St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-01-23
DOMESTIC UNPLEAsANTNEss.
The kessIer Divorce Suit i'm the Dis
Iricl CNurI..OIher CnSes.


trict COurt--OIher Cases.
The Kessler divorce suit before Judge
Lochren in the district court yesterday af-
ternoon furnished considerable entertain
ment to a small crowd of spectators, who
listened eagerly to the salacous details of
the suit. Emma l.. Kessler, aged SO years.
asks for divorce from Charles G, Kessler.
late proprietor of the Kesser house, who is
two years her junior. They were married
at Eau Claire Wis, May %, 1888. and
lived together until Oct. Is, when Mrs.
Kesser claims her husbands cruel treat
ment compelled her to leave him. She al
leges that he has real estate in Minneapolis,
200 acres of land in Kentucky and personal
property amounting to SO. 600. For a cause
Of action she alleges habitual drunkenness
and cruelty on his part. and asks in addi-
ton to the divorce suitable and permanent
alimony. Mr. KeSSler in his answer denies
these charges and says he is not worth
nearly as much money as represented. He
prefers counter charges of drunkenness and
abuse. and asks that he be granted divorce
and that the plaintiff shall take nothing.
THE TESTIMONY
was of decidedly racy character. Mrs.
KeSsler on the stand swore that her husband
had always abused her, and often struck
her cruelty: that he compelled her to tend
bar and shake dice with strangers; that she
was also forced to drink with the patrons
of the place: that Mr.. KesSler gambled and
drank very hard, besides being attentive to
other women. Once he struck her so hard
that the blood gushed forth from her mouth
and nose. Another time he tore all her
clothes off her, etc. The witness gave her
testimony in very spirited manner. and
didn't seem like a woman who would
tamely submit to any abuse. The defend
ants attorney asked her if she did not ever
strike back. Yes" said Mrs. Kessler.
pleasantly, sit would be natural for any
one to fight back when they were getting
licked, wouldn't it?"
MR.. KESSLER'S SIDE
of the story of their domestic unhappiness
puts the blame upon the wife. He related
the circumstances concerning the family
lars with dead earneStness and attention
to details that caused the spectators to tit
ter and compelled even Mrs. Kessler to
laugh at times. According to his testimony
it was customary for Mrs. Kessler TO come
into the bar-room or Office and to ''go fol
him" with club. Then he would carry
her up stairs to her rooms.
Il couldn't keep her out Of the bar; she
would come in there and shake dice and get
full every day; when she was mad she woulc
call me all the vilest names imaginable. was
she violent? Well, there wasn't lock 10
door on the second floor that she didn't Dust
don't think there was any time that didn''
carry around black and blue marks on my
arms and body; once she went for me with 9
wlndow-curtain roller; threw her down ano
sat on her to keep her quiet; once Icalled hel
IN the morning; she wouldn't get up so said
I'd throw water on her; she got up and
snapped loaded revolver in my face; threw
her clean on the bed and left her; another
time she hired dishes at me; / think slapped
her face, them but / never really struck her
although often had TO throw her down wher
she came at me with club; generally when
she was in her tantrums I'd put on my hat
and go out. Finally she got to running around
with a fellow named Taylor, going to the
opera with him and 80 on; she got up dance
in his honor at some house in North Mime