The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-11-28
A Case Where Mans Brutality Be-
comes Intolerable to the Wife.
THE LAvoIE DIVORCE CASE
1t Is Alleged That the Husband Ac
cused the Woman OF Every
Wrong Doing In Satan's
Catalogue.


jurors were John Boyd. James Kemp,
n. J. Dunn, Gust Jiencke. John Roman,
Parrdck Doyle, w. L. FAINT, Joe Arch
aubaarlt, Isaac Meagher, George c.
Leford, L. d. Aiken and James Burns.
Mrs. Lavode was the first witness
and testified, In answer to questions
osked by her attorney, Thompson
Campbell, that she was married to the
defendant at Deer Lodge on July rs,
1891. and soon thereafter the trouble
began. He charged her with contin-
ued intimacy with her former husband,
a man named williams. from whom
she had been divorced, and frequently
beat and cholred her and threatened TO
Kan her and her little daughter and
also made the foulest accusations
against the little girl. His cruelty be-
came so frequent and unIbearable that
she commenced an action for divorce
IN 1894, but afterwards withdrew the
case and went back to live with him
again. The Climax was reached ON the
10th OF last July. Mrs. Lavofe was
out with her daughter to a rehearsal
and returned home about 10 O'Clock at
might. Mr.. Lavoie was In bed and when
rhey came home he accused his wife
of having been out for immoral pur-
poses and also applied vile epithets TO
the girl and accused her of having per-
united a cowboy to kiss her that day.
He jumped out of bed and said he
would kin the girl and she ran out IN
90 the kitchen and Mrs. Lavoie biockeu
the door and then he choked her.
81 scratched his face and bit his
thuu1b to make him let 60" she said,
land he struck me over the head and
kicked me so that / became black ana
blue all over and my head was bleed
ing" She said a roomer in the house
came and interfered and Lavote went
back 10 bed, but soon got up again and
put her and the girl out of the house
and told them not to come back
or he would kill them. They went to
different friends trying to get place
to stay during the night but none of
them had room for them and they
were compelled to seek shelter at the
woman's and Children's home. Since
then they have not lived with the de-
PENDANT and Mrs. Lavoie secured en-
ployment in a laundry. She said he
never did support her and didn't own
a piece of furniture or anything else.
Mrs. Lavoie said she thought many
of their quarrels resulted on account
OF the girl 50 she took her 10 Deer
Lodge and kept her there but the quar-
rels went ON just the same
On cross-examination Lawyer O'Don-
nell asked her ar ID was not a fact that
she had been divorced from her for
mer husband and within two weeks
married the defendant, but the court
ruled the question out and Mr.. O'Don-
neil had nothing further to ask.
Katie Williams, the 14-year-old dau-
gshter of Mrs. Lavoie, and a bright and
pretty girl. substantiated the testimony
of her mother and related some OF the
defendants numerous acts OF cruelty.
&1...t 4str~x 49,
out of the house her mother had on
nothing but her underskirt and she
was bleeding on her head and her neck
was black and blue from the choking
she had been given by Lavoie.
sam Hogan, a Norwegian, and q
cousin OF Mrs. Lavoie testified that he
was a witness to the row on July 10
and twice tried to pacify Lavoie and
got him to return to bed, but he got
up the third time and then Hogan let
them fight II out and the last he saw
of them they were sort o. scratching
around" After Mrs. Lavoie had left
the house Lavoie told Hogan he would
not give up until me had both their
hearts under the ground. Lavoie did
not come out of the ARRAY entirely UNI
scauhed, for the blood was running
down his face from a scratch or cut
on the forehead and Hogan patched
him up with sticking plaster.
On cross-examination Mr.. O'Donnell
asked Hogan ff ne ever paid any board
while me lived with tho Lavoies but the
court could not see the relevancy of
the testimony and sustained an objec-
tfon to the question. ODonnel then
asked the witness IL his memory was
very good. Hogan thought about IL
a httle while and then said: II think
it's all right"
The defendant testified In his own be-
half and denied that he ever abused his
wife In any way.
1--WE had several words off and on"
he said, "but never abused her. Man
and wife are bound to have some words
sometimes, but / never choked her or
struck her. We had some words sever
al times but / don't remember the
dates. Choke her or beat her 1 never
did yet We had some words and then
she would go one way and / another
and that would end IT.
Lavoie denied ever having abused
the girl or that ne threatened her. but
he said he had heard that a cowboy
had kissed her and he said he Thought
NJ was a shame and that IF had seen
him I would make him kiss me-"
In speaking about the events OF
July 10 he said his wife came home and
she tore hts clothes and said to me-
-.I fight YOU and then she
got bucket of water and was going
throw II on me IN bed but got up and
she got afraid and run out"
He said she soon returned with a
cup or soup bone IN her hand and
struck him over dhe head with II and
cut him so that the blood flowed and
then she smashed up some things and
left the house. She remained away
for four weeks ana he then went In
search of her and found her working
at a laundry. He asked her TO return
burt she said never again." and ne
said ''very well" and "all right"
The defense had no further testimony
TO offer and t1e case was submitted to
the jury without arguments and FIVE
minutes later a verdict was returned
for Mrs. Lavole.
Lavoie was evidently so well pleased