Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-09-03
suit for Divorce Charges and Coun
=. ter Charges.

There has been brought into the Supe-
rior Court of Chicago, from Kane county,
a divorce case, exceeding in its elem ents
Of fraud any lother case that was ever
docketed upon our public records. II Is
doubtful whether there was ever cause
pending which in so briet q space con-
tanned so much scandalous matter, so
much pure falsehood, and which, there
fore, contained so much perjury. La this
case, after complaint made by the hus-
band, the wife files sworn cross-bill de-
failing in stilted language, bnt with great
precision and circumstances, q most
fearful state of wrongdoing toward her;
but these sworn statements are scarcely
recorded BY fling the paper in court, the
ink is barely dry with which her bill was
written, before she takes a further oath,
now swearing that her former oath is un-
true in all respects, attempting to saddle
ali her sins on him who is accused OF
being her paramour, but of whom she has
now come to think, as she swears, that
he is q "scosndrel and q disgrace to
| humanity" -
This is a proceeding Of one James @.
Newton, Of Elgin, Kane county, who
seeks divorce from his wife, Mary H..
Newton, on the ground that she has been
| guilty of adultery.
The bill, which was fled on the 10th OF
| November, 1868, as the institution OF
| proceedings, is short. 1t simply recites
that complainant, on the 15t day of Sep
tember, 1865, married o Miss Mary r..
Crawford. at Bucyrus, Ohio, and that
they have lived together as husband and
wife until the llth day Of August, 1858,
when be, having learned, as he believed,
| of the infidelity of his wife, ceased to
maintain the marital relation toward
her. He alleges that her infidelity was
| in conjunction with one B. M. Sherwood,
of Elgin, and with others.
The wife thus made defendant in a
| chancery proceeding, caused an answer
| to be filed on the 26th day Of Janaary
last. 1t was also brief; it admitted q
legal marriage and the continuous exist
eace, to the date stated in the bill, OF the
marital relation. II then denied al and
every act of adultery, whether with the
man Sherwood named or anybody else.
Some questions incidental to the pro-
ceeding then came. up. and matters re-
mained in the condition of bull, answer
and replication, awaiting hearing, uu-
| till Saturday last, when cross- bill was
fled by Mrs. Mary e. Newton. This bill
ia substance sets up the marriage, the
cohabitation, the filing of the husband
bill and denial Of its charges. 1t then
proceeds to charge that Mr.. Newton has
been guilty of adultery, the charge being
made upon inference, the statement be-
| ing that be became sick of an ailmeni
which wrings its happiness from the
youth, and which stains the pure and
shocks the sensitive. and causes Us 10
weep over the wreck of the health oi
youth, loveliness and talent; the fatal
| trophies of its triumphs, by reason oi
which abe babe long farewell to that
uususpicions and reciprocal tenderness,
without which marFisge is consecrsted
curse" She went on TO say that he had
pretended TO her-when at last she bad
discovered the nature of the sickness
that he had acquired it in mode which
she has learned was impossible, where
upon be had become repulsive to her, as
il was siso disagreeable and dangerous
! for her longer TO oe Bis wife. She also
CHARGES that during period e<aeedine
| TWO Years her husband had been guilty q
extreme aus repeated cruelty towards
her. rl