Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-01-05
AN UNHAPPY MARRIAGE.
The Riepen Divorce Case in the
Third District Court.

Third District Court.
Judge Anderson had before hin
this morning the petition Of Mar
garetta Riepen for a divorce from
her husband, a saloon and restlu
rant keeper Of Commercial Street
this city. on the ground Of adultery
and cruelty.
Colonel Kaighn appeared for the
| plaintiff and Mr.. Hoffman for the
defendant.
la her complaint the petitioner
allege. that her husband has habitu'
ally absented himself from home,
thus depriving her Of bic society;
that he has associated with
immoral women, and kept un-
seemly hours. Returning home
at three or four O'Clock in the morn
ing In an intoxicated condition, he
frequently used threatening Ian
guage toward her and called her by
.yile, names. He had declared his
intention 10 beat and injure her,
and had carried out mis- threats.
The name Of one Louisa Kramer
was specially mentioned in the COM
plant, petitioner alleging that the
defendant had been repeatedly
guilty of acts of adultery with her;
that he visited Kramer at divers
houses, paid her large sums OF
money, aud wholly or in part sup
ported or provided for her.
Petitioner further prays for the
custody OF her minor child, Chris
tina.
Defendant, In his answer. denies
all the allegations OF the plaintiff,
also that she has been; as claimed
by her, faithful and loving wife.
The cause of his absenting himself
from home at certain times was due,
however, to his wife's wrongful
acts. He emphaticaliy repudiates
the allegations in regard TO Mrs.
Kramer, and asserts that it Is
''trumped up affair" Though at
present under bonds to appear and
answer a charge OF adultery with
Mrs. Kramer. there was nothing
whatever in the story. The object
sought was to ruin his name and
blacken his reputation. He had al
ways, he declared, treated his wife
with the utmost Kindness and re-
spect. Plaintiff, he adds, sis n large
woman, weighs 200 lbs, and is able
to take her own part In any physical
contest that might arise"
The plaintiff was called and stated
that she was married to the defend
ant in q naha in the year ISL or
ls72-she could not exactly remem-
Der which. They had resided in this
city about three years. She had
always been a faithful and loving
wife. Defendant had been most
cruel towards her during the last
few years, and she had suffered both
mentally aud bodily from his con-
duct. He had often remained away
from business, and returned home at
three, four and sometimes five
O'Clock in the morning, in an in
toxicated state. He had used bad
language toward her and applied to
her bad names. also threatened TO
beat and iDjure her. His
behavior had greatly terrified her.
On one occasion he piRched her on
the arm until it was black and blue,
because, as he said, she could not
properly cook a meal for him. He
had beaten her across the back with |
a heavy cane, the handle Of which
fell off as he struck her. Her back
was sore for three months after |
wards.
Witness next gave evidence as to
the defendants alleged association
with the woman Kramer, whose
reputation she said she knew to be
very bad. Her husband hal told
her, when she demonstrated with |
him, that he would see Mrs. Kramer
whenever he pleased, as il was no
business Of hers. She had seen him |
leave Kramer's house at night time. |
Defendant had told her that she |
should starve 10 death for all he |
cared, ami htterly she had had TO |
sell some Of the household goods In |
order to support herself and child. |
svitnes, had nothing whatever 10 |
do with the ares. Of her husband |
on a charge of adultery. For the |
sake of her children she would |
have been glad had he not been
arrested Oh such charge. Plaintiff
and defendant had not lived to-
ge:her for n long time. She posi-
lively denied having ever tried TO
his name; on the contrary,
she always ''stuck up for him" rs
long a. she p7ssibIy could. By
reason Of ''her superior weight and
she had never sought to
her husband.
On cross-examination, the plain
tiff said that until her husband
became acquainted with Mrs.
Kramer he conducted himself we'll
her, but he had not pre-
viied for her rs he should for the
last two years. They formerly ran
a hotel AMI ranch ia Idaho, every
thing being in her name. Her
husband had offered that IL they
,ould sell certain property in their
on West Temple Street
the money should be equally
divided; but she could never get
him TO come TO a settlement. The
price named for it was go, 900.
The Court then took n recess until
O'Clock this afternoon.