Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1894-12-13
THE CITIZEN
Modern Enoch Ardsn.

The divorce suit of Sarah Patterson
against Charles Patterson was placed on
trial before Judge Slagle in Pittshurg last
Thursday. Desertion v as the ct arg T. Q
details Of the case, as told in court, would
furnish material for a novel.
Charles Patterson, the defendant, is a
genuine Enoch Arden. After 2S years of
wandering he returned 10 fad his wife
married to his brother and living in his
house. His welcome was a cold one, and
he was elected from his own house by order
Of his wife Sue next sued for a divorce
from him.
In 1863 Patterson met and married
good locking young tailoress of Meadville,
P. She was the plaintiff in the presentcsse'
Soon after the marriage the couple moved
20 Pttsburg Next Patterson concluded
to go TO the seat of war. To leave his wife
provided for in case Of mis- death, he says,
he made will leaving her whatever he
might receive from his parents estate they
having considerable property. During 1864
and 1865 he was in the Governments en-
ploy, running on railroads in Mississippi,
Tennessee and other Southern States.
At the close of the war be returned TO
PiJsbarg. Work was scarce, and after
month or 50 he decided to 90 West. His
story, as told in court is that he asked mis-
wife to with him to Nevada, but she re
fused. He went alone, and years of adven-
ture and hardship followed. He wrote
many letters home to his wife and mother,
but received no answers. Three of his let
ters were returned to him from the Dead
Letter Office. At the end of year he con-
cluded, to use his own words, THAT every
thing was gone
Before leaving home he had secured 81
eco as an advance on his share of his moth
er's estate, and that was soon gone in TIE
West. He became miner, then pros
pector, and for years roame1 the woods
and mountains Of many States. Various
other callings were taken up, bat be be-
came poorer and poorer. AT last, alter Zo
years absence, he decided to return TO his
old home.
The wanderer reached Pittsburg the day
before Thanksgiving year ago. His CON
dition was desperate, but old acquaintances
whom he hunted up loaned him money for
food and better clothing. From them he
also learned that his wife was living and
had married b brother. The me- day he
went 10 the house in Poplar street, Allie
gheny, where they were living. The house
had belonged to his mother, who had long
been dead, and, he asserted, it was TO have
been HE share of the estate.
Mrs. Patterson had heard Of her first hus
bands arrival. He says that when he call
ed to see her be heard her tell the servant
who came to the door to make him leave
the house. He was put out, but be saw
his wife afterward. She declined TO have
anything to do with him, and his demand
for the property he said, was also refused
suit for a divorce was next entered by
his wife and the charge OF deseriion made.
The story told in court by Mrs. Patterson
was somewhat different She denied that
he asked her 10 go West with him, and
claimed that he deliberately deserted her.
He never wrote to her or sent her assistance
in any way. She had to support herself.
Years passed and she finally concluded he
was dead Her brother in-law was kind to
ner and helped her in many ways. At last
in 1899, satisfied her husband was dead,
she became the wife of his brother. They
had obtained possession of the Poplar
street property and have been living IN ii
since. She has not lived with her second
husband a3 his wife since the return of her
first.
Upon cross-examination Patterson was
asked if he had not married again when out
W est ana had two children and if the wife
and children had not died He denied this
and also denied that he had told such a
story 10 anyone in Pittsburg since bis re-
turn.
Judge Slagle decided for the plaintiff aud
granted the woman a divorce.