In 1903, Mitchell married his first wife, Caroline Stoddard. Although the marriage was initially happy, his behavior became more and more erratic, primarily as a result of his heavy drinking. The two had a bitter divorce in 1922, rife with accusations on both sides. Lawyers for Caroline and biographers reported that the marital problems were caused by Billy Mitchell, who became so erratic that his wife even considered sending him to a psychiatrist. Caroline won custody of the children and got a decent alimony.