, 1889-09-19
is MARRIAGE A FAILURE.
The Problem That So Long Engrossed
the Attention OF n Chicago Pairy
IErnm tho Chlnnsn lntnr Onnni1


contained in an answer filed by ex- Police
man Clifton II. Woodbridge to the sep
aratc maintenance suit of his wife, Cora
Il. Woodbridge of No. 527 Warren
avenue. In her complaint Mrs.
Woodbridge charges her husband
alleging that he had so brutaiiy
beat her that premature birth resulted
She also state that he attempted to drive
away her bourdcrs so rs to starve her.
An Injunction was issued restraining
Woodbridge from entering his house.
a very different story is told by the
defendant. He denied that he was in
struinental in the premature birth, and
says it was caused by fright. In Feb
was guilty of shop-lifting In the Boston
Store. She was arrested by Detectives
Elliott and Flarety, and incarcerated in
the Harrison street station. The Incl
dent produced n remarkable effect upon
her, and to this is attributed her misfor-
tune. lie declares that IL Is untrue that
since the mnrriage complainant's face
has been IAN almost unrccognizable
mass of bruised and bleeding flesh, and
he stoutly ailirms that Inc never beat her
Frequently he upbraided her for asso.
ciating with Mary Baldwin, and in
December. 1887, she caused his arrest on
a false charge of disordcrly conduct
March, 1888, She sued him for divorce,
making the identical charges contained
in the present cause, and the case Is still
pending. 1t is charged that complain
ant went under an assumed name and
correspouded with various men, among
them her former husband, from whom
she Is divorced, and who has the custody
of the only child. In such correspond.
ence they discuss the circumstances of
the birth of their child, and their remar-
riage in case she succeeded in obtaining
a divorce from defendant. Woodbridge
says his wife insisted on keeping two
female boarders in the house who were
distasteful to him and who have been u
continuing source OF annoyance and
trouble between him and his wife.
He objected to them because the
women were unmarried and were in the
habit of having men call upon them.
Mrs. Woodbridge joined in tho festiv-
tiles and acquired the habit Of going with
the 'boardcrs" 10 other houses, where
they passed the evening in drinking
beer brought To them In cans and
when he wanted to "fire' the other Mrs
Woodbridge struck him with an iron
spider and assaulted him with poker,
saying she loved her divorced husband
She also seized Il large butcher knife and
attempted to stab him.
Since their union the defendant COM
plains that his wife has been q wayward
woman, giving vent TO her passionate
nature and not in any way seeking to
control her inclinations, appetite or tenn
per. When excited she docs not hesitate
to say or do anything that may occur
to her. Two weeks after the marriage
she began to stay out late at night, and
has often returned home in beastly
state OF intoxication. This was not the
worst of il, for the defendant says that
on Dec. D, 1886, complainant added Gig
ettc smoking to her accomplis hments,
and not only did she become drunk, but
the smoking made her so sick that 1t be-
came necessary TO call physician. She
falsely accused him of telling her shop
lifting episode to other persons, and
called him hard names rejecting upon
his mother, whereupon he left her.
Upon u promiscito reform they Joined
issues again for short time only. Re-
turning home one night defendant found
his wife missing and also most of his
furniture. by means of u detective, a
search warrant, aConstable and a rcplevin
writ, he recovered his household goods
at the house of complainant's sister.
Even after this he forgavo her and they
resumed marital relations. A short
time after she commenced her
former treatment, until November 5,
1887 when she abandoned him. Since
then, and on account of this litigation,
Woodridgc has lost his job and has been
barred from going to his home. He tried
to patch up the trouble with his wife,
but the boarder said to her: "You may
do so, Cora, ii you want, but If you do
don't ever speak 10 me again"
In conclusion Woodbridge AYERS that
his wife has frequently threatened to
kill him, by poison and by shooting, to
get $4,000 insurance on his life. He is
now out of employment, and since the
injunction was issued his trunk has been
forced open and papers and records
taken. For the reasons given he thinks
he is entitled to some relief.