Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1893-01-19
REMOVED FROM ITS CLOSET.
A FAMILY SKELETON IN A COURT
ROOM.
Mrs. Byron B. lnman, Wife OF the
Well Known Duluth Vessel
Man, Gives Sensational
Testimony in Her
Divorce Suit.
Rather Gallant,


OF the most sensational as we'll as sor-
rowful stories of sin and suffering ever
related in tho divorce court was told
here to-day by Grace a. Inman, the
wife of Capt. Byron 3. Inman, the we'll
known Duluth vessel man and owner
Oh the lnman line OF tugs. The plaintiff
appeared in the court room in company
with her little daughter, Grace. Inman
was not present, but was represented
by an attorney. Mrs. Inman is tall.
nhe-looklnS woman, With reddish brown
hair and delicate features. Although
lnlrty-tlircc years of age and the mother
or two children, she appeared much
Younger. She married Inman at Port
huron, Mich, in 1871 being then tif-
teen Years of age. In telling her story
she said she never knew that her h,s-
Dand was cruel until two years after
lileir marriage, when he chokcd her be-
cause she would not go to IL revival meet
ing with him. She continues:
when we first moved to Duluth we
mort$aEcd our house to buy the first tug,
and Mr.. 1nman from that time has been
very successful in his business. Soon
after we arrived in Duluth, however. i've
IT,.
even wanted to bring strange women into
our own house. AT first l. thought I
would not make Il fuss about it and per-
llaps he would quit. l said nothing to
nm until one evening at supper. There
was Il certain woman friend of his living
III the ncighhorhood. He asked me to
go and call upon her and be ncighborly.
l. told him could not comply with such Il
request whcreupon he exclaimed that l
must or all would be over between u.s.
L found out that he was payn. SD IL
month for her house rent and that he
paid the wages of the woElan's hired girl.
During this time | was working from
morning till night to save money to aid
him i'll his business. or course w;,S III
ulSnant. Then | discovered that he had
a girl at one of the restaurants in the
city. Naturally | thought that he should
have provided for his wife and family
first"
Here Mrs. Inmnn hcsiiatcd as if rcluct-
ant to proceed. After Il slight pause she
continued: II don't like to say anything
against him. There is so much to tell,
though
The attorney called the attention of
the Judge to an episode which happened
ut the docks one night. Mrs. lnman
said:
Ills business necessarily kept him at
the dock Il great deal Of the timr. | had
to work while he took women there.
They used to call and ask him to take
boat rides with them. On the evening i'll
question | decided to go down to the
docks and see for myself just how he
acted. He had the pictures Of numerous
women fastened on the walls Of his pilot
house. | put my hand on one of them
and asked him whose picture it WAS. He
told me her name. Another woman was
sitting i'll the corner of the room. That
was TOO much for me and went toward
her. We had Il little tilt. and Mr.. In
nan intrrposrd in her behalf: he pushed
mo against the wall in IL most cruel man
ner. He raised Il chair and Threatened
to kill me-, He also kicked and ch"kcd
me. Then he pushed me out of the house.
[ could hardly get home. Next day my
body was black ard blue in several
places. felt as though could take my
children and jump INTO the Jake. talked
with my friends and decided to leave him.
We had sickness in the family and l had
no end Of trouble"
Has your husband furnished anything
for your support since you came to Clcvc-
laEd:'
Yes. He has sent nc some money for
inc maintenance OF inNStlI ana the cnll-
drcn. On several occasions he has Wis
tied us. He loves the children. and I
have no desire to have it otherwise. I
wish to do just us | would like to be
done by
Judge Hutchings said: 81 do not care
to hear anything more III This case. | am
perfectly satisfied that the grounds fo-
divorce are sufficient"
\ decree was granted on the grounds;
of extreme cruelty. .Aliinony will be
paid the wife in the sum Of $4,000 and
an allowance of $1,000 will be made Cor
each Of the children during their mi
nCritS.