The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-05-22
COOLED
STEEL SLOVE,.
SAYS WIFE.
Famous Tenor Told Her He
Was Sorry They Married,
She Testifies

NEW YORK, May 22.-John
Steel. popular tenor, whose singing
of sentimental songs in the 'Zies.
field Follies.'' Music Box Revue
and on photograph records has
made him known to hundreds OF
thousands In the last few years,
was pictured yesterday before Su-
preme Court Justice Davis as heart.
lessly turning a deaf ear when his
wife pleaded on her knees that he
bestow on her the affection he had
shown her when they were mar.
ried.
Mrs. Steel. suing for separation
on the grounds of cruelty and
abandonment, wept as she told of
her efforts to win back her huS-
bands love.
IT begged and pleaded with him."
she testified "I even got down
on nay knees to him and urged him
to tell me what had happened
why he treated me 30. Finally he
said:
"'Well. I've changed my mind.
] am sorry / married you. Mar.
riage is not for me. I want to be
completely rid Of you. You are the
best woman in the world, but I
don't want you any more"
Was Hurting Career.
Her husband frequently told her.
Mrs. Steel said, that his friends
had told him marriage was inter.
fering with his career and that he
wanted to be free to come home
only when he felt like it."
Steel and his wife were married
in November. 1919. Mrs. Steel was
formerly Sidonie Espero Of the
musical comedy stage. She testified
her husbands love began to cool in
the summer Of 1920. She heard
he was attentive to Olive Vaughn,
formerly of the "F'ollies'' and later
Of the Scandals" Mrs. Steel said,
and asked her husband about it.
He made no bones about it." the
wife testified, but freely admitted
his acquaintance with Miss Vaughn.
Mrs. Steel also named two other
Orange and "a Miss
Hovey," formerly Of the "Follies."
Asked on cross-examination II she
had named the three women on no
other evidence than her husbands
alleged admissions Of his friendiness
with them, Mrs. Steel replied:
"I though his telling me and
other persons including members
Of my family, and the fact that it
was common gossip, was enough"
Threatened to Quit Her.
When she was in the hospital at
tho time Of their sons birth, Mrs.
Steel said, her husband sent her
flowers, but at the same time threat
ened to leave her ana the baby and
go to Europe, and later, she said
he telephoned her and asked her
IL she had sent an anonymous letter
to Miss Vaughn's mother.
She denied she had, whereupon
her husband told her, she testified,
that the letter had interfered with
his friendship with Miss Vaughn,
and warned her ito keep her hands
off"
Mrs. Steel admitted her husband
had paid her about $4,000 alimony.
at the rate OF $3.50 a week since
1921, and that he was down to the
pier with members Of her family
returned from Europe recently.
OAO 0lOO auHAALtCu BIG nuU hcE SOu
had been out with Steel since her
return and that one one occasion
he had taken her to Woodmansten
Inn for dinner land had paid the
Steel had taken the stand and
started to tell about his earnings
when Justice Davis interrupted and
said he would refer the matter Of
alimony to q referee. He then re.
served decision on the motion Of
Steel's counsel to dismiss the case.
The trial will continue today.