November 22, 1960

Norman Mailer Arrested in Stabbing of Wife at a Party

orman Mailer, the writer, was arrested last night and accused of stabbing his wife, Adele. Mrs. Mailer, 37 years old, was in critical condition last night at University Hospital, Second Avenue and Twentieth Street.

She was taken to the hospital at 8 o'clock Sunday morning with stab wounds in the abdomen and back. She apparently rode there in a private car.

According to the police of the West 100th Street station, where the 37-year-old writer was being held, Mrs. Mailer told physicians at the hospital that she had fallen on glass in her apartment at 250 West 94th Street. The physicians were suspicious and notified the police.

Mr. Mailer was also arrested a week ago on a disorderly conduct charge after an argument over a $7.60 bill at the Birdland nightclub.

Wound Near Heart

When detectives went to question his wife Sunday at the hospital, they were told she was too ill to be questioned. One would was said to be near her heart.

Last night, the hospital permitted the police to question her. They said she admitted with reluctance that her husband had stabbed her.

She said the stabbing occurred about 5 A.M. Sunday at a party at their apartment.

Mrs. Mailer told the police she could give no reason for the stabbing.

She said her husband suddenly walked up to her, looked at her, stabbed her with what she thought was a penknife or clasp knife, and left the apartment.

Mrs. Mailer said her husband later took her to the hospital.

The detectives learned that Mr. Mailer planned to visit his wife at the hospital last night. At 10:30 when he arrived, he was arrested.

Mr. Mailer has denied the accusation, according to Deputy Inspector John L. Kinsella.

The author came to public attention after World War II with "The Naked and the Dead," a novel of warfare in the South Pacific. It achieved critical acclaim and was a best-seller.

Last week, when the Citizens Emergency Committee met to draft a petition to Governor Rockefeller for an investigation of the city's Police Department, he was among the writers and editors who attended.

A week ago the writer was arrested on a charge of disorderly conduct after he was refused credit for his bill at Birdland. He assertedly tried to pay his bill with a credit card, although the law prohibits the purchase of liquor on credit.

He was paroled for a hearing today in Magistrate's Court.

Last summer in Provincetown, Mass., he was involved in a dispute with two policemen and was jailed. The author represented himself at the trial and was acquitted.