The New York herald., 1877-01-17
DIVORCE AT THREE SCORE AND
TEN.

The Morris divorce suit an account Of which has
already appeared exclusively in the HERALD came up
again yesterday before Judge Joseph f. DAILY at Spe
cial Term OF the Court OF Common Pleas The facts
In this are as sad as they peculiar The plain.
M Matilda Morris, is seventy years OF age. while the
defendant, Robert G. Norris, soventy-four years
old The parties the suit connected with families
high social standing In this city, the defendant Colo
mol Norris being brother OF tho late George Norris,
and uncle to Ia Norris, the poetoss and also to Gen.
era Norris They were married on the 23d Of Docem-
ber $780, iortysix years ago, and lived together
until 1884, when, plaintiff alleges, account Of ILL.,
treatment and infdellties tho part OF defendant
separation took place. They then had seven children
living, the eldest OF whom twenty-five years old
between Them continued for years, when, In
1861 y reconciliation WAS effected, which, however,
eight months, IL is alleged tho defendant desert tho
plaintiff and went TO Hilton Head, s. c. with woman
whose name is unknown to the plaintin since then
they have not been united II appears that for period
of twenty they have been on several occa-
sons before the police and other courts, whore the
plaintiff sought for redress On the Sd Of December,
1875, the plaintiff commenced this present action In
the Court OF Common Pleas since which time several
motions have been made Mr. Matthew p Drecn,
counsel for Mrs Morris, made motion soon after the
commencement OF the action for alimony and counsel
ice, which was granted by Judge J. F. DAILY.
ordered by tho Court which resulted In another
motion to punish him for contempt or his disobe.
dence OF the OrueTs WHICH mOtou was ny
Judge Van Brunt. Before, however, tho Sheriff re-
cclved the commitment which was TO consign him 10
Ludlow Street jan, Judge Robinson, on motion OF
George ?. Howe, dciendant's counsel, granted stay
OF proceedings, appeal from the order to the Cen
eral Term. After considerable delay. the result Of
several motions, the at length reached the GEN.
eral Term IN the early part OF The present month,
when decision was rendered affirming tho order ap-
peaIed from. BY this decision Mrs. Morris became
entitled 10 several hundred dollars arrears of
alimony and costs OF proceedings. The defend.
ants counsel now makes motion TO Tcler
the cause for trial, but tho motion Is resisted
on the grounds that the money awarded plaintiff by
the Court has not been paid aud that therefore the
defendant is not in position TO ask favors Of the
Court. During the argument yesterday considerable
warmth was manifested by counsel. although one
would suppose that this antquated litigation would
have cooling influence on the contestants The plain
tin was in court yesterday, but Colonel Morris,
the defendant an elderly aud militarylooking gentle
man. was present The motion TO refer was denied,
with $40 costs in uvor Of plaintiff Mrs Norris coun.
sci stated that IT the earnest desire OF bis client
that should be tried before Jury Should hor
desire in this regard bo grated the probability is that
the records OF the court Will show one OF tho most sim
gular suits recorded in oil tho my Rad tones OF
the law.