St. Paul daily globe., 1892-08-21
BREAKING The B0NOS.
How the Divorce Mill Grinds
in the Twin City Dis
trict Courts.
st. Paul Has a Record That
Shows That Dakota Is
Not in 1t.
1ne Divorce Micrcbe Seems
to Be Losing Its Grip in
Minneapolis.
Some Noted and Interesting
Sundering of Honds Over
the Country.

st. Paul never had the reputation of
harborlng divorce colony, nor her
courts charged with running a divorce
mill, yet 1t is possible that the whole
state of South Dakota, let alone Sioux
Falls, does not tear asunder the bonds
of matrimony as often as is done in the
district court in this city. There are
nearly 100 divorces granted in this city
at the ten monthly terms of the district
court OF the year ending with June, or
about ten divorces month. This does
not take into consideration the actions
for divorce begun and not granted, as
sometimes happens.
There are six causes for absolute di-
vorce prescribed by the legislature of
Minnesota, aside from the causes of de-
creelng a separation from bed and
board, and for decreeing marriages void
ab lnlilO. The causes fer divorce vim
culum matrmOnii are adultery, impo-
tency, cruel and inhuman treatment,
being sentenced to the penitentiary SUBJ
sequent TO marriage, willful desertion
for more than three years, and that of
habitual drunkenness for the space of
year Immediately preceding the be-
ginning of the action.
The most frequent cause for divorce.
as shown by the records, is desertion;
next to this comes the offense of cruel
and inhuman treatment. The charge
of adultery is probably less frequently
set up because of the difficulty of secur-
ing proof, and cruel treatment and
drunkenness are usually substituted, as
they are liable to exist where the more
heiDOus Offense has been committed.
Somewhat surprising is the fact that
women are largely in the majority in
suing for the divorces. The records
show that little over twot thirds of the
divorces are granted upon petition of
the wives. This goes to show that
they are. the most wrOnged, and
probably the first to tire of the confine-
ment to unhappy homes. And where
there are children, which occurs in most
cases. the application for divorce is
coupled with prayer for the custody
of the offspring; and rarely is this feat
ure of the petition denied.
There is but one case on record in
Ramsey county where a divorce was
granted for the second cause named in
the statute. In that case the wife was
the petitioner - beautiful young
woman under thirty years of age.
Singular Cases.
During the past year two divorces were
granted because the lord OF the house
hold had been sentenced to the peni-
tentiary for larceny. One of these
cases was astonishing from the fact that
the wife was white woman OF decided
beauty, and apparently well raised, be-
sides being young, while the husband
q
her senior. jim Robinson is
his name. He was sleeping
car porter at one time, but
Oh his trial for larceny claimed that he
was a professional gambler. He was
found guilty of stealing q gold watch,
gold chain and charm and finger ring.
The wife was present at the trial and
won the sympathy of the public by her
modest demeanOr in the court room.
She was neatly dressed in a fashionable
gown, and her face and figure were
very cOmely. 1t is said that she fire.
quently visited her black husband at
the county Jail. and would converse
with him by the hour on visiting days
and frequently kiss him in an
atfectionate manner. A story is
told to the effect that she was
the daughter of a well-tO-do Southern
planter, who never permitted her to
have gentleman callers. She fell in
love with Robinson, who was the coach
man, and the only male she had an op-
portunity of knowing. Soon after her
husband was sent to Saltwater she ap-
piled for divorce because of his being
convicted of crime. She alleged that
she was twenty-one years old. She was
married to Jim Robinson at Council
Bluffs, To-, Aug. 20, 1883, she then being
eighteen Years old. The notice of the
action was served in the penitentiary
and the divorce was granted. Robinson
Still has several years to serve i'll the
penitentiary, and if the stories told are
true, he will be lucky if he escapes with
one term.
A Contrast.
In contrast with the above story is
that of Alfred Young and his wife Dull
Gina. They are both colOred. He is a
repulsive-lOoking negro, whilst she is a
bright mulatto of medium size, regular
features and trim figure, besides being
a girl in her teens. Young was indicted
for larceny. 1t is asserted by the county
attorney that he committed larcenies at
thirty-three dwellings and other houses.
He was convicted on one indictment
and sentenced to three years at Still
water. Dulcina did not seek a divorce
not she. Her regard for her con-
demned mate was in accordance
with her vow-"Cling to him
until death do you part" She
sought Judge Kelly, who had
sentenced him to the penitentiary. and
was accorded an interview in the judges
chambers. With tears in her eyes she
besought the judge to allow her TO
share the prison with her husband. She
first proposed that they each be SELL
fenced to one-half of tie term, each to
serve a year and half, and to be dis
charged together. The heart OF Judge
Kelly was touched at the evidences of
devotion, while on the other hand he
was struck with the ingenuity in ask
ing Tor division of the term. But he
could not repeat the history of Damon
and Pytheas, neither could ne add to or
subtract one jOt or title from the SEN
tence of the court. and the dusky wife
departed with murmuringsLagainst the
slernness of the law.
The Warner Case.
The divorce trial which attracted the
most attention in this city for the past
few years is that of Sadie X. Warner
against Lucien Warner. Both had been
married before. Mrs. Warner was the
widow of the late Gen. Jones, and is a
cultured lady. Mr.. Warner is prom
inent business man OF means, who has
resided in st. Paul for two or three
decades. They were both prominent
members of Plymouth Congregational
church, Mr.. Warner being leading
church official. Mrs. Warner charged
cruel and inhuman treatment and penu-
robustness in support. She also asserted
that before her marriage Mr.. Warner
agreed to give her $50 per month for pin
money. but failed to live up. to the
agreement after marriage. TheNtrial
lasted many days. and large delegation
OF the Plymouth church congregation,
including the pastor, Rev. Heath, were
in constant attendance, as well as many
others. The whole married life was
gone over. Mrs. Warner testified to
being abused by MIR. Warmers children
by his first wife and by him. Their
troubles began on the wedding tour
10 Europe and continued until the
of % first cana inn She tpS-