Ong and Mrs.
Penfield were found together.
Early in December, 1921, the
story of the marital disagreement
was first published. Penfield was
said to have demanded that Ong' s
father-in-law, Andrew w. Preston,
assistant head of the United Fruit
Company, sever relations with the
IMAM who blasted my home"
Resignation of Ong followed.
Defended Mrs. Penfield.
Offering an explanation after the
raid at the Lafayette Hotel, Ong
said:
ut is true that l registered
under an assumed name at the
Hotel Lafayette in Washington in
October, 1920. 1t is true Mrs. Pen
field called on me there. But she
wished to consult me in my capacity
as a lawyer about a matter that
am barred from discussing because
of the ethics of my profession.
Il assure you I am the victim
of a man madly jealous. insanely
jealous of a bea utiful, chaste young
wife"
Penfield, in the New York confer
ence, demanded not only that his
wife be made Ongs wife, but also
demanded a sum of money to bt
given to charity. This sum is said
to have been 100000 or $780, 900
It was promptly turned over tc
charity.
When Mrs. Penfields Reno di
vorce was effected a property set
Element was made. It was agreed
that their daughter, Virginia, ther
nineteen months old, be given tc
her grandmother, Mrs. Alice NJ
Bacon, of Omaha. Father and
| mother were granted unlimited
right to visit the child. There was
no petition for alimony.
Mrs. Penfield obtained a divorce
at Reno, July 20, 1920, charging
desertion. Ong got a decree Janu
. airy 90 last in Massachusetts on the
charge Of cruelty.
Married i'm Church.
According to the word received ir
Washington last night the weddina
of Ong and Mrs. Penfield took place
in the Park Avenue Baptist Church
593 Park avenue
Penfield is a director of the Wash
ingtOn Loan and Trust Company, one
of the board of editors of the Journa
of the American Bar Association
member of the Society of Inter
national Law, and the Society OF
Judicial Settlement of international
Disputes, and belongs to the Pan
American Society of the United
States.
His clubs include the City, Metro
politan, Racquet, Chevy Chase, Ma
tional Press, University, and Law
yers. He is a Zeta Psi and Ph
Delta Phi fraternity man.