The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-31
SARAH ALTHEA AND MIR. SHARON.
The Scene in Court When the Decision of
Judge Sullivan Was Announced.


news that Judge Sullivan was to render his de-
cision in the celebrated Sharon divorce case yes
terday morning a. that time drew crowd that
thronged the corridors of the new City Hall out
side the courtroom full half hour before the
doors were opened Some time, too, before the
opening hour, the reporters and most of the at
torneys came quietly in through the witness
room, and then at o'clock to the second the
plaintiff rustled past the selfimportant baiif
and took her place in her accustomed chair be-
side the counsels table. 1t did not need the
trained eye of fashion reporter to see that she
had arrayed herself in her very prettiest On the
top of her head there lay close fitting bonnet
covered with steel-blue beads, while velvet
of the same color was cunningly arranged
as trimming on black silk dress, except at the
wrists, where there was pink ruhie, or some
thing like it, coming down over well-httng
brown gloves. Over her sloping shoulders was
thrown rich cloak of black embossed velvet,
trimmed with otter, boa of the same fur run
ming up around her neck and making soft,
warm background for her cheek, which has not
yet lost its roundness The fair HAIR was
brushed forward on the forehead in the old we'll
known style, the cheeks owed much of their tint
to channels skin with Just little red on 1t,
while the eyes had yet that soft look in them
which, once on time, melted its way clear
through the heart of VIM. Sharon Long habit
had given the plaintiff command over herself
when appearing in the publicity of courtroom,
but even granting this, it was remarkable to see
how cool she was when it was remem oered that
on the result of the next hour depended her
good name and fortune.
Sarah Althea was accompanied by that slip of
youth Cousin Rodney and by decent appear
! ing woman, who took the place of Mamme
Pleasance and who wore about her shoulders
| shawl that looked as though it had descended
from the faithful colored friend. few min
utes after and the court room was crowded with
! the general public among those who secured
| seats or standing room only being Joseph +
| Winans Clara s. Foltz, L. E. Buckley, j. j.
| Flynn County clerk elect, General Bamberger,
| r. Tobin, ex-Judge Curry Frank u. Newlands,
! Clitus Barbour, George h. Wells, X. Dye, h. L,
| Clement Joseph D. Redding, Expert Hyde, ex.
Judge Mesick, j. II. Fogarty, w H. Sharpe and
Counselor Hoge Whether some little bird had
| whispered q word of indication to the lawyers
cannot, of course be said but it is very certain
| that from the outset the demeanor Of the two
sets of counsel was very different. On the side
of the defendant Barnes sat in glum
and gloomy silence with his eyes fixed on
the ground, while Evans played nervously
with his watch chain and had feverish flush on
| his cheek bones. On the plaintiffs side Flour
noy rocked himself on the hind legs Of his chair,
with his eyes fixed on line of silver in the east
earn sky; G. W. Tyler completed his toilet with
a nail knife, and Levy wore bland and child
like smile. 1t was not until $40 o'clock that the
usually punctual judge stepped quickly IN from
his chambers, his face so pale and his clothes so
| black that, taken in connection with the hush
that came with his entrance, 1t was no eXager-
ated feeling that led Captain Bell to whisper
that he felt like going to an execution
las | have informed counsel, said the Judge"
| am now ready to deliver my decision in the
case of Sharon vs. Sharon" and then went on to
read from a typewriter transcript, the docu-
ment He read in low, level voice that lent no
| Evolutionary aid to what must he regarded as
decision displaying unusual skill in analysing
| testimony, sitting evidence and the clear pre-
! Sentation of facts AS the reading progressed 1t
was sight to see the play of expression in the
faces of those chiefly interested. Barnes grew
graver and graver at his mustache, which seemed
| to grow grayer as the tenor of the decision be-
! came clear EvanSS eyes began shifting ner-
vously and he scratched vlciously at paper pad,
| under pretense of taking notes. Tyler grew saw
agely eXultant, the plaintiff kept her eyes ex-
! pectantly on the Judge and Flournoys features
! seemed to glow in the bright light that
momentarily spreading over the Alameda hills.
| How Sharon would haYe behaved was not
known, as though somewhere in the building.
he kept himself studiously hidden, and was rep
| resented only by F. G. Newlands and Davis, the
detective When the Judge reached that part of
his decision in which he announced that the
| MY Dear Wife" letter written in ink zen
tirely in the handwriting of the defendant"
| there was little doubt which way the case was
| going Barness eyelids dropped lower and
lower; the color in Evans's cheek rose higher and
higher; Tylers face twtched until his eyebrows
formed a thick and continued fringe, while the
plaintiff shot one exulting glance at her old enc
| mics
| Not only did the Judge show the clear method
| in the presentation of facts already alluded to,
but he displayed an ability in the choice of cpl
thets which gave his decision a snap like
coupet of Popes Nelson he styled malicious
trickster;H Mammie Peasance he called "a swift
and willing witness for the plaintiff Sharon he
whipped as ''libertine," 'hotel keeper" and
'the malevolent defendant" Nellie Bracket was
| Il a,,% fa1,
pure and virtuous girl" The whole case was
said to abound in 'frightful perjury" and dis
gushing details" The plaintiff was coldly ac-
cused of lying and bolstering up her case
whereat the velvet bow on her bosom rose and
fell quickly, while her senior counsel's intima-
ton that an attempt would be made to influence
him was styled "a piece of unparalleled and
pardonable ofensiveness." Tyler heard this
with flush that erimsoned his face like sun
set and that was reflected on his sons. but both
shook themselves after their dose and swallowed
it with the best grace possible.
At lao o'clock Judge Sullivan reached the
''recapituation," and then it was that the
plaintiff first showed any sign of how severe the
strain was to which she was subjected, In the
weighing of testimony she had not exactly
known whether everything was as it should be
for her, but when the simpler statements were
reached she saw a brighter light than even
Flournoy did. pallor crept into her cheeks,
the tell tale under lip had to be kept close
prisoner by the upper then there came little
smile and then she leaned over on the green
plaid shawl and gave single sob. But it was
all over in minute, and when she found her
self referred TO from the bench as Mrs
Sarah Althea Sharon" and heard the golden
words division of the community property"
she sighed family. while flush of joy came
over her face Tyler gave Levy's hand
silent shake, Flournoy ceased rocking
Evans quickly left the room, followed more
slowly by Barnes, who still his eyes
kept down and acted though in dream An
other instant and Mrs Sharon was surrounded
by congratuatory friends. and then as hand
after hand sought hers, she broke down and be-
gan to cry quietly. The quick-eyed Judge saw
this, and dreading scene, ordered the court to
be at once cleared The plaintiff moved into the
witnessroom with her friends and there went
through another hand shaking siege.
Mrs. Sharon, said the reporter, ''you are |