Rich Girl Sued for $150,000 — Stole Woman's Astrologer Husband

1909

RICH GIRL SUED FOR $150,000

Wife of Astrologer Says His Love Was Stolen.

FORGAVE HUSBAND ONCE.

Mrs. Marshall Clark Tells Graphic Story of Seeing Rival Run Out of Mr. Clark's Private Office and of Her Visit Later to Miss Gazzam, Who, She Says, Declared the Man Was Her "Affinity in Spirit, Soul and Body."

New York, Oct. 4.— Mrs. Marshall Clark of Chicago, a handsome brunette of thirty-five years, who has brought suit for $150,000 damages against Miss Antoinette Elizabeth Gazzam, possessor of a fortune of $3,500,000 and a palatial home at Cornwall-on-the-Hudson, charging the young woman with alienating the affections of her husband, an astrologer known as "Professor Niblo," has come to New York to prosecute her claim against the heiress.

"I met Dr. Clark in Chicago," Mrs. Clark said. "We were married in New York on March 24, 1903, by the Rev. Dr. Anderson, a Methodist Episcopal minister. At that time Mr. Clark was conducting a real estate business in this city.

"We had an ideal married life until Miss Gazzam and her millions appeared. We traveled much. I was my husband's business partner and confidential adviser as well as his wife.

Consulted Him on Astrology.

"We were living in Los Angeles in April last when Miss Gazzam arrived in that city. She evidently had read Mr. Clark's advertisements about astrology, and she consulted him. They very soon were having frequent meetings. Indeed, Miss Gazzam engaged the rose parlor at the fashionable Lankershim hotel, in Los Angeles, in which to entertain him.

"On April 29 I called at my husband's office, and, not hearing any sound in his inner office, I opened the door and entered. As I did so I was amazed to see Miss Gazzam spring past me and run out of the office.

"I began screaming, and my husband ran to his desk and took from the drawer a revolver, which he pointed at me, threatening to shoot me if I did not stop making a noise.

She Forgave Him That Time.

"Although I forgave my husband for the presence of the woman and for his attack on me, I soon found out that this mysterious new friend was calling upon him every day and he upon her. She called upon him five times one day and telephoned him twenty times. I sought the advice of counsel and was told to see if I could have a personal conversation with Miss Gazzam. So on May 24 last I went to her apartments, then in the Zelda hotel She met me at the door.

" 'Do you know that Marshall Clark is my husband?' I asked.

" 'Yes, I know all about you,' she said.

"Then I asked her why she was acting in this manner. She replied:

" 'Because Mr. Clark is my affinity in spirit, soul and body.'

"I began to cry and told her I was talking to her in heart to heart fashion. I said: 'Don't you know these tears are tears of blood? My heart is breaking.'

Told to Get Out of Their Way.

" 'I don't care for your tears of blood or your breaking heart,' she retorted. 'There is only one thing for you to do, and that is to get out of our way. I have always had what I wanted, and I want this man and am going to have him, no matter what it costs you or anyone else.'

"I tried to continue the interview, but she gave me a violent push that nearly knocked me out of the window, which was on the fourth floor.

"Turning upon her, I screamed: 'Are you trying to take my life? You have already taken my husband and ruined my home!'

"At this she grabbed my lace coat and almost tore it from my back. When I came to myself I was out in a hallway of the hotel, my hair down my back, my silk coat torn to shreds and blood streaming down my face.

"I got out a warrant charging her with assault and battery, but before it was served she had disappeared. I learned later that she had moved to the Hotel Pepper, where she registered as Mrs. S. W. Moore. At the time she also registered at the Westlake hotel as Miss Mazzag of Pennsylvania.

"I learned then that my husband visited her every evening. He posed as a physician. When he called upon her he worse a false mustache."

—Orange County Times-Press, Middletown, NY, Oct. 5, 1909, p. 9.