The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-01-21
HIS OWN ATTORNEY.
Remarkable Pleading by De-
PENDANT in a Divorce Case.
WEDDING IN CRIMINAL COURT.
II Secures q Couple Under Indictment
Their Freedom-A Chinaman Not
Allowed to Furnish Bail.

One of the most remarkable pIeadincs
ever brought to the Office of the clerk of
the superior court of King county was the
answer of William Allen, filed yesterday
In the divorce case of Mary Jessie Allen
VS.. William Allen. In her complaint. filed
several weeks ago, the wife had alleged
that her husband, although a strong.
healthy man, capable of earning good
wages was lazy and indolent, and COM
PEELED her TO support both herself and him
by doing washing, ironing and other hard
work. Allen evidently decided that it
would not do to entrust his case to an at
torney, or else is of very economical
turn of mind. as he drew his own plead
ings The deputies in the clerks Office
have noticed that he has spent great
deal of his time with them for the past
week or more, and that he has been study
ing the forms of papers that have been
filed during that time. Finally, having
satisfied himself that his study of plead
ings had been thorough enough, he pre-
pared the answer which he filed yester-
day. 1t is remarkable alike for It's compo-
sition and rhetoric. The salutation and
opening statement of the pleading reads
as follows:
To the honorable ]. J. Lichtenberg one of the
Judges Of theiAbove entitled Courts in the equi.
" Department theirof setting
William Allen the Dsfendent in this Action
Complains OF Mary jessie Allen Plaintiff that
said complaint Is not trua
Among other denias OF the allegations
Of the complaint appears the following:
That the DEPENDENT is and has not at all
times been extra strong that the defendant
has been subject to rumatic pains in the
back since the fall OF 1881 at intervals OF s to
IS months apart that since defendant
came to this state Washington defendant has
this Lingering rumatic far worse so as to be
visible pain nearly all the time and and very
weakening especially when working In bent
over position making labour hard and painful
and wearysome TO perform and that during last
winter 1890 and 81 Defendant was forced to
treat himself with a patent medicine Called
Vim. Radam's Microb killer until now aud
that Defendant Claims now to be about cured
OF sney such rumatic pain and that no pains is
visible.
After denying that the defendant is
shiftless and lazy the answer continues:
That defendant never deserted plaintiff in
said April about 10Th us9D nor never had
dshnstely Intended to either nor has aney desire
toyet until death Us do part, nor defendant has
never refused to again live or Cohabit with her
hus snos ueicu0hut always lubeuueu 10 i've Win
plaintiff and support her the best defendant
could and that defendant offered in letters
from Kalispell and Columbia falls montana
about september october 1891 for to send money
for to support plaintiff with and that said
plaintiff made no reply to except aney money at
all or that plaintiff was in want that Defend
ant knew that plaintiff had in the first national
Bank OF Seattle at least one hundred and fifty
dollars $4,000 OF her own money when said de-
fendant went East about the 10Th of April 1891
over the Canada pacific railroad to Cal
gary province OF Albertecan; that plaintiff
knew where defendant was going to
for his health and better times to seek new
home for the defendant and plaintiff and that
that's the reason plaintiff takes the advantage
OF defendant at this time and that above all
things defendant has always been good kind
and took good Care every time plaintiff was sick
although life with one exception last septem-
Der 1891 that defendant offered to come and
care for plaintiff but plaintiff was independent
of assistance and apparently out of all danger.
After enumerating further trials he has
gone through defendant addresses the
following prayer to the court:
Wherefore Defendant prsys for Decree of this
Court
1th for no dissolution of said marrige
2nd for no alimony or suit money during the
tendency OF plaintiff suit aud for no permanent
alimony.
Sd for no costs
4th for no other or furthur releif of said
Court