Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-01-01

The decision in the Sharon Hill
divorce case, at San Francisco, exhib-
its the tendency of courts to recognize
as legal the most informal and irregu-
lar of marriage agreements. Senator
Sharon, Of Nevada, is week, vicious
old man about 70, reputed to
be worth SIS, OOO,0 900. Some FIVE
years ago, he fell in with and was cap
tivated by one Sara Althea Hill, OF
San Francisco, a young woman of 80
whose character as an adventures is
well established. Miss Hill drew up
a marriage agreement, irregular IN
form but Astounding in legal phrasology
and both signed the document. There
was no witnesses and oaths. Miss
Hill agreed on her part to keep the
affair secret for two years, unless
Sharon chose to disclose it. Mean
while the latter introduced her to
several people as his wife, addressed
her in numerou gushing letters as
"My darling wife, at the marriage OF
his daughter had her oficiate as mis-
tress of ceremonies, and in general
had marriage relations with her. After
wards, Sharon tried to shake Miss Hill
off but the willy woman Immediately
sued for divorce and partition of prop
erty. The trial has been in progress
in San Francisco for two years past
and has attracted great attention all
over the country. The testimony
educed has been Of the sensational
character, showing degree of social
immortality among many of the bonan-
"a families of the Pacific slope, that
is truly shocking. There is no doubt
that very much of the testimony on
each side was manufactured to order,
and large sums appear to have been
spent by both plaintiff and defendant
bribing witnesses and hiring expert
imitators of Individual chirography.
But amid all this brshel of chaff, a
few grains of truthful wheat have
sifted out, and the case resolved it.
self in the mind of the judge to the
above statement of facts. His honor
said that he had no doubt whatever that
Sharon signed the document, knowing
it to be illegal in form and in the sole
desire to seek vicious end, but that
he should nevertheless be held to its
terms in the strictest accountability
This verdict is thoroughly in accord
ance with popular sentiment on the
Pacific coast. AS indicative of the
interest which the case awakened, a
San Francisco dispatch states that
large sums of mo ney changed hands
in that city on the result. Pools were
to have been sold at the gambling
rooms on the decision, but for some
reason the scheme fell through. 1t is
curious fact the decision, was gener-
ally a surprise to the lawyers who
supposed that it would be in Sharon s
favor, while it transpires that the gam
blers bet considerable odds in favor of
Miss Hill Sharon's attorneys have
already filed notice of appeal, and
propose to fight it out for the old man
up to the highest courts. so long as
they can command good fees. 1t is
quite probable, however, that Miss
Hill will eventually win, for the case
has been very exhaustingly tried and
certainly no new evidence is possible,
while the tendency of the courts in
such matters is In the direction Of the
San Francisco decision. At all
events, Miss Hill will be obtaining a
handsome alimony during the trial of
the appeal, and has the satisfaction of
having caused her quondam lord an
expenditure In the case Of considera
bly, over 100000. State Journal.
u. S. Senator Sawyer, of this state