The Music-Hall Queen and Her Contract Husband

The woman who relinquished the name of Mrs. F. L. Macondray to become Mrs. Frederick L. Macondray, and who is popularly known as "Shiner, the music hall queen," says that her attorneys, Crittenden, Foote & Van Wyke, in San Francisco, are preparing a complaint to be filed in her behalf against Macondray for absolute divorce and liberal alimony. The charges will specify desertion, failure to provide and inhuman treatment, incidentally involving a large number of people on Puget Sound as witnesses. The most damaging evidence outside of the marriage contract is a lot of letters addressed to "Mrs. Fred L. Macondray," written by the contract husband, in which he affectionately addresses her as "My Dear Little Kid," "My Sweetheart," and similar endearing names. In the letters Mr. Macondray very indiscreetly speaks of their approaching marriage and their future plans in life. The contract, while executed in the state of Washington, where the law does not authorize marriages of that character, is based upon the statutes of California, where such agreements are valid. The instrument is written and signed by Macondray, the woman also subscribing her signature, and is not witnessed, although she had her acknowledgment taken before a notary public in Oakland last week preparatory to having it filed for record in San Francisco. The courts in California have held many marriage contracts less intelligible than this one as valid and binding, the notorious Sharon case being one notable instance. Mr. Macondray's friends in this city say that his probable defense will be that the woman is an adventuress, a music hall "box rustler," and a variety actress, who exercised an undue influence over him while under the effects of wine, as an extenuating circumstance for having signed the instrument, if, indeed, she can prove his signature. It is also intimated that he will attack her chastity and endeavor to prove that she is more fond of wine and midnight revelry than she is of a pleasant home and happy fireside. It is a well-known fact in Port Townsend that the couple were infatuated with each other and each at times insanely jealous of the other's actions. During these little unpleasant events they would fight, scratch and quarrel like children. On one occasion, the woman will charge in her complaint for divorce, that while entertaining a party of ship captains at a wine luncheon she incidentally and somewhat affectionately smiled one of those bewitching smiles on a handsome looking sea captain, whereupon Macondray in a rage of jealousy threw a plate of salad in her face. This incident terminated a very pleasant social event. At another time, she alleges, having gone down town to do some shopping without having first asked Mr. Macondray's permission, he slapped her face until her eyes were black. These unpleasant episodes were not of sufficient importance, however, to warrant a separation until she had secured a contract from him that he would marry her. It was not long after that was secured when they commenced to live apart, Macondray going to San Francisco to remain with his parents on a very limited income, and the woman commencing a brief career by indulging in wine, midnight suppers and indiscreet revelries. She was shrewd enough, though, to save her money, which is now to be expended in showing to the world the bad qualities of her alleged contract husband.