The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-05-12
1Don't publish. "

| sDon't publish"
| That is the order frequently written on
the stub of matrimonial licenses, granted
in the probate court, for the guidance OF
| the press.
| 1t is placed there by the parties who
contemplate marriage. They think it will
be the means of covering up some secret,
but in nine cases out of ten it only serves
| to excite the curiosity o. tie toiler after
news and is mighty good pointer to locate
| an item.
| Four days ago marriage license was
| issued to Anna Adams and Thomas Busby,
| both we'll known in this city. Don't pub
lish" was endorsed on the back Of the
stub.
A little inquiry as to the why and
wherefore" of this secrecy from the public
developed some peculiar facts. Anna
Adams is still, legally, Anna Omen, and
she married Mr.. Busby while still the
legal wife Of Alfred Omen. She says she
did it innocently, thinking her divorce
was granted her, Notwithstanding the
suspicious "don't publish" order. Strictly
constituting the law she would be guilty Of
blgamy. for the presumption OF law Is that
all the people know the law.
IL is quite a coincidence that Thomas
Busby has been in the same fix before.
Last year he secured divorce in the dis
trics court from his former wife on the
ground that she was not divorced from
her former husband. This done, he mar
ried Mrs. Omen who, in law, is still the
rightful wife of Alfred Omen.
HER STORY.
Mrs. Busby, or rather Mrs. Omen, was
visited yesterday at her new home on
South Mosely avenue. She was neatly
dressed and seemed to be happy In her
new relations
She was informed that she was not the
legal wife OF Thomas Busby and she forci-
bly, asserted that she was. The circum-
stances were recalled to her mind aud she
insisted that she was divorced last Sep
TENDER and as eight months had elapsed
she had perfect right to get
married. 1t was Stated to her
that she had not paid the costs in the case
and therefore the decree was not entered
aud was not. therefore a matter OF record.
She insisted that she paid the money to
her attorney j. c. Milton.
THE RECORDS Examined.
The records of the district court were
examined and it was found that in July
she applied for a divorce, but there was
nothing there to show that a divorce had
been granted her. On the contrary there
Was half column of costs unsatisfed. |
The case was carried over from the Sep
TENDER term to the January term and then
TO the present term where it is still pend |
ing as live" case undisposed of. One
record shows the proof of publication of
her notice that she was about to apply for
divorce and the first publication was
December 9, 1898 This was proof positive |
that she could not have been divorced in |
September for if that WAS the
be divorced from. On the contrary she |
asks, in the December publication. to be |
divorced from Alfred Omen. Now, then. |
If she had cot been divorced from Alfred |
Omen in December, as the publication |
notice proves, and had been divorced from |
him after that date, the marriage is still |
null aud void, for it is against the law TO |
marry in this state for six months after q |
divorce Is granted.
JUDGE REED SPEAKS.
Judge Reed was seen in his court room |
and the matter being called to his atten- |
ton be said that he had not yet granted |
divorce to Mrs. Omen. He said that the |
case came up some time last fall and that |
Mr.. Milton acted as her attorney. His |
papers were defective and they had to be |
on Mr.. Milton and asked him when |
he would be ready to proceed |
with that divorce case and was
told by Mr.. Milton that he did not propose |
to go any farther with it as Mrs. Omen
would not pay him. Judge Reed is not in |
yers but he anticipated just what has hap
pened. He thought that Mrs. Omen may
think she had been divorced aud would |
marry again while so believing.
MILTON TELLS HIS STORY.
Mr.. Milton was seen and he stated that |
no decree of divorce had been granted
Mrs. Omen. Il went TO see her." he said.
aud she would not pay me aud / did not
propose to push up the case while she re-
fused TO pay me- The evidence WAS all in
and she had only to pay a trifie to get her
decree in good shape"
Mrs. Omen seems to be sincere in her
statement thst she believed herself To he
divorced in September Notwithstanding
her publication notice in December foI-
lowing and the fact that it was sought TO
keep notice OF her marriage out of the
paper.
This case called forth considerable dis
cuSsion in the court circles, relative to the
looseuess Of the divorces. One gentleman |
said, 81 believe in the discipline OF a certain
church that will not allow divorces. They |
are becoming farce. / have studied the
progress OF the divorce mania and think
1t Is one of the dangers of this country |
Nine out OF every ten people who apply for
"a divorce have another wife or husband
selected for themselves before they COM
mence proceedings. After divorce is
once started, they take 1t for granted
almost that they are at liberty |
aud pay but little attention to tie
further proceedings. / knew a prominent
couple in this city who were married three
months after the wife's divorce Was
granted, and l know two more who are
living together, the wife thinking she is
divorced, while, In reality, her application
was never disposed OF ana Is still pending
because she did not pay the costs. In
future years the childrea CT such people
Will be the victims of this carelessness and
10 the sancitity Of MARI age.
1t is only step from the probate court
To the district court, and it would be well
for divorced people, before getting toeir
licenses. TO step into the district
clerks Office and see whether they are
really divorced
MONETARY MATTERS.