| Notes |
- Syracuse Journal, Wednesday, 3 May 1915
No Defense By Woman Pastor Named In Suit
Mrs. Gertrude Mudge Bassett Ignored Action
Against Alleged Hubby
Final Decree Granted.
Mrs. Amelia Bassett Severs All Ties With Wellington or Warren Bassett
Mrs. Gertrude Mudge Bassett, pastor of the First Spiritualist Church,
did not appear to fight the charges of Mrs. Amelia M. Bassett, who formerly
held first place in the affections of Wellington W. Bassett, or Warr
Bassett, as he is now known in Syracuse. The woman pastor was named co-
respondent in her rival’s divorce suit and made no attempt to dispute t
testimony showing that she and Mr. Bassett are now occupying the same one-
family house at 123 Bellevue Av.
After hearing the story told by Mrs. Amelia Bassett and three
witnesses Justice Edgar C. Emerson recently granted her an interlocutory
decree of divorce and awarded her $15 a month as alimony. The first Mrs.
Bassett will devote this sum to her own support and that of her two son
Louis Bassett, 20, and Floyd Bassett, three years younger.
NO CEREMONY MENTIONED.
Mrs. Gertrude Mudge Bassett and Warren H. Bassett, now secretary of
the Syracuse Broom Company, according to their friends, were married two or
three years ago, but the first Mrs. Bassett made no mention in her testimony
concerning a marriage ceremony. She was satisfied with proving that they
occupied the same home together and the neighbors living on either side
believe them to be husband and wife. It would have been very easy for t
spiritualist minister to appear in court and produce a marriage certificate,
but she evidently did not bother to even pay the slightest bit of attention to
the suit against Mr. Bassett, who was a deputy commissioner of public works
for a short time under the recent administration of Mayor Louis Wil
The first intimation Mrs. Amelia Bassett had that her husband w
supposed to have married again came through stories published in the local
newspapers. As a result of the revelation concerning Mr. Bassett’s past life
his withdrawal from public office followed immediately.
TELLS OF MARRIAGE
First Mrs. Bassett told her story to the court, saying she married
Wellington W. Bassett as he was then known, in Casenovia on Dec. 14, 1886. The
Rev. Charles Eddy performed the ceremony. Sixteen years later her husba
deserted her. Even during their married life Mrs. Bassett did not see h
husband for weeks at a time for he was a traveling salesman and on the road a
greater part of the time.
Edward S. Smith and George E. Dudley, who live next door to Mrs.
Gertrude Mudge Bassett and Mr. Bassett, testified they are considered to be
husband and wife in the neighborhood in which they reside. After identifying
the picture, Mr. Smith swore he had heard the woman pastor call Mr. Bassett
both Warren and Wellington. Although he once entered their home, Mr. Smith
said Mr. Bassett did not introduce his companion as his wife.
That it had been Mr. Bassett’s original plan to fight his first
wife’s divorce suit was revealed by the fact that he once engaged counsel.
However, no defense was presented on the recent trial and Justice Emers
ordered a decree. Wilson, Cobb & Ryan appeared for the plaintiff.
|
Bassett Family Association Database
Abt 1859 - Deceased
d. Deceased