The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-09-11
.KAT0K AND kARAT0FSKY.
One Name for Russian Wife and
Another for an American
Spouse.
"a Well Known Money Lender
Made Defendant In
Divorce Suit
The Strange Story Told Of Two Marriages
and Two Divorces In Two
Countries.

court is this: "Rebecca Katok vs.. Jacob
Katok alias Jacob Karatofsky, and Celia
Davis" 1t is suit for divorce with ali
mony, and expenses pending the decision
of the case; also for a restraining order to
prevent Kstok, Karatofsky, or Uncle Sam,
disposing of his property. The history OF
the case, a. gathered frym the papers filed
in court and from those interested in the
proceedings, is about az follows:
Rebecca Katok, the plaintiff, was mar
ried to Jacob Katok, or, as he is better
known in Helena, Jacob Karatofsky, about
the 1st Of April, 1867, at the village Of
Washilishok, in Russia. They lived in
the vicinity for about eight years, carrying
on business, and three children were the
outcome Of the union, one Of whom died in
infancy. About 1866 Katok left his wife,
her to dispose of their business,
saying they would 60 somewhere else, where
the prospects were better. With their two
children, Isaac aged about seven years, and
they left Garodna, where they we're
then living. After travelling about twenty
| five miles Mrs. Katok claims her husband
deserted her and the two children. Katok
came to America aud travelled west to st.
Louis. where he engaged in business.
Prospering in that, about seventeen years
ago he sent for his son, then boy Of if
teen years, and had him come to st. Louis
Father and son lived together for about
two years, when Katook became enamoured
of Celia Davis. After sending the boy
away Katook married her. The boy heard
Of the marriage later and having by HARD
work secured sufficient funds sent for hi
mother and sister. They came to America
about eight years ago, landing in New
York, whore Isaac had gone t.
meet them. But the husband
and father had also learned
of their coming and WAS there to receiv,
two women Katok requested them not t,
make any trouble about the matter. Thu
son, with his mother and sister, went to st
Louis and there and at other places the,
had q hard struggle for existence for awhile
The father went to Butte where some tim
later he sent for his daughter and started i,
was also with his father at the time. Katol
failed in business in Butte, and tn
daughter, who was not satisfied with thu
management Of affairs left him and went t,
New York and later to San Francisco
About q year ago she came to Helena
where she afterwards married well-to-d d.
merchant. The son went to San Francisco
and about four months ago returned t,
Butte and is there now engaged in business
About two months ago the wife came t.
Helena in order to put herself under tn
jurisdiction of the district court here
Warren Toole was engaged as counsel an
! drew up the papers in the case, set
ting forth the facts. In the appli
cation it is claimed that Katok O
Karatofsky is worth about S15O,G0O and
conducting a load Office in Helena; furthe
that he has transferred all hisS property
Celia Davis or Karatofsky. The court
is asked to dissolve the Russian marriap
and to restrain the defendants from dispol
ing of any of the property.
, Karatofsky or Katok will claim that b
? was divorced from his Russian wife by
Jewish rabbi in that country. Mrs. Kato
: will claim, however, that she declined to n,
!, cept the proceedings. A divorce by a JEWS
rabbi, in Russia, according to all accounts
is q curious institution. It is called
'get," and is evidently inferior to a Chicae
divorce. The latter is considered goo
. enough for all practical purposes under til
laws Of any state or country. The Russia
article, however, iwhile recognized anon
the Russian communities of the Hebrew
is not considered binding under the laws
the empire. The ''get" is granted by tt
rabbi, 80 it is claimed, on stop over
ticket.
Karatofsky has two children by his sec
ond marriage. If the divorce suit go
d against him the interesting question wi
arise as to whether it will result in q tri
for violating the laws against bigamy.