Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-04-24
The Notorious Chicago Divorce Case-spe-
cinc. Charges of the Banker Burch
AGAINST his wife for Adultery, ~, 1,.

Asainst his wife for Adultery, ...,,I ll55,.,
The Chicago Press of late date has the fol-
1t is now three months since the first
startling details ofwhat has come TO be widely
known as the Burch Divorce Case became
public here. The character and associations
Of the principal parties in the painful affair;
the standing in society occupied by the un-
fortunate wife and mother, both here and in
her maiden home; the luxury and affluence
Of the. home whence she had passed forth,
stained and disgraced; the position Of the ais,
honored husband, were ali of such class as
70 cause these revelations to fall with startling
effect upon the entire community.
IL will be seen that Mr.. Burch has amended
bis first bill, which amendment we present
entire. In a brief paragraph a few days
since we stated that the hearing Of the case
would occupy the Circuit Court at some time
during its present session, and this is true.
That the family friends of the unfortunate
woman have espoused her cause and will de-
fend the same in our courts, is true, and it is
also true that on neither side will aught be
lacking that ample wealth can procure not
only to carry investigation to the fullest ex-
tent, but, in so doing, render the trial one of
the most remarkable and painful in the an
nails Of our courts. We are justified in the
belief and assertion that it has been Mr..
Burch's. desire and that of his counsel to
avoid such publicity, but being forced upon
them, their course is sufficiently well authen-
ticated in advance. To wiiful, designing
and perverse misconstruction of their motives
is due the origin Of the widely-spread rumors
to which, in this present issue from the au-
thentic records of our courts an effectual
quietus is given.
Mr.. Burch has presented to the court an
amended complaint, which, after stating the
circumstances of his marriage in May, 184S,
and the birth of his two children, your orator
further avows that he is informed and be-
heves, and charges the truth to be that the
said Mary W., disregarding the solemnity of
the marriage vow, has since the marriage of
your orator with her committed adultery at
divers places; and especially that the said
Mary W.. on or about the fourteenth day of
October, in the year eighteen hundred and
itty-seven "a. D., 1850, in the city of Clicago,
IN the county of Cook, and State Of Illinois,
did commit adultery with one David Stuart;
and your orator, by way of amendment, fur
ther shows that he believes, that the said
Mary W., on some day or days during the
months of February, March, April, May and
June, in the year last aforesaid, did commit
adultery and have carnal connection with the
said David Stuart at the city of Chicago, in
the county of Cook aforesaid.
And your orator shows that he believes,
that about the twenty-fourth day of Deem
Der, in the year last aforesaid, at the city of
Chicago, in the county Of Cook aforesaid, the
said Mary W. did commit adultery and have
carnal connection with the said David Stuart,
and that the said Mary W. did at various
other times during the months of September,
October, November and December, in such
year, commit adultery and have carnal con-
nection with the said David Stuart, at the
city of Chicago, in the county of Cook afore-
said. ...a s..s
And your orator, by way of further amend
ment, upon his belief further charges, that
the said Mary W., on some day or days dur
ing the month of November, in the year
eighteen hundred and ffty-eight at the city
of Chicago, in the county of Cook aforesaid,
did commit adultery with the said David Stu
art, and that the said Mary W. did, at various
other times during the year eighteen hundred
and fifty-eight, and at various other times
during the year eighteen hundred and fifty
nine, and since that time, commit adultery
with the said David Stuart at the said city
of Chicago. .'.t7ait..
Your orator further charges the said Mary
W, between the l4th day of October, A. D.
1857, and the 18th day Of January, A. D. 1860,
did commit adultery with divers other per-
sons, whose names are unknown to your or
ator.
And your orator, upon his belief further
| charges that the SAID Mary W., on some day
| or days during the month of August, in the
| year 1859, in the town of Guilford, in the
| county of New Haven, in the State of Con-
necticut, committed adultery with person
| or persons whose names are unknown to your
| orator. 'HC ~. .a iT H .-HN1
| And your orator further shows that he has
been ignorant of the commission of the afore-
said acts of adultery, or either of them or
any other acts Of adultery of said Mary W,
until the 18th day of Janury, A. D., 1860,
and that he has not voluntarily cohabited
with the said Mary W. since the discovery
| thereof, and that such adultery was commit
Ited without the consent connivance, privity
or procurement of your orator.
In consideration whereof, and to the end
that the said Mary W. may full, true and per-
feet answer make to all singular the premises,
and that the marriage between your orator
and the said Mary W. may be dissolved and q
divorce decreed according to the statute in
such case provided and that your orator may
have such further relief in the premises as
shall be equitable, may it please your honor
to grant unto your orator the peoples writ OF
summons, issuing ont of and under the seal
of this honorable court, directed to the said
Mary W. Burch, thereby commanding her,
at certain day and under q certain penalty
therein to be expressed, to be and appear be-
fore your honor in this honorable court, then
and there to answer the premises and to
stand to abide such order and decree therein
as to your honor shall seem meet and agree
able to equity. ISAAC H. BURCH.
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