The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-31
ADDIE IRVINE WINS
Salt Lake City Judge Grants Her
Divorce from Irvine.
Case in Which Indiana People Figure
and Which Contains Sensational
Features and a Tragedy.
Special to the indianapolis Journal

Special to the indianapolis Journal
SALT LAKE CITY, L. T., Dec S0.-lt
will be n joyful surprise TO the Indiana
friends of Mrs Adelaide Irvine. formerly
Addie Smith, of Marion and Wabash, Ind,
when they hear that Judge Zone to-day
granted her a divorce in the suit brought
against her by her husband, William III.
Irvine, formerly OF Marion, Ind. Irvine
not only lost his case. but the custody of
the beautiful nine-year-old Flossie, their
only child, goes to the mother. The Judge,
in commenting Irvine's shooting of
banker c. E. Montgomery. which occurred
in hotel at Lincoln, Neb., year ago,
denounced it as brutal murder saying
Montgomery had never been given time to
explain defend himself before Irvine
shot him down.
NO one but coward would have been
guilty of such an act" he said He also
severely criticised the manner in which
Irvine got the Omaha confession of guilt
from his wife. He believed that Mrs. Ir-
vines actions at the Wellington Hotel
Chicago, In the famous interviews between
herself and husband, after she had gone to
Chicago with Montgomery, showed her in
nocence, as she refused to admit her guilt,
even when threatened with death. In con-
clusion, IL was held that the charges
against the woman had not been proven,
but that her charge of cruelty against her
husband had been fully substantiated. The
court granted her decree on that ground.
and awarded her the custody OF the nine
year-old daughter. with all costs of the
suit The amount OF alimony and attor-
neys' fees will be decided on next Tuesday.
This case has many features that go TO
make IL the most sensational divorce suit
ever tried in Utah. Mr.. and Mrs. Irvine
came here from Omaha about four years
pra
had moved TO Omaha from Marion, where
Irvine met and married his wife ten years
ago Addie Smiths girlhood had passed in
Wabash, where she still has relatives. The
family removed to Marion about fifteen
years ago, where Mrs. Irvines brother, Will
liam G. Smith, sister, Mrs. William Hogan,
and her mother. Mrs. ID. f.. Wilson, still
reside and among the best people of
that city. Irvine inherited considerable prop
erty, and, after going TO Omaha, he went in
business with c. +. Montgomery and con-
siderably increased his fortune. In her tes-
timony Mrs. Irvine testified that their life
In Omaha, was far from happy. and Irvine
threatened to leave her. They decided to
go 10 Utah and begin all over. There they
got on little better. Mrs. Irvine was n
good-looking. voluptuous blonde of fine fig
ure and bright. impulsive disposition. One
day, at n summer resort hotel, she was
weeping. when Montgomery came along
and began TO sympathize with her. lie
said her husband didn't love her. Mont
gomery took her boat-riding, and after
wards she saw him frequently. Her hus-
band forbade her having anything TO do
with Montgomery, and she did not tell
him OF their confidential relations. She
told OF repeated cruelties the part OF
her husband. and they were about TO sep
aratc Irvine had become one OF the promi-
nent men I'm Utah. and was exceedingly
popular In the clubs.
Mrs. Irvine planned TO pay a visit to her
relatives i'm Marion. and telepraphed word Of
her plans To Montgomery. The banker met
her at Omaha and accompanied her on the
train To- Chicago. He gave her card with
fictitious name ana sent her 10 Grnce
Hotel. in Chicago. where she registered the
false name ana took "A room already en-
gagged by Montgomery. his being next with
door between. Mrs. Irvine had her
daughter with her and Montgomery spent
the evening with her At the hotel, coming
To her room after little Flossie had been
put to bed.
Irvine had logged her footsteps. learned
of the occurrence. and FASTENED on 10 Chi
cago i'm a frantic state OF mind. His wife
wired him falsely she had stopped at the
Grand Pacific. He wired for a confirmation.
and the hotel people denied she was there.
He then sent her n message To meet him
at the Wellington which she did There was
stormy scene. Irvine threatened 10 shoot
her If she did not confess she had been
guilty with Montgomery. she declared she
was only indiscreet, and told him 20 shoot;
that she would not lie 90 save her life Her
mother came and took her daughter home.
and Irvine returned West and shot Mont
gomery on sight In the Lincoln Hotel.
He acquitted on his trial. and at once
began TO lay plans to obtain divorce.
After the murder ne had made over TO Mrs.
Irvine much property, including $2.ooO for
her support and that Of FlOssie. together
with an agreement that she could have
f'lossie in case OF separation. on condi-
tion that he might have the child with him
during his trial. He pretended To want To
make ~ again, to which Mrs Irvine was
heartily agreeable and they resumed mari
tai relations. To test her love for him.
as he put il. he asked for
all the property he had given her
and also for i confession from l.er Of CUNT
with Montgomery. Mrs. Irvine gave him
! back his stocks and bonds and finally
signed a confession which il is claimed.
Irvine dictated. He then sued for divorce.
| She. however. faithfully refused to confess
! to her people TO any crime further than
indiscretions with Montgomery. and teSti-
fed on the stand that the written confess
sion was false. The evidence was well
backed up. and the court evidently believed
! Mrs, Irvine. and not her husband.