The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-01-01

Addie Irvine Wins.
SALT LAKE CITY, U. T., Dec. So.-It
will be a joyful surprise to the Indiana
Addie smith, Of Marion and Wabash, Ind,
when they hear that Judge Zone to-day
granted her a divorce in the suit brought
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 20 the mother. The Judge,
In commenting on Irvine's shooting of
banker G. Z. Montgomery, which occurred
in a hotel at Lincoln, Neb., a year ago,
denounced it as a brutal murder, saying
Montgomery had never been given time TO
explain or defend himself before Irvine
mo one but a coward would have been
guilty oil sucn an act he said. he also
severely criticised the manner in which
irvine got the Omaha confession or guilt
from his wife. He believed that Mrs. IT.
vines actions at the Wellington Hosel,
Chicago, in the famous interviews between
herself and husband. after she had gone to
Chicago with Montgomery, showed her in
noceEce, as she refused to admit her guilt,
even when threatened with death. In con-
clusion, 1t 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 a decree on that ground,
and awarded her the custody of the nine
year-old daughter, with all costs of the
news fees Will be decided on next Tuesday.
This case has many features that go to
make 1t the most sensational divorce suit
ever tried in Utah. Mr.. and Mrs. Irvine
came here from Omaha about four years
ago. About three years prior to that they
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. D.. Z. Wilson, still
reside, and are among the best people of
that city. Irvine inherited considerable prop
erty, and, after going TO Omaha, he went In
business with c. T.. 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 to Utah and begin all over. There they
got on little better. Mrs. Irvine was a
good-looking. voluptuouS blonde of fine fig
ure and bright, impulsive disposition. One
day, at a summer resort hotel, she was
weeping, when Montgomery came along
and began 10 sympathize with her. He
gomery took her boat-riding, and after
wards she saw him frequently. Her hus-
band forbade her having anything to do
him of their confidential relations. She
told Of repeated c~ruelties on the part of
her husband. and they were about TO sep
nent men in Utah, and was exceedingly
popular in the clubs.
Mrs. Irvine planned to pay a visit to her
relatives in Marion, and t~elepraphed word of
her plans to Montgomery. The banker met
her at Omaha and accompanied her on the
train to Chicago. He gave her a card with
a fictitious nameAand sent her to Grace
Hotel, in Chicago where she registered the
false name and took a room already en-
gagged by, Montgomery. his being next with
a door between. Mrs. Irvine had her
laughter 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 to Chi
cago in 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 a message to meet him
at the wellington, which she did. There was
a stormy scene. Irvine threatened to shoot
her if she did not confess she had been
guilty with Montgomery. She declared she
was only indiscreet, and told him to shoot;
that she would not lie 10 save her life. Her
mother came and took her daughter home,
and Irvine returned West and shot Mont
He was acquitted on his trial, and at once
began to lay plans to obtain a divorce.
After the murder he had made over TO Mrs.
Irvine much property, including $1,000 for
her support and that Of Flossie, together
with an agreement that she could have
Flossie in case Of a separation, on condi-
ton that he might have the child with him
during his trial. He pretended to want to
make up again, to which Mrs. Irvine was
heartily agreeable, and they resumed mari
tai relations. To test her love for him.
all the property h had given her
and also 9or q confession from her of guilt
back his Stocks and bonds, and finally
signed q confession which, 1t 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 Mon tgomery, 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.