National Republican., 1884-05-17
THE KNIFE THAT CUTS.

Marital Ties That Held Three Unhappy
Couples Severed I'm Short Order by Jus-
tice Cox.
Justice Cox, in the equity court yesterday,
run the mill right lively for q short time, and
turned out three divorces without any delay.
The first was that of Emma J. Davis against
Elias Davis, in which Mrs. Belva A. Lock-
wood appeared as solicitor. Tho petitioners
maiden name was Emma J. Disney, and she
married with Mr.. Davis on Sept 81, 1875,
the service being performed by Rev. f. d.
Owen, pastor of Ryland chapel. Shortly
after tho marriage she went to live with her
husband on a farm below Accotink, Va,
where they remained for two years, and dur
ing which time a daughter was born. About
March, 1873, with the consent OF her husband,
she took their infant and paid visit to
her father, with the understanding that her
husband would call for them tho next day.
He failed to come, and violent snowstorm
set in which rendered it iuconvenient for her
TO return home for several days. She learned,
however that tho household things were ad-
vertised for sale, and they were sold by the
husband as was the farm, she getting back in
time to secure some personal effects. She
then went TO the house of her father, where
she aftcrwsrd remained. Since that time
Mr.. Davis has never offered TO provide her
with home asked her TO live with him, or
hhJ oupPViV w bSA"S'i Sh'iN'
Under this state OF circumstances she sought
dissolution of tho marriage, which has been
recorded. and In addition she has been given
the custody of the child.
The second case was that of Mary Shekolls
against Marinus Shekells in which she was
granted legal severance of the nuptial
knot, permission to resume her maiden name
of Mary Riggles and granted the control of
,heir infant daughter. The parties wero
married by Rev. Mr.. Coombs, pastor of the
Western Presbyterian church, on Juno '13,
1872, and then went direct 60 her fathers
house, where they lived for two years. Dur
ing that time Dir. Riggles set his son-in-law
up in business furnished the stock, &C., but
il was asserted that Mr.. Shekells failing to
give 1t his attention, the business ran
down and stock and fixtures were sold
out After this it is charged that his
conduct toward Mr.. and Mrs. Rigglcs was so
disrespectfll that he was invited to leave tho
house. From there Mr. and Mrs. Shekeils
went to the residence of his father, in George
town, u. c., whore thoy remained for one
year. during which time they slept in tho
dining room-Mrs, Shekells on the sofa and
her husband on bed made of hard-bottom
chairs. She was not permitted to sloop in
any other bed or visit any room in the house
lbove this floor. Within these three years
Mr.. ShekGlls drank very heavily, coming
homo drunk nearly every night, and at times
treated hor with great cruelty. She endured
this until about the carly part Of June,
1875, when. being in delicate state both
her husband and her mother told her that
she must leave the house, and could not
remain there longer on account Of her con-
dition. Thoy finally suggested that she
return to her fathers house, promising to
pay her board and tho expenses Of her illness
She went back home, whero her babe was
born, and since that timo she has not lived
with her husband, and he has failed to
contribute to h9r support, These were some
OF tho grounds of complaint upon which the
divorce was sought, and, being sustained by
proof, decree in the wifos favor was
ordered.
The third and last case disposed of before
the mill shutd down was that Of Rita c. Hunter
against Morton 9. Hunter, ir.
Tho Rev. Milton B. Wood married this
couple at Newport. Ind, on Oct. 10. 1875. her
maiden name being Rita c. Jones, and she
complained that he deserted her Feb 9 1882.
The bill further charged that he failed to
support his family when she did live with
him. In addition TO divorce she was given
custody aud control of their son.