Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1883-10-25
MRS. TABOR III GoUPT AGAIN.
The Divorced Wife of the ex-Sena-
tor Creates a Sensation.


DENVER, Oct. 20.-Mrs. Tabor, that
was, has created q big sensation Ia the
city during the week. She has been
a defendant in court. The cause for
action is the suit of Wells, Smith &
Macon against Mrs. Augusta Tabor to
recover the sum Of s., 900 alleged to
be due them for legal services rem
dered while the suit for divorce was
pending.
The defendant sat between her
lawyers, Messrs. Patterson and Mark
ham, while around them on every
hand were seated the legal lights of
the city who had been summoned by
the plaintiffs as experts.
MRS. TABOR LOOKS YOUNGER
than she did year ago when she APP
peared before the court and assented
To the decree divorcing her from her
husband. Her attire was simple yet
neat A black dress, with bonnet
Of velvet to match. Her general air
was dignifed. She followed the pro
ceedingS of the trial with deep inter
est, and, at intervals, when the coun-
sci INDUCED in levity at each others
expense, joined in the merriment
This was especially marked when her
late counsel, Judge Steck, was called
to the stand and in his testimony adj
United his weakness for the gentler
sex by bluntly declaring that if his
client had been man instead of a
woman he would have charged a
larger fee.
- hen Wells, Smith and Macon
were employed by Mrs. Tabor Judge
Steck had been engaged for some time
oil the case Mrs. Tabor had sworn
that her husband, ex-senator Tabor,
WAS WORTH So, 1000, 900,
and the above-named firm, proceed
ing under this presumption, had gone
deeply into the legal merits, and in
their research had raised an altogether
new and very important point of
law The amount involved, together
with the novelty Of the proceedings,
spurred them on. And besides, it APP
peared to them Us if the whole CON
traversy was about to drop into their
hands, as Mrs. Tabor was becoming
suspicious Of the manPuvres of her
husband and his counsel. This SuS-
picion grew out of an openly-made
intimatiOn that the former was bring
ing undue influence to bear upon her
counsel. Judge Steck, however, re
manned faithful, and held cOnsulta-
tons with the plaintiffs without ever
manifesting the least inclinations to
weaken in his loyalty to his client.
The plaintiffs were retained, so it is
alleged, and when the decree of di-
vorce was formulated
PRESENTED THEIR BILL OF SIS, 900.
Mrs Tabor, while willing to paywhat
she thought was reasonable compen-
satiOn for the services Of the firm,
thought the charges exorbitant, and
refused to honor their draft to that
amount, claiming at the time that all
the services rendered was one argu-
ment ia the case This duty she
thought was exceedingly small in
comparison with the heavy services of
Judge Steck, who had spent two
months IN preparing the case, and, in
arriving at the amount of alimony,
had employed his time to the exclu-
sion of all else. His fee was only S.,
900.
Mrs. Tabor, determined in her
course. repeatedly refused to come to
come to terms Messrs. Wells, Smith
and Mason realizing the hopelessness
of persUading her from her position,
brought action in the court.
Congressman BelfOrd being put up
on the stand, thought the wear and
tear upon the brain which the learned
gentleman testified as having under
gone, was worth 50, 900; and that the
fee was not eXorbitant.
Judge Steck vas guarded in his re
plies, and under cross-examination
believed that the legal services of the
plaintiffs were confined to the juris-
dtction Of a certain bill" He, how
ever, admitted that from their testi-
mony and from the high standing of
the plaintiffs as lawyers, ''he did not
think the bill exorbitant."
Lawyer Rose testified that he would
not have taken the case for less than
S., 900.
Judge Tilford was positive that the
plaintiffs services were worth S., 900.
While Judge Steck, under cross
examination, was giving the inside
details of the celebrated divorce pro
ceedings, he let drop inadvertently a
strong expression.
7 understand you to say, said Mr..
Wolcott, catching up the remark,
shat you were necessarily hurried in
this divorce matter"
"Eh !" Intercepted the judge, did
/ really say that?''
Yes; and now will you explain to
the court what you mean?"
WELL" said the judge, ''it was
this. We had heard that Mr. Tabor's
side was bristling mad, and had de
clared that if there wasn't decree at
q certain hour he would decree moth
lug. That is how we came to rush
the thing through"
''And how much did you say your
clients alimony was?" Intercepted
the counsel.
''The house where she lives and the
Veta place, worth in all about $780,
900. l thought my client should have
L, L