The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-10-18
WICHITA CHILD's PATHETIC ANSWER
In q Divorce Trial il Asks its Parents to
Live Together Again.


The Kansas City Star gives the fol-
lowing account of a Wichita womans
effort to get divorce: The first genu-
inc new woman to apply for a divorce
I'm the circuit court of this county was
DR. Mamie A. Stevens. The trial of her
suit began yesterday and was contin
ued today. The people who crowded
the court room to hear the case were
treated to more interesting details than
are usually developed even in the trials
of divorce suits. There was humor and
plenty Of it and a great deal Of pathos
which brought tears to the eyes of
more than one lawyer used to the grind
of the divorce courts.
Ralph Stevens, the husband in the
case, is one of the most prominent bus
fness men of Wichita He has been in
rhe horse and mule business there for
years and owns a handsome home and
two large farms. He is a tall raw
boned Kansan with a good face and his
children and neighbors say he was a
good father and a. man whose character
WAS beyond reproach. DR.. Stevens is
a medium sized woman about forty
years old, with a good face and a mat
ronly look. There is nothing in her ap-
pearance that would suggest the man.
Ssh woman. She has shed a great many
tears during the trial and says she
would rather be dead than live away
from her children and would rather be
In purga tory than live with her hus-
band. DR.. Stevens asks a divorce on
the ground of indignities and infidelity
She asks the custody of their two chill
dren, the eldest a boy thirteen and the
youngest five years old. 1t is doubtful
Of the father would have fought his
wife's suit if IL was not for the children.
He demands the custody of them also.
DIR. Stevens said in her testimony that
Mr.. Stevens called her a "she DOCTOR"
and was always scolding her. He OBJ
jected to her having the medical fac
ulty meet at his house, and would not
come in when they were discussing
medical conundrIms in the parlor. One
of her grievances was that he would
not drive her to visit patients at night
She said he objected to her going to
the meetings of the woman's societies,
and might have gone with her If he
would.
Mrs. Clark of Wichita was q witness
yesterday afternoon for DIR. Stevens.
She is the president of the Hypatia Lit
erary society, a woman society. She
said both Or. and Mr.. Stevens were
among the best people of Wichita and
ahat DR. Stevens was devoted mother
She said DIR. Stevens was president Of
the Equal Suffrage society. and a mem
Der of the Hypatia society and the So
cial Science club when she lived in
Wichita
'She did not spend too much Of her
time at the meetings Of these societies
not near as much time as 1 spent there"
said Mrs. Clarke
Mr.. Stevens was on the witness stand
yesterday and again today. He said all
she domestic differences between him
SELF and wife began when she. with
other women of Wichita, founded the
Women's club and began TO take an ac-
tive hand in reforming the political and
social evils OF Kansas
Many time l was lonesome a. home
caring for the house and the children
while she was out" said he she be-
longed 10 SO many clubs that I don't
remember them all She was a good.
lowing wife up TO that time. She usai
to go around before elections and urge
the women to get out and vote and
when some of them would say they
guessed they'd stay at home. that their
husbands objected 10 them voting. the
doctor would reply: We'll, wouldn't
be a slave 10 any man. Ia show en-. a."
AFR. Stevenson said this with a laugh.
He never once spoke Of Mrs Stevens as
my wife" but always as the doctor
While Colonel English was questioning
Mr.. Stevens he would often begin this
way:
NOW. doctor. isn't il a fact that-Oh.
excuse men; l mean Mr.. Stevens"
DR.. Stevens would glare al him on
occasions of this kind as if she thought
he did IL purposely.
Mr.. Stevens said his wife took expen-
siy-e lessons in oratory after she began
10 mix in politics. and this irritated hin,
considerably. He thought If she knew
enough to talk the babies TO sleep II was
ell the oratory she needed.
While Mr.. Stevens was giving his fes-
tinony last night his youngest boy
came in ard Climbed upon his mothers
lap.
There's my baby now" said Mr..
Stevens to Judge Scarrftt There
ISN'T two nicers children in the world
f4ian mine. 1 dearly love them and
they dearly love their papa"
There were tears in his eyes as he
said il. and DR.. Stevens bent her head
on her boys shoulder and wept audi
bly,.
Little Leslie Stevens. the lS-years-eld /
son OF DR.. Stevens and Mr.. Stevens. was
psIt on the witness stand this morning
he Is an intelligent, good looking boy.