Los Angeles daily herald., 1884-12-25
SARAH WINS.
She Is the Wife of Senator
Sharon.
THE LONG STRUGGLE ENDED.
A Decision Ia Favor Of Miss Hill.
HaIf Of Sharon's Property
Awarded to Her.
SARAH WINS.
the LONG srRUeaLE ENDED

Ispecial 10 ne Herald bs Associated Press.l
sax FnAxnsco. Dec. n The celebfated
Sharon divorce case mas becn decided In "a
v0r of tls plaintiif.
Tue suli. ~ brought By the plaintla, Miss
sarah Althea Hiil. claiming to be the wife
of ex Senator sharon. was fof divorce ana
q division OF the community property
Judge sulliyans aeefsion isa very com
prehensiye one aud coittains about 1900
words After revieWins The testimony he
concludes BY declaring that under the Flaws
Of calilofnia the plsiulia Is the legal wife OF
Sharon, aud ss such " eniifled 70 a divorce
ON the ground Of deaeffi0n. and a division
Of the common property The latter isesil-
matse 10 be worfh ten millions Of dnilasa
Tbs verdict 4 a great surprise 70 the public.
Il having been generally snpp0sed from the
contradictory cierecier ID the ieatimOny
tnat the plaintiff would have been nou-
suited ItiA believed that sharon WIN ap-
~ suDok suLL,ykH's nncIntos.
In preiacing bis decision, 1adge sullivan
said "The prosecution OF piaintld's claim
has been sought W be obstructed b. crlmlnel
prosecutions for perjury, forgery and con-
pifacy. rfe case has bcHn Disgusting be-
yond description and tireseme alniom be
yond endurance. Ihe testimony has deyel
oped an amount OF perjury rarely II ever
rRrniicled IN the itrlspgudence of this
State IN trying y wena my way through
ab0ands, I have sought a. far ~ possible 20
Ind some writing Of one party or the other
whose genufueness was admitted Or estab-
sed g NJ sstsias1'ea 3, os sa e sanss e
The effect Of such written tesimo-
IS The hrst paper 81 lpporancs
- ssidsnes \ she letter wriltea n nk lnk ID,
claims that this paper, rs far as Il bears the
word "wlie.' 4 a forgery From all the eyi
deuce Oh The subject Il Is MY npinion thsf
tbe entire letter u is the hAndwriting Of The
defendant ss are also ail other EXHIBITS sim
Judge sullivan thon proceeds 70 resiew
1.-THE collateral facts Ia the caso. aud pro.
nounces them al In luecf oi he validity Of
tatlngly gives il as MS opinion that The CON
tract u genuine Hnd written as the plaintiff
testified Il was. lie believes her story Ia
lsyery particular.
date Of the contract, he says thai IN the alb
scuee Of proof 70 the contrary he must
regard the plaintiff as chsste aud
yiftuoIs somen, and the whole story
0f her acquaintance With sharon forbade
the idea that chaste woman could 80 have
consented to beuome a paid Mistress The
Judge thou refers 20 the relations OF tlle par
| ties during ft5f, fsa2 and 1883, aud In this
! FrltTo 70 tUr ttEIEIif AHtfItltt flt hAfFs
fsfo me this story isincreiibie. DO not be
lieye that Yirtuous young woman Of her
| years would lend herself. 4 inaidsn 10 the
execution " sneh scheme - her story
would establish TO osiieye Il involves
| He pron0ruees the plain iifs testimony 10
the matter 9l tie alleged Introduction of her
| 10 Mrs. Riegarl aud others by Sharon as hts
| wife. WILDLY false He scores her heavily
| Tot this faise testimony but later on exensss
| her BY saying tt L awoman doubtful 0l the
legality of her pies tnighl Be te1npted 70 IN 4
/ lsiriy add 70 lts strength, aud still the plea
Retapiiulstins, be says: the plaintiff did
meet tlie defendant in the spring OF 1870, aud
consulted with him in reference 70 hef stock
transactions After several intetyleWs lac
proposed TO her that She should become HIS
Mistress His offer was declined. Ae then
| told Aer he desired - marry her This was
/ followed by q discussion On the subject Of
seerst ularTiazt. and iiia plaintih, on latter
occast0n did, ai his diCfatiou, write the
marriage contract. which has been offered
~ evidence and the same was then and
there signed BY the defendant The actual
| date Of the Contamination Of the mauisge IL
l uoi definitely known
Judge Saifigan then proceeds 70 discuss
/ What Constitutes marriage under the laws
| Of this state. and having done 80 aud in
view Of the testimony offered. epnulndes BY
4 saying that William sharon, defendant. By
virtue u his secret contfaet Of marriage on
1 written consent thereto, end OF D sufficient
I asauinptiots OF marital rights, duties aud OBJ
! llgatifins o. tie married stsie 70 satisfy lbe
! The husband 81 saeah Aithea sharon, The
plsiDtin In this ease.
EfFkcy os THn VERDICT.
Judge 8ullivnn's courtroom was crowded
This morning 20 hear the opinion Fead Ia the
Sharon divorce ease. The plAiuila vas
present. together siih counsel on both sides,
l the only abseuiee being David Terry, 1ne Of
| the pfafnilm,s attorneys, and the deiendant,
William Sharon Tho decision took tao
houra and tnir1yrHge iuinutes 20 read When
IL was concluded there Ess 3 rush % con.
grstoiate the plaintiff who had 10 be led
ifofn fhe room 10 reeo4er fram the iaintness
/ oecakiDued ~ tie encitement. On her re-
! eovery she leitthe court. accompanied BY
l hel counsel
/ The rlaiufif counsel wiz make anappli.
taiion icf ernnfsi fees and nxe fheusfad
/ doilars sdlenfA eiimdny for loarieen
months. embracing the period since the
Trial began. The ausual trial oi llie csse
Ipn seemed 70 be generally satisfactory 70
the people Al large. Al ie o'clock this nofn-
ing the Efsping POsf Issued an extra con
iainins the tex of part u ths deuisict
voT of the plaintIn' Tie papers published
portraits Of both tho plaintiH aud defend
now sHAhoS rkKts
speaking 70 an Asa1eiafei Press repfesen.
| tftite ueuefel n tt- H. nafhts. senior tVun-
cil for the dsiendant said: Judge snili-
vans decision Is "A entire surprise y the
l legal profession, both a. 10 law ara facts
1 This judgment. Il Il stands, wiiinot be q sefi-
Gus pecluiafy inj1fy % Mr. sharon, ~ all
/ his estate h hiA stpsrate property and with
IT, income and profits Is exempt from this
deeiEiop. ! dont think ne has $40 90 of
| property which c0pld BE- made subject to
Do decision. Mf sharon Is greatly annoy
| ed by the pfesent decision, hHtOf course VIII
appeal, aud H0 feel confident oil reversing
4 81 He farther stated that the asse nov
pending In the TINTED States Circuit Court
brought ~ AF. AhAfaa. 81 test iAe validity
Of fhti nlsrri fforunifncl Will he prosecuted