Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-07-29
LOCAL NEWS.
A Divorce Case.

for the respondent This case has been pend
Ing quite long time. and both the parties be-
siderable interest manifested. There was
present in the court on Saturday both Of the
parties to the suit an number of their friends.
The bill in this case, filed by Mrs. Hawkins,
the petitioner, sets forth that she was married
at Harper's Ferry, in April, 1857. under her
maiden name of Gilkeson, to VIM. A. Brown
that with him she removed here in 1854, and
he deceased in 1862; there having been six
children OF said marriage, two OF which are
dead; that after his decease she in vested her
money in grocery store, for the purpose OF
maintaining her children; that she married The
respondent on the 18th day OF January, 1864,
and the latter, on the 22d Of March following, ;,
was appointed guardian to her children; that
within year after the said marriage she dis
covered that he was addicted TO drinking, and
he frequently used abusive language towards
her; that be visited an abandoned fem ale named
Barbour, at house No. $50 18th street, kept by
Catherine Rosea, where he was admitted and
received as regular visitor; that on the 18th
of January last he endeavored to gain admis
sion to the house of Julia Woodhouse, where
he was seen lying on a bed with his person
exposed. trying to inance the said woman to
lie beside him; that he has been seen on sew
eral occasions to visit q woman named Marga-
ret lavender, at 3U5 street. She prays for q
decree releasing her from the bonds of matri-
mony with the respondent, with the priv ilege
the marriage with the respondent, and OF re.
tanning the store.
The respondent IN his answer admits that he
is the lawful husband of the petitioner, but
denies each and every charge tending to i'm =
plicate him In any immoral or illegal act; de-
nies that he is in the habit OF using as beyer-
the charges are false and maliciously made.
He asserts that the other charges are false, and
challenges the proof
The testimony in the case was taken before
Mr.. j. J. Johnson, examiner in chancerv, and
ie very voluminous, including the depositions
of twenty-five witnesses for the petitioner,
twenty-nine for the defendant, and eleven as
rebutting witnesses for the petitioner.
The first witness sworn was Julia Wood &.
house, who testified that she kept house on
Thirteenth street, between E and F, and that
the respondent visited her three or four times,
and on one occasion two or three times night
and once attempted to get her to sit on a sofa
beside him, and also got on a bed and urged
her to get in with him.
E. +. Thompson. the clerk Of the store, testified
that he CID frequently used abusive language
towards his wife; accused her OF having had q
child by priest; was frequently in liquor,
and by his conduct injured the business OF tn
store. A woman, elegantly dressed. came into
the store once, and the respondent took her In to
little room in the back part of 1t, in which he
afterwards saw her on q little bed, IN crimi-
went off and he went In, when she told him
that the man owed her three dollars.
Albeit Washington, the porter Of the store,
testified that be was sent by Hawkins with les-
ters to Mrs. lavender at house on F street
between 11th and 18th streets. and she would,
after reading them, say it WAS all right. He
confirmed the testimony Of the preceding wit
ness in relation to the woman in the room He
had carried goods to Clara Barbour. at the
heuse OF colored woman on 18th street. she
was dissipated woman, who received visits
from men; was told to tell her that these goods
were sent Ey man In the Office Had seen the
defendant drunk
". g. ID. Gilkeson testified that he had seen
the responder: drink.
George H. Thompson testified that he had seen
the respondent drink. He put the drunken
woman ont OF the store; as he entered the store
he saw Hawkins come out Of the little room
and leave the store. Witness represented him.
self 10 the woman as the proprietor OF the
store. and che said that man owed her three
dollars. Saw the defendant at Mrs Wood.
houses; saw through the key-hole; he sat
on her lap, and tried to feel her breasts:
kissed her, and said he loved her. He pulled
her over on the bed, and they were In nterrupted
by witness and friend entering. Had seen
him drink II or Is times a day, but could NOT
say that he had seen him drunk.
Cath1rine Jorddf testified that she had seen
him drink, and that he abused his wife.
Cdthdrine Rosea testified that the defendant
came to her house last summer four or We
times to see Mrs. Barbour.
Elisabeth Butler testified that she had seen
Hawkins when he came to see Mrs. Barbour
he would be shy about it. Men took liberties
with her: did not know that she was q bad
woman; but she did not behave as a lady
Isaac Williams, colored, testified that he met
Hawkins In MRS Kavender's bed room at Mrs
Ashes, 305 street; saw him there several
times, and had seen him in an impronsr and
aduiterous position with her. He had access
to her room, and on one occasion he went there
and she was not at home, and went ont on the
verandah; while there she came in took of her
clothes and put on her night clothes; Hawkins
came In they kissed and they got on bed and
committed adultery. After n. left he scolded
adelphla; his name is Rhine, and she separassd
from him about the time the war broke out
She was always fond OF men, and FREQ uentiv
had three or four about her He had had in
tercourse with her in Philadelphia At her ms
ban DIS house, and also at his ewn.
On cross-examiEation witness stated that be
had staid many a Eight with Mrs. K at Mrs
Ashes and that he keeps her.
James M Tyler testified that Mrs. K. used to
come regular every night and sleep with Will
Hams that he never heard anything more
about her than that she was pious woman.
Joseph Johnson, Thomas Johnson, r. +
Joyce, Mrs. Cecilia McKenna, Thos F. Simms
and Emma Rosea, were sworn, and some tes-
ufied to having seen the respondent drink: the
second to having carried a note 10 Mrs. X.
from respondent; and the last named to hay.
ing seen him call to see Mrs. Barbour
For the respondent, Clara Harbour was called,
and testified that Mr.. Hawkins had called at
Valentine was to have LETT with the witness
for him. and she had never had carnal inter-
course with him.
Lescts Talentiae testified that he had ordered
on him, saying that Mrs. Hawkins would paw
him if he would he a witness for her. He had
no reason to believe MRS. Barbour 70 be a kept
woman, and did not know that Mrs. Rosea's
was house of i'll fame
Wm. a. West testified that he had seen Mr
II. drink, but never saw him drunk. Mr..
Thompson told him, in the course Of con versa.
tion, that the respondent had caught him
coming ont OF Mrs. HIS room, and took her to
task about it, He believed that Thompson
wants to get her himself -.
R. L. Haschins testified that he never knew
his brother (the respondent) to drink a drop.
He would not believe Thompson on oath, II a
Union man was involved, for he admitted to
witness that he was under Moseby duyinE the
war, and was present when twenty five Union
soldiers were hung. a1 ...r.4 s.. ,r.--sr
ThGd Sterens Warren testified that the peti-
gave her his money, and had seen him pay 1t to
her. He was so intimate with the respondent
that he could not have failed 70 notice him II
VIM. Bryan, Gen. u. >. Miller, Rey.E. d.
Finkel. @. s. Thorn, Rev. "a. E. Turner, Geo.
TO- the character and habits OF the respon.
: =. w. Corey testified that 3 hompssr, ADMIT.
ted to him that Mrs. Hawkins was to get q di.
vorce- by having Hawkins commit adultery
with q woman on l3th street, named Wood.
house. but Mrs. HAWKINS was notaware Of this
EXsaFd Henne ssey testified that he has known
Mrs Lavender for about two year: her char.
acter was good. He would not beiieve WI.
liams on oath. Williams had threatened TO
have her turned ont Of the Treasury. "A per.
scribed BY Williams could not bs seen from
the verandah. He charged Williams with hav-
jne sworn falseIy In q soldiers claim and hs
admitted it, He understood that Mrs. X. had