St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-01-26
NOTABLE CHICAGO SCAND DIAL.
Mrs. Genevieve Wheeler Wants Di-
vorce Oh the Ground of .ruelty
and lnfdelity.
Especial Telegram to the Globe. |


CHICAGO, Jan. 25.-Among the papers fled
in the supreme court yesterday was one for
divorce filed by Mrs. Geuevieve A. Wheeler
the wife of Augustus ". Wheeler, wealthy
hardware dealer at No. l41 Lake street, aleg-
ing extreme and repeated cruelty and in
fidelity. The social position and wealth
OF the parties to theT suit are such
as to add interest to the ordinary
details Of the case. Mr.. Wheeler is reported
to be worth between $500, 900 and S400, 900,
! owning magnificent residence on Michigan
avenue, besides other valuable real estate,
and until recently 1t was supposed that his
home was happy one, and that he had
everything in this world to make him COM
Portable and happy. But recently the skele-
ton in the closet had been seen by outsiders.
Matters have gone from bad 10 worse be-
tween him and his wife, who now brings suit
to procure divorce and alimony, and to re-
strain her husband from disposing of his
property and leaving the country.
The plaintiff in her bill alleges that she
was married to defendant in 1869, by whom
she has three children, the eldest girl of
fifteen years, being the only one now living.
The paper goes on to state that ever since
their marriage the husband has subjected the
wife to the most cruel treatment. He often
struck her, slapped her in the face and in
other ways used physical violence. One day
! in April. 1881, he struck her violent blow
in the face with his fist, and on another
occasion, in June, 1881, he threw her
forcibly against wall. Last fall on
several occasions she says he
threatened to kill her. He kept revolver
in the house and would occasionally tell her
that, If she spoke 10 him again, he would put
bullet through her brain. A day or two
before Christmas she saw him take the
revolver from his desk, where he kept it
locked up, and heard him apparently loading
the weapon. Becoming frightened she took
her daughter, and they fed from the house
without stopping even to get their wraps.
They remained away all night, fearing to
return until the next day, when they sup
posed he would be away from home.
Mrs. Wheeler further accuses her husband
OF being very obscene and cruel in his Ian
guage to her. He often told her he wished
she was dead and that he was sorry he was
married to her. She was coolly informed
that be hated to be under the same roof with
her, Last Christmas eve, she charges,
wheeler told her she must leave his house,
and If she did not go peaceably he would get
an officer and put her out. She did leave,
and says that her husband then
took an inventory OF furniture
and personal effects to see if
she had taken anything with her. Mrs.
Wheeler says that her husband has often
tainted her with the fact that he had money
and she had none. His money, he declared,
would make him friends, and he could get a
divorce from her whenever he wanted to, If
it cost him Sl0,0 900. He had talked with one
Of the judges, who had informed him that he
(the judge) believed In divorces. Wheeler
said be could get divorce from that Judge
any time.
The bill further charges that in December,
1854, ald at numerous other times Wheeler
committed adultery with woman in his EN-
pioy. The social position Of Mrs. Wheeler is
that OF the best. She Is prominent mem
Der of leading church and is foremost in
many charitable organizations, ane society
is scandalized accordingly by the prominence
given the affair.