The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-02-05
MRS. FRITsCH'S CASE
The Family Skeleton Paraded in Judge
Bartch's Court.
to Commit Suicide-Attorney Pierce
Finds His Match.

The trial of the divorce case of Fritsch
VS.. Fritsch, in which the wife of the well
known real estate operator sues for de-
cree OF divorce and division of property
alleged to be worth nearly $500. 200, was
resumed before Judge Bartch yesterday
morning Allarge crowd OF spectators,
made up of friends of the Fritsch family
and a curious throng who anticipated
sensational developments, were present.
Mrs. Rolla Tibbetts, the first witness,
enlivened the proceedings by her adroit
porries of Attorney Pierce's threats on a
rigid cross examination. Mrs. Iibbitts
testified that before the suit was insti-
tuted Mrs. Fritsch came to her for adj
vice, stating that her husband did not
properly care for her or protect her
against the rude conduct of their children.
Mrs. Fritsch wanted the witness to
counsel with her, with regard to obtain
ing her rights, property and otherwise.
Afterwards the defendant stated to the
witness that his wife was crazy and
liar, and made him lots of trouble. Then
one of the daughters called upon the wit
ness and stated she hated her mother be-
cause she interfered in her father's bust
ness.
On cross examination the witness gave
a rather graphic picture of life in the
Fritsch mansion, reciting many little in
stances to illustrate the characteristics of
the members of the household.
Mrs. Fritsch was recalled and identified
a note OF the defendant in her favor for
g, 1856, dated Nov, 1886, and another note
for 500, dated 1891.
Mrs. Susan Hicks of South Cotton
wood testified that in 1891 she worked at
the Fritsch residence for some time, and
observed that the children had very little
to do with their mother. Some four
weeks ago she had a conversation with
Adolph, who said that he couldn't have
the respect for his mother that he had for
his father.
ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.
DR.. Rauscher testified that ne had
known the Fritsch family for nearly two
years and had visited there professionally.
On one occasion he was called to the
house and found that Mrs. Fritsch had
severed an artery, intending to commit
suicide She gave as the reason for the
act that she was a stranger in her family.
The witness had her taken to his home In
South Cottonwood, and she improved
rapidly under treatment. She was suffer
ing from hysteria and nervousness, and
after three weeks, when she LETT his
home, the doctor advised the defendant.to
avoid irritating bis wife. He considered
Mrs. Fritsch refined and educated
woman. She made statements of i'll
treatment on the part of her husband be-
fore the doctor suggested her removal to
his house, and for this Fritsch in the
presence of the witness, applied an APP
protuous epithet to the plaintiff.
GOODNESS IN THE FAMILY.
Mrs. Schutter testified that she had
been at the Fritsch residence a number
OF times, and had observed that there
hof.
the other members of the family. On one
occasion she heard a daughter OF the
plaintiff accuse her mother of telling a
falsehood. So far as she knew, Mrs.
Fritsch was comfortably provided for.
ADoLPH's TESTIMONY.
Adolph Fritsch, the plaintiffs son, who
is accused of shaking his fist in his
mothers face or numerous occasions
and generally acting toward her in de-
cidedly unfilial manner was then called
by Judge Powers. He testified that he
was % years of age and had been in bus
mess for some years. The witness de-
MED positively that he owned any prop
erty, real or personal, on secret trust
for his father.
Mr.. Franklin, of the firm of DruehI &
Franklin, testified that in July last Mrs.
Fritsch had prescription put up at his
store, and the defendant afterwards re-
fused to pay for it, the bill amounting
to 70 cents.
Mrs. Fritsch was recalled and testified
that she incurred an Indebtedness of
something like $1,000 IN furnishing the
residence used by her since separating
from her husband
The case was then continued until Feb.
10, when the plaintiff will conclude her
case by offering evidence as to the value
OF the property owned by the defendant.