New Britain herald., 1926-07-10
BUILDINGS BROKE
 WHEN THEY WE'D
Wife Tells Court Husband Was
 in Debt; Salary Si,@O

with Mrs. Margaret Budlong, coun- sel-defendant, still to complete her story of marital life with Milton J. Budlong, wealthy New Yorker.
 Defeated by Judge Blodgett in her attempts to have the case dis missed because of lack of evidence and in a move to obtain continu- ance 10 the fall if the petition could be changed from one of sep aration to absolute divorce. Mrs. Budlong launched into her story.
 Although she told the court she wanted three days to unfold all the details. rehearsed already in two unsuccessful suits she had brought for separation, the court indicated ir wished to complete the case as speedily as possible and her bus bands counsel signifed that cross examination would be brief.
 Today's session was in itself sig nifcant of the courts desire for speed, Saturday hearings being the exception here rather than the rule.
 In marked contrast to the fiery cross examination 10 which she had subjected Budlong when she put him on the stand after dismissing her own attorney. Mrs. Budlong told the facts of her early married life in a discursive vein and with comparatively few interruptions. The woman who is accused by her husband of cruelty, constant de- mands for money and of embarrass- ment in her admittedly unsuccess- full battle to breach the ramparts of social strongholds, denied with vigor his charges and defended with equal vehemence her own conduct, described by previous witnesses as 'nagging."
 T couldn't have been a better wife than I was" she said at one point. Several times she halted her narrative for tears.
 When she married in 1898. Bud long was earning only s1,800. He asked me if that would satisfy me and I said it would. I had never done any physical labor or house. work but l was willing to help him and I helped him to pay off s3,000 he owed then"
 Her parents even had to supply them with furniture but although the bridegrooms circumstances were far from affluent, $50 pres- ent from his best man, which she had intended to spend for the house Budlong told her was a pay 1 ment of a wager and kept it.
 Budlong, despite his s1S00 sal ! ary, was eEactng about the house. | "Te liked good living and demand ed service" They moved about ex- tensively and this kept her con- stantly among strangers and made it hard to acquire friends.
 Although he never said positive ly he didn't want hcildren, he didn't seem to care about them, she said. The Budlongs have several.
 His company manners were an- ether source Of irritation. He made un1attering remarks about her when others were present and be-
 
 of being fond of the company of other men although, she testified. she was unwilling to go out except with him.
 On tho point of MT, Budlongs own social activities, his wife said, he did not know how to make himself socially agreeable to older and not particularly attractive women"
 About others she was frantly | jealous and had to hold him from !! other women." She did not mean ! misconduct, but Budlong used to |. do such annoying things. paying | too much attention to other women ! and thinking it amusing"
 Budlong's health was not al the 1 best several times but he declined i her own and his physician's advice 10 rest because it might interfere with his business career. She sat up nights with him and mo one can appreciate how good I was 10 him and how I encouraged and protect ed him in every way"
 Abbott Phillips. Budlone's coun- sel. hte first witness Of the day and sel. tho first witness of the day and Mrs Budlong. nearly diyulged the contents Of one of the famous shirt notes"
 The court, however. sustained Mrs. Rudlong who objected and ex- pectations of a crowded courtroom were dashed. The note was one Of those thrown by Mrs Budlong from the windows of her husbands New York apartment when she barrie cadel herself against his attempts to evict her,
 Phillips. who said he had been instructed by Builong 10 break down the door of bathroom to ind Mrs. Budlons, defended inc in trusion hy protesting the husband was worried because potsons and razors were kept in the room,
 Reverting momentarily to the Mrs "X" and "Y" of the earlier sessions, Mrs. Budlong said that her husband constantly referred to Mrs. "X" and "T was jealous and wanted him to be at- .a0tiye 10 no one but me"
 r developed yesterday with Mrs. BndIonc's motion for continuance that the present suit is for "dirorce from he'd and board" or the equivalent of separate maintenance. Budlone has not been a resident of Rhode Island long enough 10 ask for an absolute divorce.