The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-05-15

for the same year had thirty-four to one.
In 1885 there were 40 marriages in Russia
to one divorce; in Switzerland, %; in Bel
GUM, 1888; in Prussia, 50. Italy grants her
welded sufferers no absolute divorce.
The greatest individuality and desire for
freedom in the United States, as we'll as the
fact that she has no state religion forbid
ding absolute separation, would lead one to
expect more divorces. Besides. women are
here more independent and able to make
their way in the world.
From the government Report on Mar
riags and Divorce" the following cases are
taken verbatim. They are given to show
these who are fearful of being unable to
obtain a divorce that there is hope for
them. The original numbering 10 pro-
served:
Cruelty, or extreme cruelty, or cruel and
inhuman treatment, when alleged, afford a
wide field for Judicial DISC elton. In the
course of this Investigation some of the
facts which have been offered AZ substantial
ing these causes have been furnished the
department by it's agents. The following
are q few of the instances under these
| causes where a divorce has been granted to
the wife.
tiff for months at q tins, thereby making
life q burden.
"(l3) Defendant got drunk day after the
marriage, causing this plaintiff to conceive
n violent disgust for him. Divorce pro-
ceedings begun on day after marriage.
"(19) Plaintiff says that when she was
sick in bed the defendant, for the sole pur-
eide. and did then and there drink a bottle
Of parsgoric, which said action of defend
ant sorely grieved plaintiff in body and
mind.
s'(23) When defendant suffers financial
loss he lays it to plaintiff, and censures her
in bitter terms. He treats her as a child,
claiming the right to do 80 because of his
age and sex.
''(27) Plaintiff says she is Eabjeot to sick
headaches that grows worGe when she
smells tobacco, Defendant uses tobacco
and thus aggravates her headaches.
"l3l) Plaintiff saws Immediately after
marriage defendant began importuning her
80 deed him her property, which said i'm
Eortunity cauaed plaintiff mental anguish.
plaintiff cold as a WEDGE whereupon he
did clutch her by the throat and pound her
head against the wall.
1888 Defendant quotes verse from New
Testament about wives obeying their hus-
bands. He has even threatened to mash
plaintiff and drew back his hand to do it.
In the decree granting the divorce appear
the following: II find hat when plaintiff
was sick and unable to work defendant told
her the Lord commanded her to work; thai
he was also in the habit of frequently quot
ing Soripturel passages in oruer to shov
her she was to be obedient to her husband
"(49) Defendant cut off my bangs by force
"(56) Defendant was cruel in this: ii,
caused a letter TO be written, saying he wa
dead. Plaintiff ordered a mourning garb
and grieyed a long time. bat at last Learned
the letter was a fraud, and that dofendan
was not dead.
'(68) While defendant was confined t,
his led by lnmeness, he threw cups an
%saucers at plaintiff and threatened to rul
his crutoh own her throat"
1.-The following instance" SAYS the aboy
~renort, ''showa the Interpretation of court
as to cruelty where this has been allcge'
by the husband aa coming from the wife.
In these cases the husband secured hi
divorce: