The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-05-20
FAMILY BROKEN UP.
Itsah 4. Pontius h Beingsusd
for . Divorce.
4 WIDOW THE ALLEGED cAusr,



pssan on ~ . AssaasAps ln1Aeu..
ssna Asr . Fair CAasnsr.
n announcsnent that livsres proeeeo-
~ we're commenced yesfsrday ~ h4s
u1fs against Frank A. Pontius. vfn b. .
Hsune surprise TO the many friends sad
6rupaintances Of both hiuseH ed wlfa
-. pcuss0 u eas OF the baDs knewn youne
b1fnszs mon or the city. he's lived here
aacs sariy childhood. ana has accunu-
htsd handsome competence. He has A.
UayB bsen considsrsd . man OF most sx-
sn2lzry habsts. and . oodsi Of discresson.
H and hx wife have been maxFssd for
ssasiy ssnsteen ysArs. and v9s each ouifo
Sssng whsn thsy entered upen thas sstatAL
Mrs. Poutius' story.
Prom the complaint sied By Mrn. Pom
dzs Il appears that their domestic felsctty
remained uninterrupted for seventsan
years An unfortunate absence from
hons. on her part, some two years since.
led to her husbands forming . connecfs3n
which resulted In . disrupfton of their
homa . complete alienation OF her has-
hsad's affections. and ultimately the bring
~ Of the divorce sufs-
Absorbing TO the story Of the ccmplalnt
xr ponfias during the absence Of his wife
formed the acquaintance Of q fasr widow.
wboss IDENTITY II not made public - yet.
but about whom more viii probably be
hard before ths case V finally disposed
e. Or this widow he proceeded to lavish
II attentions and affections lawfully due
~ wife. and the latter vas from tia,
ens forward treated with studied cold
80 or open insult. carried TO The extreme
= Instances Of brutality. apparently. the
esmpiaint sAys, to force her TO seek this
divorce courts for relief. and thus free him
lssm tsss which bad become calling.
INA complaint In voluminoas. II opens
nth Tho formal recitations A. TO the mar
rAgs Of the parties. which took place In
1hWston county on July q. III. the fact
oAat there are two children. Frank A.
runfsn. r.. aged i-'s years. and Alice
Irsae. aged about nine years, aud : de-
ssfpsion OF the property sowned BIZ the
parties a. community. Thia includes .
6nrvs number OF fots In the Frank A.
postsus ADDITION. including the family resi-
lsacs aad othsr property. collectively
worth obs.G6. The plaintiff has Also. II IL
ct ouf. property Of her own. In which the
community has no interest. OF the yallss
q S7ee and ths defendant likewise has
fudfvtds ai property OF the value Of E.sD0.
Ne has ikswtss. IN expectancy, prospective
esss - executor Of the will Of the late
Gardner Kenyon. deceased. which. v -
piaintin claims Nh b community prop
Wty.
The complaint than goes on 60 descriho
paaincfrs grounds for divorce. II alleges
that plaintiff hAs always been good.
true. faithful and loving wife to defend
aue and has upsn her part faithfully dis
sAargsd and performed al the duties and
sSIlgations OF the marriage relation That
~ seventeen years the defendant was .
49, ~ A. IA htra f.a nj
10 his business. rewArdfui Of his reputation
n the community IN which he resided.
mindful OF the rights Of his wife. attached
20 his home. and IN all respects devoted
husband. During those years they worked
hard 20 accumuiate a comp~tence. In all
business transactions the defendant con-
Gatsd the plaintiff. ana piaintifr lent her
counsel and advice IN business and social
matters. In those years plaintiff and de-
lsndant were happy and prosperous.
An Unfortunate Visit
Unfortunately. "a II turned out. thu
plaintiff on July IL. ises. with her hus-
70 relatives and friends at her girihood .
homo ia Thurston county. She was alb
sent for Ave weeks and on her return was
surprised and shocked to md a marked
change in her husbands manner. He was
cold indifferent and careless. and ceased
from that time to exhibit towards his wife
and children the warm. affectionate man
nsr which had previously characterized
him.
The explanation soon came. He insisted
that his wife should accompany him to
eaio on a certain widow, whose name Ia
rot disclosed. She did accompany him
~ requested. From that time on de-
PENDANT continued TO pay marked atten-
ton TO this widow, taking her riding In
a.. 1tssr n
the home % plaintiff and defendant. unul
the plaintiff grew tired OF 10 much atten-
ton 70 the widow. Defendant would cause
the cream to be taken from the cans Of
milk Of their only cow. which defendant
would carry down and give 90 the widow.
tsprivinr plaintiff and the family OF the
same. and OF the butter which should
have been made thsrefrosn. Plaintiff re-
monstratei and defendant grew very
ercss. angry and routy. Abou, this time
the husband fell sick. and during his sick
ne0 ths attractive widow visited him dali
". sitting by him on the bed for hours
81 . time. laughing and chatting With
him. the couple apparently enjoying each
ctAefs company too much The PLAINTIFF
Il that time did not believe that there
vas any undue attachment. hut conssd-
cred their conduct indiscrcet. and remon-
ssratsa with her husband. tho only effect
being 20 make him angry and abusive
toward her
Piaintify soon discovered the conduct Of
Defendant 20 said widow was improper
and that an unlawful attachment existed
between them. He met her ciandestineiy.
she visited his once and remained there
for hours AZ time. Plaintiff went there
onee ard defendant tried 20 persuade her
IL sit down in the outer Office. lie was
nervous aud Hurried. and retired 10 his
private cffice. Fisintin saw Defendant let
Tire widow cut % door TO the private
cfce
The Rupture Grows.
On January 4 1895. the defendant en-
esAvcred 80 persuade plaintiff 20 sign .
paper stating IN eject tina, his relations
With the widow we're proper, and that an
That plaintiff miEh, have said about the
widow and the defc naart's relations vita
her was a lie. but she refused. saying Sha
had said nothing about the matter 20 any
enc except the defendant himself De-
fendNns became very angry, SAYING 10
rlainur, THIS is all want 20 know OF
you
AT various times siacs October l. iSsA
Defendant has cursed plaintiff and used
VIE ard opprohlous cplthst< towards her.
src used vile and tadeccnt language tow
ards her. which epithsts and language
we're a. obscene ard Indecent that plain
10 vii not set shevu down IN the COM
PLANT unless required 50 20 do BY the
court
On February - issS. ana ever STAGE. the
erfssezrt refused and rss refused O. co
eAn.t With tire P,A3nsig Or 20 sustain
teear3 her the relation 81 husband.
And On October :. iSaA defendant. %
rs ewr W.T. ard against the Win ana pro-
-