The morning call., 1894-07-11
THE WOES OF MRS. BROWN.
How She Took Her Daughter to
Europe to School.
KIDNAPPING OF THE YOUNG LADY.
A Weird Tale of a Marriage in Japan,
an Abandonment in Europe, a
Divorce in Dakota.

A curious tale of marriage and divorce
was developed in Judge Hebbard's court
yesterday when May Agnes Brown sue
Ceeded in obtaining an order setting aside
a decree of divorce obtained against her
in South Dakota some years ago.
1t transpired that the plaintiff and her
husband, Robert W. Brown, were married
in 1874 in Yokohama, Japan. Brown was
the agent in China and Japan for large
commercial house in Dakota, and his bust
ness engagements compelled bis residence
abroad for several years. The couple
lived happily together for long while, a
daughter being horn to them, Elizabeth
Louise Blown, now II years of age.
In the year 1885 it became necessary that
the young lady should receive rather
better education than the schools Of China
and Japan afforded her. and. according to
the wife's story as told in the complaint
and at the subsequent hearing Of the case,
it was agreed that Mrs. Brown should
leave her husband for some length of time
and take her daughter to Europe, there to
complete her training. This was done,
and Mrs. Brown and her daughter took up
their residence in various parts OF Germany
and Switzerland, being amply furnished
All went we'll until August %, 1892,
when Mrs. Brown and her daughter were
residing at Lausanne, Switzerland. On
that day the daughter mysteriously disap-
peared. and It afterward came to Mrs
Browns knowledge that she had been ab-
Quoted by her fathers direction and taken
to America, where Brown joined her and
took her to live him at Cleveland, Ohio.
From the dav of her daughters dlsap-
mao Inn r nnnl hof hn
was completely abandoned by her hus-
band. who contributed not one cen toward
her support Finally, in her distress she
applied to her mother for relief, and by
her assistance she found her way back to
her home IN California.
Soon after her arrival Mrs. Brown was
served with papers, informing her that
her husband had instituted divorce pro-
ceedings against her In the courts of South
Dakota, pleading wIllful desertieu as the
ground. Again Mrs. Brown obtained as
sistauce from Der mother and started for
South Dakota, where she vigorously Op-
posed the divorce, claiming among other
contentious that her husband was not a
resident of that locality, and that conse-
quently the South Dakota courts had DO
jurisdiction.
The decree, however, went against her,
aud Brown get his divorce. He was or
dered, however. to pay his wife substantial
alimOny, and the court ordered that the de-
cree of divorce should not be entered until
the first installment of alimony was paid.
1t was not paid, however, as Immediately
after the proceedings came to a conclusion
the husband jumped on car. and from
that day to this Mrs. Brown has neither
seen nor heard of him.
All this story came out in court ysster-
day in support of the wife's petition to have
the decree of divorce obtained in South
Dakota set aside. The husband did not
appear, being absent in China, it was said,
nor was he legally represented. Accord
ingly, after hearing the evidence, Judge
Hebbard granted The wife's petition and
set aside the decree.
Mrs. Brown will in all probability turn
round now and herself sue for a divorce.