National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-07-23
THE Cooley DIVORCE CASE.
DECREE GRANTED TO THE wHR-rHH
PETITION AND ANSWER


Virginia Cooley, nee Birch, against Will
INN H. Cooley, which has been pending
sometime, aul actively contested in the
equity court for the past week, ended
yesterday by Justice Hagner granting
the wfe's petition and giving her the
custody of the child. The amount of
alimony she is to receive will be settled
next Saturday. The parties to the suit
are well known, both being residents of
Georgetown, d. @. Mr.. Cooley is the
owner of the lime kilns at Twenty sixth
and l. streets
On the 18th of December, 1899, Mrs
Cooley filed her petition for a divorce.
She recited, "a a fact. that she married
MIR. Godoy September 10, 1875, and in
February, 1870, without any cause, h.
deserted and abandoned her and their
child, which continued for two years,
and during which period he failed to
contribute anything to their support
She went to live in her fathers family,
aud with their aid and what she could
earn as an employe in the government
printing office, working for Sl.50 per
night, she has supp rted herself and the
child. She charged that Mr.. Cooley was
an hnbitunl drunkard, had been for more
than three years, and was so nearly all
the time they lived together; that he
abandoned her on several occasions had
been an inmate Of inebriate aSylums,
aud, by reason of his continuous drink
ing, had become much affected in
body and mind. and was, to a
certain extent, incapacitated for the
ANa. nHNtn 10 la ala Oh lad
that some years since w. II. Cooley, sr.,
died, leaving considerable estate which
he devised to his wife, who subscque tly
died, and the estate estimated Mt S75, 900
descended to the legal heirs, of which
her husband was one. BY reason of Mr..
Cooley incorporate habits the wife be-
lieved him incompetent and unfit to be
trusted with the receipt or management
Of it, as when drinking he was easily in
fuenced by those with whom he as
sociated, and she feared unless restrained
he would attempt to dispose of his in
terest in the estate for an inadequate
consideration, and squander whatever he
might obtain for it. She therefore
prayed for divorce, custody of their
child, alimony sufficient to support them
counsel fees, that Mr.. Cooley be enjoined
from disposing of the property, and that
a receiver be appointed to take charge OF
his interest in his fathers estate.
On the Sth of last January Mr. Cooley
made answer to the bill, and denied the
charges of desertion, non.support, or
being an habitual drunkard. He adj
mitted since his marriage he had on three
occasions been an inmate of asylums for
the treatment of dipsomania, and was
discharged thoroughly cured. When he
married he AYERS that he was sober,
stendy man, and the first drink of intoxi-
eating liquor he ever imbibed was ut the
invitation and in company with his wife's
father. He went out evenings, most fire.
quently with his fatherin law, and cun-
tracted the habit Of drinking. hut he had
entirely changed his habits, taken tenn
perance pledge, and was really able
and willing to support his wife and
child. While he admitted that his
wife's life was hard one, still it wis vol
untary ON her part and against his wish
and desire. He charged TINT, in Febru-
nry. 1880. his wife and her family ill
treated him and the former sent him his
trunk and clothing with the message
that she "never wished to see him again."
and thnt must never come to the house,
which was the extent of the abandon
mont He claimed to be thoroughly
competent to attend to h 8 business af-
fairs. and asserted that his wife hadcon-
doned all the grievances set out in the
bill. He says that after the death of his
mother he returned to the home of his
fnther-in law. where his wife was, aud
| was cordially received by her and her