The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-06-26
THE RASMUSSENS.
An Unsayory Case Again in
Court.
Rasmussen Is Granted Divorce and thu
Temporary Custody of His Children
Continued Till Monday.

Mary Rasmussen filed suit against her
husband, Neal Rasmussen. last November,
asking for decree of divorce and the
custody of her children. The plaintiff al
legged in her complaint that the defendant
cruelty treated her and had threatened
bodily injury, and that he also abused their
infant child. She also averred that be had
failed to provide for her support
After bringing the suit Mrs. Rasmussen
became too intimate with a young car
penter by the name of Frank Medium.
The couple were arrested on a charge Of
adultery and were convicted, and sne is
now serving out her term In the peniten-
tiary.
The case came up before Judge Anderson
Mrs. Rasmussen was the first witness,
and she ties titled that she married the de-
PENDANT thirteen years ago. and since then
he had treated her with extreme cruelty,
aud at one time drew pistol and threat
ened to kill her because she wouldn't
agree to sign an agreement to relinquish
all claim to the joint property.
Were you married before you married
Mr. Rasmussen!" asked Mr. Pierce
No" replied the witness
did you have child when you married
your husbandp'
II decline 10 answer said the witness.
THAT doesn't interest RasmnssenaR at all. -
sit has an important bearing on the
question of the custody of the children, I"
suggested Mr.. Pierce.
I'VE will admit that such was the case, -
put in MIR. Street 'But she was very
young woman when this occurred"
Their boy, who is II years old, was put
on the stand and sail he had never seen
his father draw pistol on his mother. He
also said he wished to live with his father
Rasmussen and other witnesses also tes-
titled, and half dozen more had been sum
moned and were in the room, but the Judge
said he had heard enough, and gave the
custody OF the boy to his father and the
other child, girl, TO the mother.
Counsel for defense wanted to cite cases,
but the court thought il was question of
the best welfare of the child
'She is not what she should have been, -
said the judge, referring to the plaintiff,
and after she gels out of prison she may
live better life He is not the most suit
able person TO have charge of childrau-or
any one else who is engaged in gambling
The orders of the court are subject to
modification at any time"
Mr. Pierce then wanted to show the
character of Mrs. Rasmussen's mothers
house. and on the question Of alimony aud
the division OF property asked leave TO cite
authorities in cases where the wife had
been convicted of adultery.
las to the property said the court,
''she lived with him thirteen years and
worked hard and ] don't think she ought
to be thrown out now"
Mr.. Pierce then asked that the records
be made to show that he had several wit
nesses on hand to testify as to the good
character of Mr.. Rasmussen.
at would do no good to show Mr.. Ras
mussen's good character when he himself
testified that ne was doorkeeper of a
gambling house, said the court.
The decree was granted, end On Monday
the Judge will decide as TO the division of
property and alimony.
Rasmussen has the custody of both
children until his former wifes sentence