The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-05-02

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The Richards divorce case will long be re-
membercd not only for its being the only
contested suit of the kind in the circuit court
for the past three years, but also on account
OF the filth aud nastincss that formed chlef
part of the proceedings. II has been on trial
since last Wednesday week before Judge
| Stpp and has attracted considerable attention
in court circles here, both from the array OF
witnesses that were summoned, who mum.
bered about 100, rs well us for the fact of its
being stubbornly contested. One day this
week it looked as though Strcator had been
almost depopulated there were so many of its
people up here attending the trial Wednes-
day afternoon. About 3 O'Clock Thursday
afternoon the vast array of witnesses were dis
posed of and then the real fight began be-
tween the lawyers. II. n. Ryon, d B. Snow
and l.. w. Brewer for the complainant, MIS-.
Richards, and Walter Reeves, Z. f. Bull and
Henry Mayo for the defendant. As to the
case, itappcared in evidence that about nine
years ago Elizabeth Dillcr, daughter of Adam
Dller of the town of Otter Creek, was mar
ried to VIM. Richards, son Of Fred Richards,
also of Otter Creek in this county. Their
married life has been somewhat checkered
and married by family jars which have not
tended to make it one of unalloyed happiness,
and their youthful dreams Of "loye ina cot"
have not, to the letter, been fulfilled,
On Nov. 10th, SO, VIM. Richards went TO
Germany on visit TO his relatives; this he
did, as appears by the evidence, against the
advice Of his father, but with the consent of
his Wife After he had gone, Fred Richards
brought suit in cjectment against VIM.
Richards and his wife to put them off the
farm, which farm belonged to Fred Richards.
About the same time Elizabeth Richards
brought suit against her husband, VIM, who
was yet in Germany OH VISIT she swearing
in her bill that "Wm Richards was not Il res
ident of the state of Illinois," At the same
time she sold off the personal property, which
property was afterwards replevined by VIM.
Richards after his return home.
The bill for divorce, filed by Mrs. Richards
charges adultery, repeated cruelty and habit
ual drunkenness. On the trial the charge of
habitual drunkenness was the only one
pressed, and although the witnesses for the
complainant sworc quite strongly in subStan-
tiation of such charge, yet the defendant put
upon the stand some twenty of the best citi-
zcns of Strcato", comprising merchants bank
ers and others who had intimate business re-
lations with William Richards for a great
many years, who testified that VIM. Richards
a. ri,I- In,
knew to be under the influence of liquor.
He might take drink but was always capa-
bic OF attending to business.
The complainant had Il number of witnesses,
some thirty, and the defendant about 81 wit
neSscs, but as many more were not called.
Contrary to the general expectation of
those who had listened to the trial and the |
evidence adduccd by the complainant to es-
tablish the charge of habitual drunkenness, |
the jury retired about O'Clock yesterday If
ternoon and IN five minutes returned with
verdict granting a separation. motion will |
bc made this morning for new trial.
In the case of the People against Green, of
Tonica, charged with cruelty to animals,
which was put ON trial last Thursday after
noon, Il sudden termination was effected Fri
day morning by the defendant pleading gull
ty. lie was fined S25 by Judge McRoberts,
together with the court costs which will |
amount to $500. The case was taken to the
circuit court on appeal and has, no doubt,
cost Green about $500. He will be II little
more merciful towards the brute creation af-
:, = :, IL,
able to take care of his animals, owning POO
acres Of land, and having had plenty of corn
in the fields when these animals were abused.
They stood IN a miserable shed with little of
my protection from the weather, and the
shed was never cleaned. 1t seems to have
been quite an aggravated case, and its prose
,ution by the Humane Society through their
thief agent, o. l.. Dudley, met with the
hearty endorsement of the neighborhood. 1t
S well that the Society should let men OF This
kind know that it is not a mere name, but all
lctivc power all over the state, and that VIC
ations of law VIII be prosecuted to the end.
OF the 50 criminal cases on the calendar of
he circuit court, Judge McRobcrts presiding,
light were passed upon this week, rs follows:
276. People, cX rel. Adam Harper, v ".
B. Milligan. Defendant discharged.
III. Same V. Thomas Cruise TT al Con
empt. Defendants discharged.
-. Same V. John Flcis cher RccOgnizancc
-. Same V. John Dwyer Selling liquor
Without license. Defendant fined $50 each
N % counts.
IS. Same V. same. Nuisanc,. Nolle
crossed.
l,3. People V. Albert Smith. Tipping s
ouse, &c. Nolle pressed.
ia Same V. John Starr alias Albert Mar.
in. Larceny. Continued.
III. Same V. Alb .rt Smith. Selling liquor
Without license Fined S25 on each of five
cunts.
The cases of the People V. John Ryan,
red Boardman, John Starr ct al, and Geo.
dykes were continued.