The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-06-23
THE WIFE rs FREED.
Mrs. j. W. Van Brocklin Is
Given a Divorce.
The HUSBAND FAILS TO APPEAR
The Story OF an Unhsppy Hsme-A
Stipulation That Gives the Wife
. Good share OF Property.

Candace Van Brocklin. the wife of j. W.
Van Brocklin, member Of the board OF
public works, was given q divorce from
her husband By Judge Humes yesterday
In thu SCAT Instituted By the husband in
which he sought divorce from her on
the ground Of cruelty. Van Brockiin,
though plaintiff in the action. failed 10
put In an appearance. and she wife had IL
ali her own way. Besides the decree the
wife gets possession Of the adopted daugh-
ter, the home residence. ground and furni-
ture. and . half interest in some other
property. in accordance with stipulations
agreed upon and given herewith
The two were married January 3. 1s76,
in jefferson county, n. Y, and FORUM
ately have had no children Of their own.
They adopted little girl q few years ago
which has been the comfort Of the wife.
Mr.. Van Brocklin had several children By
his first wife. who. BY the way, was sister
Of the present wife. Two of these boys
are here and have been dragged INTO the
controversy and become divided. so that
one Of them stands by the wife and against
his own father, while the other son sides
with the father. The history OF the case
is unsayory throughout. revealing about
as unhappy a state of domestic affairs as
could we'll exist without ending in ter
rible tragedy. From the wife's allegations
the shadows Of wrongs and crueities
have lowered over her home for many
years, making il anything but Home,
Sweet Home" Repeated efforts were
made for quiet separation; agreements
were mutually entered into and signed.
only to be repudiated by one or the other,
leaving strife and contentious intensifying
the bitterness of feeling on both sides.
The wife alleges that In the face OF all her
efforts to avoid publicity. and after one OF
those mutual agreements made for her
provision, in which she had agreed not to
sue for q divorce from him, and taking
advantage OF her absence from the city he
filed complaint, attempting to obtain
divorce from her. This accounts for tho
title of the suit which is J. w. Van Brock
lin VS.. Candacs Van Brocklin. In his
complaint he charges her with cruel
treatment. being quick tempered.
with having assaulted him with
butcher knife. driving him out Of the
house, and ON one occasion with having
struck him In public place. For these
treatments, which. he claimed. made life
uncomfortable with her, he wanted di-
vorce and ell Of the property. This
complaint proved the proverbial last
straw, which, II ID didn't break q camels
back, broke her patience. and she
fired an answer and cross-complaint at
him. The wounded wife did not spare
him; her allegations we're eouchsd in such
plain language as to leave no doubt that
she was determined TO show no mercy. She
recapitulated the cruel and inhuman
treatment 10 which she says he had
repeatedly subjected her; told of converse
tions In which he had said that he did not
love her, but loved another woman; mem
toned numerous acts wherein he had
broken the seventh commandment, even
to deseerating the sanctity Of the home;
followed his movements to dissolute places
in the lower ward of the city. openly
driving about the streets with women
Of ili-repute, and closes by naming
and giving dates relating TO . woman
named Adele McKennedy as correspond
emit. To this Van Brocklin made the
usual stereotype legal reply generally
denying everything.
At the trial yesterday, when 10 was
found that Van Brocklin would put In no
appearance, It was agreed between the
court and the counsel on both sides TO
have the divorce on the grounds of cruelty
and brutal treatment only and not TO refer
TO the other and more serious charges.
Mrs. Van Brocklin, motherly lady,
nearly 90 years old. told her story of neg
lect, and being corroborated by other
witnesses, conclusions were soon reached
Judge Humes granting her prayer for a
dissolution of the bonds and agreeing to
sign the stipulations filed by both sides
touching the division OF the property.
The stipulation provides as follows: ].
w. Van Rrocklin Is to convey by deed OF
warranty 90 Candace Van Brockhn the
home residence; also the real estate de-
scrfbed as follows: The undivided \ of
lots and 6, in block X. of Sells fourth
addition 20 Seattle, together with all the
appurtsnances thereto. He is also to
transfer 10 her by bill of sale all the house
hold furniture contained in the home resi-
dence. including pictures and all articles
of personal property except piano and
large picture given By Van BrocKlin TO his