Telegram-herald., 1890-07-22
SEEKING DIVORCES
Three Unhappy spouses Appeal 70
the Courts.
OSE IS A VERY REMARKABLE CASE
A Husband Charges His wife With ssee'
eiatipg Win . Band Of "free IessTs-
lie Tells - VERY Fanoy Story-tro-
city the aose of Auother's Trouble

A bll for divorce was tiled in the sii-
perlor court yesterday IN which some
startling aud remarkable charges are
made. The complainant Is William
Roster, turner in the employ OF the
Folding Bed and Chair Company OF
this city. The defendant IS hls wife,
Fanny Roster, 10 whom he was married
sixteen years ago.
Roster charges that Mrs. Roster IS
"Free Lover" aud he also complains
that she has treated him with extreme
cruelty. Tie says that for the first two
years of their married life everything
moved along as calmly as bright June
day. Finally she became doniineerlng
in disposition and insisted On beng
master of the household, and for this
reason she got the bulge on his weekly
earnings.
He further says thatfour yearsago she
became attached TO a band OF religious
enthusiasts called "Free Lovers" and
that they held their meetings IN a
dwelling house at l9l LaGrave-st. This
band, he alleges, is under the control
of one Cornelius j. Luyk. Since she
has became attached 10 this strange
doctrine, he SAYS, she has renounced
her friends and acquaintance, and
treats them with such indifference that
they have lost all regard for her.
The declaration further charges that
during her husbands absence She has
frequently gone to Luyk's house where
she would remain for long time.
Luyk, he says, reciprocated by visiting
complainant: home while be was at
work.
Roster says his attention has been
called 10 the fact that his wife was as
sociating with band of "Free Lovers"
and he has reasoned with her, but she
refused TO desist. He thus charges that
her affections have been entirely alien
ated from him, and that she is
completely infatuated with Luyk and
the doctrine he breaches.
She is also charged with being a
woman of ungovernable temper and
when she becomes angered she IS re-
vengeful in spirit. When he has tried,
he says, TO reason with her, and tell her
of the bad stories be has heard of Luyk
and herself, she stated that she did not
care how many stories he heard and
she would 90 to Luyk's as often as she
pleased. He says she is now living at
Luyk's house and that she is an unsafe
person for him to live with longer.
This unhappy couple have three
children. F. q. Holmes is the COM
plainant's attorney.
The c. j. LUX referred to in the bill
is put down IN the directory as Rev.
CorneliusJ. Luyk, 19l Lagrave-st. He
now lives IT 1S5 Cass-st. He was seen
last evening, and talked very freely
about the matter. He is Hollander
from the old country, and knows the
English language so imperfectly that
he communicates abstruse thoughts
with extreme difficulty. He is below
the medium height, and weighs about
100 pounds. He is of bilious tempera-
ment, and in personal appearance re-
sembles an artisan of the more intelli-
gent stamp.
The reporters first approach to him
was on the subject of his peculiar be-
licls. At first he protested his poor
knowledge of English, but ms modesty
was shortly overcome by the reporter s
betrayal Of an intense interest IN socio-
logical questions. 1t could not he dis
discovered that his creed is at all pecu-
liar i'll it's superficial aspects. He be-
lieves in the Bible with ChIllingworth' 5
faith. His faith IN the trinity
seems orthodox, and he explains the
divine tri-unity on the analogy of the
three fold nature OF man. HIS views
of the marriage relationship, he claims,
are very stringent. He thinks mar
rage SO sacred that the decree of man
ought not TO snnul il. He thinks the
churches are too much allied to the
world and its moral practicesto deserve
recognition, and this is the explanation
of ms separation from il.
Luyk's title of "Rev." is assumed by
virtue of his being the leader and
teacher of small society of persons
who share his beliefs. They meet every
Sunday for worship and instruction.
LUX has no other occupation than the
leadership of this little band. He says
that they give him enough voluntarily
out of their small earnings to support
himself and wife. He has no children,
and lives in a very humble way on Cass-
st.
When interfogated about the charge
which Roster brings against him, he
stated freely his side of the matter. lie
admits that Mrs. Roster and her two
children are staying with MS family,
but they are there, he saws, because
they had no other shelter when Roster
drove them from their home. He saws
Mrs. Roster has repeatedly At
tempted 10 go back to her husband,
/ but ne has repelled her each
time. LUX says that, as far as
his connection with the enlargement Is
I concerned, he has nothing OF fact to
/ conceal and no consequences TO fear.
tie has never yet been guilty Of any
/ thing to cause him TO fear any man or
I devil, and he fss no cause for fearnOw'
I lie can produce 80 witnesses to prove
+ that bis doctrines contain no taInt OF
/ free-lOveism, and Rosters allegation OF
/ il ni his bill j. simply untrue.
Alice A. pangborn. Of the township
| 81 PARIS, alleges that her husband
Charles PangbOrn, has been extremely
violent and has even threatened heg
! life and those OF her relatives with
whom she was ob ged 20 seek refuge.
3 For this reason she applied for a d.
I voTce n the superior court yesterday.
JgIa Watt also wants divorce from