Arrest Warrant Issued for Charles T. Russell over Contempt of Court for failure to pay Alimony to Maria

[Jack Ryan]

For proof, you can view the newspaper clipping about it directly from The Brooklyn Daily Eagle's archive (May 3, 1909).

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PASTOR RUSSELL'S TROUBLES

A telegram from Pittsburg states that an attachment for the arrest of Pastor Charles T. Russell has been issued in that city for failure to pay alimony to his wife. Pastor Russell recently moved to Brooklyn, taking over the old Plymouth Bethel in Hicks street as a place of worship.

He also moved to this city [Brooklyn] the headquarters of the Millennial Dawn and Watch Tower Society of which he is the head.

Pastor Russell -- he does not want to be called doctor or reverend -- was divorced by his wife on a charge of cruelty. She was at first awarded $40 a month alimony, but this was later raised to $100.

The pastor refused to pay more than $40 and proceedings were started to have him arrested for contempt of court. The telegram from Pittsburg indicates that the wife was victorious in this action.

Pastor Russell cannot be arrested here on the Pittsburg court's order, it is said, but will be taken into custody if he returns to Pittsburg.

[Jack Ryan]

The original source of the information is CTR's own writing in Zion's Watchtower (July 1st, 1909): "Then followed another surprise and blessing. Brother Rutherford placed in our hands a bundle of papers, explaining that during our absence a number of other friends had concluded that it would be the Lord's will that we should be relieved of certain burdens and annoyances which have been our portion for some time, in connection with Mrs. Russell's request that the monthly allowance be increased from $40 to $100, which was allowed by the Court, but which we were unable to comply with, because all of our property, except that which brought the income of $40 per month (which Mrs. Russell had been receiving), had been donated to the WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY. The dear friends concluded to surprise us on the return home by clearing off these obligations. They handed us receipts aggregating over $9,000, showing a payment of Mrs. Russell's alimony into 1913, with Court costs, attorneys' fees, etc."

[Jack Ryan]

When CTR personally refused to pay the increased alimony (not because he couldn’t afford it....but because he had disdain for Maria and thought she didn’t deserve it), a number of other Bible Students close to Russell (including Rutherford) ended up paying the alimony difference for him which effectively ended the legal issues.

[Jack Ryan]

$40 (1909) = $1050 (2019)

$100 (1909) = $2600 (2019)