Los Angeles herald., 1892-01-14
DALTON vs.. DALTON.
A DIVORCE SUIT WITH SOME REM
INISCENCES.
Mrs. Dalton Applies for Divorce-Her
Father Gives His Testimony-A Case
of Marital Unhappiness.

The divorce suit brought by Mrs.
Mabel Dalton against M. M. Dalton,
came to trial yesterday in department
two OF the superior court. Mrs. Dalton
bases her complaint on the ground of
extreme cruelty, and her husband has
fred back with cross. complaint in
which he asks decree in his favor on
precisely the same grounds set up by
his wife in her complaint.
The case was on up to 4 o'clock in the
afternoon, at which hour court ad-
journed and the hearing went over until
this morning, when some dispositions
will be taken. The following witnesses
were examined yesterday: Mrs. Mabel
Dalton, George Stamps, Bert Lewis,
Susan Hagerman and John Hagerman,
the two last-named being the plaintiffs
parents.
M. M. Dalton was married to Mabel
Hagerman in 1885, and from the evil
dence introduced they have had a stormy
time for some years past. Dalton
was at one time on the police force, and
is very well known in this city, where
he has made many friends.
In September of last year his friends
and acquaintances were thrown into a
state OF CONSERVATION by his arrest on a
charge OF rape. 1t was alleged that he
committed the horrible crime on child
named Bertha Hagerman. the year.old
adopted daughter of his father law.
At that time the Daltons lived at the
Hagerman residence. The case was
thoroughly examined before Justice
Austin, who discharged the defendant,
and the general impression was that
Dalton was being prosecuted.
Shortly after his discharge Mrs. Dal-
ton applied to the courts to sever the
matrimonial tie. She claims that her
husband has been guilty o. the utmost
brutality towards her. On one occasion,
she says, he chased her about the yard
back of the house and attempted to in
jure her with a pitchfork. He was not
very choice in his expressions to her,
and called her various unpleasant
names.
Dalton says his wife is guilty of the
very things which she charges to him,
and claims also that she ran him off the
ranch on one occasion at the point of a
six shooter, and he thinks he is entitled
to divorce.
The testimony of all the witnesses was
in regard to the quarrels of the couple,
and also in reference to property claimed
by both. An attempt was made to in
troduce evidence tending to show the
right of the parties to certain property,
but was ruled out by the court as collat-
eral matter.
According to the testimony of John
Hagerman, plaintiffs father, both hus
band and wife are to blame. He testi-
fled that Dalton struck his wife, and
gave lengthy account of their numer-
Gus difficulties. The defendant, as
stated above, claims that his wiie.went
cunning for him with a pistol at the
time of the difficulty in which it is al
legged the pitchioik played an important
part. Mr.. Hagerman did not see her
have the pistol though he witnessed the
conflict which took place between them
at the time. Mrs Dalton ran into
| the house, but with what intent he did
not know. Mrs. Hagerman caught her
daughter when she ran into the house.
| The plaintiff desired to have the testi-
mony of Mrs. Knoll before proceeding
with the case, and as the lady is con-
fined to her house by illness it was
stipulated that her deposition be taken
this morning. Tie hearing will be re-
sumed at 2 O'Clock this afternoon.