The morning call., 1894-10-26
FOR HIS CRUELTY.
William A. Allen Divorced
From His Wife.
WHO MADE HIM SOMEBODY.
She Was Daughter of the Late
William T. Garratt.
BROUGHT HER HUSBAND RICHES
A Sad Tale of Insane jealousy Ac-
companied by Acts of Gross
Brutality.
WHO MADE HIM SOMEBODY.
BROUGHT HER HUSBAND RICHES

A curious tale of husbands ungoyern-
able temper and wild, insane jealousy was
unfolded to the ears of Superior JGdGe
Hebbard yesterday, eliminating 10 a de-
cree of divorce being awarded to Mrs.
Amelia C. Allen from William c. Allen on
the ground of extreme cruelty.
The plaintiff in the case is the daughter
of the late William T. CARAT, the rich
brass-f0under, and inherited good por-
ton of her fathers wealth, consequently
il should have been an auspcous day for
William A. Allen, a freight clerk in the
employ of the Pacific Mail Company, when
he made tie acquain lance Of Miss CARAT
and succeeded in Winning her love. This
was in 1880. and, despite the fact that Gar
raft was opposed to the match, the couple
were married on April 8 of that year.
According to the complaint fled by the
wife a few months ago, Allen, from the
very outset, behaved in a very eXtraordi-
nary manner. Two children. both sons.
came to bless what ought to have been a
happy union. but for all that the husband
was disconnected. He gave way to fits of
unreasonable jealousy and even succeeded
in forcing his wife to drop all her acquaiDt-
ances. Then he went from bad TO worse
and commenced to abuse his wife. He
would catch hold of her, beat her and
choke her, and he would deny her right TO
lavish even the smallest particle of affec-
ton upon her children. His jealousy and
selfishness went so far as to require that
every possible attention should be bestowed
upon his unworthy self.
Finally, one day in January, 1891, Allen
became more than usually violent. He
came home, seized hold of his wife and
choked her so violently as 10 make her
seriously ill., This was the last straw. and
after that Mrs. Allen refused to live with
her husband again. She moved away from
him, and with her children took up her
abode at 2230 Howard street. She made
no complaint; all she asked of her hus-
band was that he should leave her In peace.
But this the un woUthy Allen would not
do. According to the wife's complaint he
used to call at her house every day. De-
spite the fact that she had thrown off all
allegiance 10 him he used TO exercise his
marital privilege of abusing her on each
and every occasion. He threatened her
also, telling her that if she attempted to
sue for divorce be would Kill her and her
attorney. Mrs. Allen told him she would
not sue for a divorce if he would only leave
her alone, but she would never live with
him again.
Matters reached climax on June of
the present year. when Allen called at the
house in a very excitable mood and pro-
ceeded TO i'll treat his wife, 80 that she
threatened to send for a policeman. She
tried TO leave the room, but Allen would
not let her. and then the poor woman had
to call for help. Her cries attracted the
attention of friend who dwelt in the
upstairs part Of the house, Mrs. Wood
ward, who promptly came TO the rescue.
Seeing this Allen attacked her too, and
when Mrs. Woodward rushed to the win
dow TO call for assistance he dragged her
away and made more trouble. One of The
mans own children tried to do wha; he
could 10 aid his mother, but his unnatural
father struck him in the face and made
his nose bleed. This was the eud Of
things, and Mrs. Allen lost no time in
suing for her divorce.
Allen filed answer to the suit, denying
generally and specifically all the charges
made against him. True, he admitted the
policeman episode, but said that this was
caused by an ebuIlition of ungoverna bic
temper on the part Of his wife. She had
called for policeman when there was no
need for it, he said. He engaged lawyers
TO represent him, and preparations were
made for a bitter legal contest
After a continuance or two the case came
up for trial yesterday before Judge Heb
bard, but although Mrs. Allen appeared,
surrounded by bevy of friends her hus-
band failed to show up. Pretty soon. how
ever, ex-Justice Van r. Paterson ap-
peared on behalf of Allen and stated that
he desired to Withdraw all opposition 10
the suit Judge Paterson said that his
client had intended to fight the case, but
he had advised him not to do SO. sit was
no use bucking against divorce SUITS he
said, especially ons in which a wife made
such charges as were in evidence in this
case. Allen had taken his attorneys adj
vice and had Withdrawn from the contest.
Consequently all that remained was for
the court TO hear Mrs Aliens story.
She spoke Of several specific acts OF
cruelty on the part of her husband, and
further stated that she bad from time to
time advanced him considerable sums of
money to set bin up in business. He was
now commission merchant aud had told
her that his earnings averaged $500
month. He would make as much as 500 in
one day. AS for herself, Mrs. Allen said
she was in need of no money, but in case
of a decree of divorce, she thought her
husband ought to be made to pay a reason
able sum per month for his children's sup
port. The boys were now 13 and 9 years
old respectively.
The plaintiffs testimony being corrobo-
rated by Mrs. Woodward, a decree of
divorce was entered in favor of the wife by
Judge Hebbard, on the ground of extreme
cruelty. Mrs. Allen was granted custody
of the two minor children, but no DISPOSE
ton as yet was made regarding the ques-
ton of alimony.
A Strange Adventure.