St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-11-16
A SHOCK TO SOCIETY.
The Sudden Divorce OF Wei
known Couple Of Des
MoineS.
"A Wife's Too Gay Career - I'm
pleasant Experience of Lee
Durstine.

Dies MONIES, TO-, Nov. Is. - Society
circles Of DeS Moines were exceedingly
shocked last Saturday night, when the
papers announced that a divorce had
been granted to Lee B. Durstine from
his wife, Kate +. Durstine. AT the same
time it was published to the world that
the gay wife and mother had gone with
handsomer man. Lee Durstine is the
Iowa agent for the Equitable Life In
surance company, of New York. lie
came here with his wife and four chill
dren about four years ago. 1t was
understood that he received a large
salary, and he at once began
living in sumptuous way, for
all of which, it now appears, his wife
was responsible. They bought and occu
pied one of the finest residence proper
ties in the city. Society people were at
first little wary of the new corners,
but soon received them, for they were
elegant entertainers. 1t was noted that
Mrs. Durstine was woman full Of
eccentricities, but these did not cause
any more than the usual society com
ment.
10 relate the whole story of the mar
tial infelicities would be Improbable.
MIR. and Mrs. DurStine were not con-
genial companions. Their tastes ran in
different lines. He was man devoted
to business; she woman who loves
display and gay time in society," EX-
travagant living finally forced them to
give up the elegant home aud to forego
some OF the Injuries of carriages aud
trips. This, OF course, was worm wood
for the ambitious wife. They took
rooms at the Slavery house, the leading
hotel of the city. Everybody who
knew them knew that they were not
happy. but supposed that that was all.
Recently, however, Mrs. Durstine has
been making frequent trips to Chicago,
Denver and other points, dispensing
with her husband for these occasions.
This caused a great deal of comment.
1t was reported that she had been seen
in Chicago in the company of former
Des Moines gentleman, and stories of
other eScapadeS, more or less true,
found their way into current gossip.
In this way matters remained until
last Friday. when Mr.. DurStine returned
from Chicago. whittier he had followed
his wife. An attorney, who had acted
as a detective, returned with him. He
Immediately went before Judge Conrad,
of the district court, and asked for
divorce. The next evening, Saturday,
the divorce was granted by the court.
10 newspaper men who sought the
facts, Judge Conrad refused to say any
thing, except that the divorce asked had
been granted OH sufficient ground. No
entry has as yet been made in the docket,
and until that is done the exact grounds
Will remain unknown. 1t is known that
Mrs. Durstine filed denial to all the
allegations, but from the suddcnneSs
with which the divorce was finally
granted, there is reason to believe that
she made no defense. The appearance
of New York travelling man, whose
name is unknown here, may have had
something to do with this lack OF de-
Tense against the charges made by the
husband. This travelling man has been
frequently seen in Des Moines dur
ing the past three months. At one time
he was here for several days. and
regularly came into the hotel dining
room with Mrs. Durstine and her hus-
band and children.
The two children, it is understood,
will remain in the custody of the father.
The children are exceptionally bright.
The older one IS girl and this younger
a boy. Mrs. Durstine's father and
mother are living here. They are old
people, the mother more or less helpless
physically, and neither is abundantly
supplied with this worlds goods. Mr..
Durstine has been very good to them,
and has regularly employed his father
in-law in his Office.
There is great deal of sympathy felt
here for the husband and the children
The blame is generally laid on the
woman. She seems to have had con-
Stunning passion for an extravaganza and
gay life. Mr.. Durstine, his friends
claim, has humored this whim
of his wife far beyond his means.
He provided for her home with all the
comforts and luXIries possible, servants,
carriages and so on. 1t is only three
months ago since he gave her $500 worth
of presents on her birthday anniver-
sary. She seems to have an Unsuitable
appetite for the gaiettes of the world.
In personal appearance she is tall and
handsome and rather slender.