The Key West Citizen

Jack Arlen Is Traced Here By Ex-Wife, Sued For $8,320

Jack Arlen, owner of the Victory Bedding Co., 518 Southard street, was served papers yesterday naming him defendant in a suit for $8,320, filed in the U.S. District Court here by his former wife.

The plaintiff, Mildred Feder, of Illinois, formerly Mildred Kurtz, alleges that she was married to Arlen when he "was known as Ben Kurtz." Shortly after the marriage, the complaint alleges, Kurtz became involved in legal difficulties in Wisconsin and deserted his wife and his child, Mitchell Kurtz.

Sole support of the child fell on the plaintiff, she contends, the defendant allegedly not contributing any funds to his son's support. Mitchell was supported entirely by his mother for approximately 17 years, the suit says.

"During this period," it continues, "the defendant was not in contact with the plaintiff and had left Illinois and lived under different names in various parts of the country. He assumed the name of Bob Schor while living in California and Jack Arlen when he moved to Key West."

"The plaintiff asserts," the complaint continues, "that the defendant, since the desertion, has been married on three subsequent occasions."

She claims that the father made no attempt to support the son and added that she was "unable to find him during the time of the desertion for the purpose of obtaining support from him until approximately a year ago, when she determined he was in Key West."

The mother said that the son went to live with his father here and has been supported by him since that time. She contends that it cost her much more than $10 a week for the years she raised her son, but she is demanding that sum, a total of $8,320, from the defendant, who, she adds, "is now affluent and is the owner of the Victory Bedding Co., in Key West, and considerable other property."

The suit was filed in Federal court because the parties are from different states and the amount involved is more than $3,000. The defendant must answer the suit within 20 days under Federal laws.