The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-10-15
HOW THEY FELL OUT.
Rather ODD Story of the Pelton
Divorce Case.
not SO EASY TO RID ONESELF
or Wife on the Spur OF She Moment.
Judge HAGEN Changes His Mind.


Judge HAGEN Changes His Mind.
That lightning divorce case which
Lawyer Hib Case rushed through the
district court in five hours some weeks
ago has turned out to prove the old
adage that haste makes waste. 1t isn't
divorce after all. Judge Hazen yester-
day changed his mind on the facts being
presented to him and set aside the judg-
ment.
When Dr. Daniel R. Pelton of Lane
street filed his divorce petition at II
o'clock one morning with the answer of
his wife attached, and by consent the
case was called up and the divorce grant
ed at O'clock that very afternoon, peo-
pie thought it was the incest affair all
around that had ever happened IN the
district court. They wished that othera
could be as nice and amiable about such
little matters as Mr. and Mrs. Pelton.
The ground for the divorce was the
general and formal accusation. extreme
cruelty"
This phrase doesn't mean anything in
particular. 1t is inserted just like ''afore-
said, etc.
Mrs. Pelton's attorney yesterday read
afidavits to Judge Hazen which made
him quickly reverse his decision about
the Divorce.
Thecause of this divorce suit is re-
markable one. One evening DR.. Pelton
sat reading the JOURNAL while Mrs. Pei
ton. who had returned but few days be-
fore from a summer vacation in Col
orado, sat on the porch be-
side him. Three divorces had been
granted that day, and as the doctor read
the news his wife laughingly remarked
Its getting to be the fashion, evil
IDENTIFY, to get divorces"
"Well, think it's time to get them
when married people have lost conf
dence in each other" was the doctors
gruff reply. This was followed by
laughing replies by Mrs. Pelton to her
husbands serious observations along the
line he had begun.
At last the truth dawned upon her.
"Why, Daniel, you don't mean US" she
said.
Eyes, I do mean US, the Peltons," he
replied hestedly, as he stamped his foot
and pounded his cane on the porch.
The next day paper was brought to
her to sign. 1t was her answer to his
divorce petition already prepared by the
attorney who wrote the petition.
She objected She was told that uu-
less she signed the answer she would be
charged with unchastity She wrote her
not come off for thirty days She was a
widow in five hours
The Peltons are said to be worth
$4,000. By the divorce Mrs. Pelton was
given $500. Through the efforts of their
married sou she was given some old
mortgages amounting to $500. She was
awarded the custody of their 5-year-oid
boy.
After these facts had been presented
to Judge Hazen yesterday. Pelton's
attorney arose to read some
affidavits reciting that Mrs. Pelton
had consented to the matter all through.
THAT will do; 1 don't cafe to hear any
thing further" said Judge Hazen. "Y gu
know, MIR Case, that l would never have
granted this divorce had l known that
these parties mad been living together all
the time, and had, in fact, lived together
the very night before the divorce was
given. How absurd. l set aside the
judgment heretofore granted"
by the way, Mrs Pelton will keep
that 5000 allowed her by the other de-
cree" he continued. "She may need il,
said Junge Hazen with q twinkle in his
eye.
Several people are having trouble this
term with their actions before the dis
trict judge for divorce. 1t is not long
since Andrew FabeI wished he had never
asked for a legal separation from his
wife. You may be able to deceive Judge
! Hazen, but when he knows the facts of
a case his wrong rulings are as scarce as
| May apples in January.