Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-12-15
The Last Chicago Divorce Case.

The Chicago Times of November 10Th
says A bill of divorce was filed in the Cir
cult Court on yesterday, by Thomas Adlard,
against Mary Ann Adlard, in which the COM
plainant asks to have the marriage contract
declared void, on the grounds of cruelty and
adultery. The complainant alleges that on
June 10, 1852, he married the defendant,
she claiming to be widow. AT that time
he says, he was twenty-five years of age,
and his bride forty, forty-ive or fifty years
He imparts the further preliminary iniorma-
ton, in court, that he was then an ornamen-
tai painter in good employment, and was then
aud is now earning, on an average, from SO
to S25 per day. Also, that at the time of
the marriage he owned dwelling. house
worth $500, and that Mrs Adlard had no
property except some furniture, which was
long since worn out. With the earnings
above mentioned he, from time to time pur
chased large amount ofproperty in this city,
the present value of which is Sl5, 600, in-
cluding Improvements made thereon. These
purchases were made by his wife, his conf
dence in her business capacity and fidelity,
being such that he entrusted the matter to
her care. The property now yields the sum
of $4,000 annually. He states that he sup
posed that the title deeds to the property
were taken in the name of himself and wife
jointly but has since discovered, that, although
acting as his agent, his wife has the deeds
mado out in her own name alone. In view
of the circumstances he incidently, prays for
an injunction to restrain her from any future
transactions which might invaldate his equit-
able title to the property and this he asks
on the ground of these proceedings, and of
the facts thereafter stated. at this point
the complainant specifies the following charges
of cruelty, with the date thereof, respcc>
lively:
July, 1S51-Whilc he was lying on the
sofa, sick, she struck him with piece of
wood
November 5, 1861 His wife cut his head
with a stool.
December %, 1866-His wife struck him
with piece of wood across the face.
December 1S6T-She locked him out of
the house, and he was obliged to sleep in the
wood shed.
December %, 18G7-She struck him with
such force as almost to break his arm, in con-
sequence Of which he lost the use thereof
for three months.
January u, 1SG8-He being at the house
of ncighbor, she rushed into the room, aud
went at him with bottle, calling him foul
and scandalous names, and when he left the
IipullSCS SlC Threw Il UTlCh Ut illul Will ouCu
force as to break several of his ribs.
February, 1S6S-She threw his clothes and
private papers in vault.
February, 1S6S-She astonished him by
preparing tea for him, which act being so un-
like her, he refused to partake of it. After
ward he had it analysed, and found it to con-
tain sugar of lead, which he charges she put
into the tea with intent to poison him.
He then takes up the charge of adultery.
This sin he says she committed at divers times
and places, and mentions the following per-
sons as participators in the offence John
Heancy, of Chicago; Thomas living, of
Galcsburg; Cornelius McGinnis, of Chicago,
P. Magnas, of Chicago. He also charges
that she committed adultery with large
number of business and professional men of
this city, whose names his dislikes to mention,
because Of the great scandal and disgrace,
which would be brought upon their families,
especially as some Of the parties hold offices
of honor and trust.