The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-03-28
THIS is A SAD RECORD.
Divorce Day ina the District Court
Many Mistaken Loves.

Many Mistaken Loves.
Fifteen divorce cases were called in
the district court today.
The height of senile love in second
childhood, the poor romance of woman
of 72 marrying a man of so through a
correspondence with him, was the story
told in the divorce case of Polly Randall
Tomlinson, of Iecumseh, VS.. Jonathan
Tomlinson, of PIainfield, Ind.
The two people were married on Feb
ruary 81. 1895. without having seen each
other before, and had been correspond
ing only since January II. The answer
of Lawyer Hib Case for Mr.. Tomlinson
was read by Chas. F. Spencer to the
court. and it was altogether remarka-
BILE one. Tomlinson claimed that she
proposed marriage to him, said she had
$4,000, was middle aged, and all he
would have to do would be to ride around
the country in buggy and wear good
clothes.
"Tomlinson was poor but happy man
in his PlaInfield home," began Mr.. Case
for his client, while Judge Hazen lily re-
strained his smiles He was free and
untrammeled, free from any female in
umbrance. But he was easily en-
trapped. This Kansas widow wrote to
him asking him to marry her, and actual
ly sent him the money for him to come
on, He knew nothing about Kansas,
Kansas widows. She sent him photo
graph, which l have on the wall of my
office now, which was considerably dis
guised, like Gold Brick Gordon disguised
his the other day by closing his eyes
"But, oh what an awakening. When
he got here he Immediately fastened in
to matrimony before he could find out
whether the assets were as represented.
Several days later he found instead of
his wife being a middle aged woman she
was past II. Instead of driving around
the country and wearing good clothes he
was made to work the 10 acre farm. In
stead of her supporting him as she
agreed, he was forced to go to the
neig hbors for a cot and for bread; she
gave him stone at home. So he was
turned adrift and forced to paddle his
own canoe back to Plainfield on the blind
baggage, where he arrived with nothing
but his reputation, in Plainfield, still i'm
maculate."
He had his Kansas experience" sug-
gested Judge Hazen.
"For all of this we want alimony, at
least enough to pay his attorneys fees"
ended Mr. Case.
Mrs. Tomlinson said that he had writ
ten to her first; he had also proposed.
Letters from Tomlinson to her, written in
January and February, 1895, were read
In one of them he addressed Mrs. Tom
linson as "Dear kind handmaiden of the
Lord :"
Judge Hazen cracked joke when
Lawyer Spencer apologized for the
spelling by saying, HE lived in Indiana.
you say?"
Judge Hazen granted the divorce aud
awarded Tomlinson $25 for attorneys
| fees, making Mr.. Case happy. Mrs.
Tomlinson has about $4,000 at interest
| beside her acre farm.
"Are you afraid of your husband ask
ed the judge of Mrs. James II. Ricketts,.
"Yes, sir. He threatens to shoot me.
| He always wanted to have his own way
| about a month after we were m arried
| He was extremely jealous, and said if he
| caught me on the street he would shoot
me. Then he got up in the night and
asked for his revolver and l always had
to take it down stairs and hide it. Then
he would hunt for poison"
.How old are your"
"I am II, aud he is %. He lives in
| Winchester, Kan"
Judge Hazen gave her $50 alimony
| with the divorce
The following cases were dismissed
for want of prosecution:
Missouri E. vs. Albert E. Green.
| Florence VS.. Benjamin Cole.
| Alice vs.. Robert Haney.
May vs.. Frank S. Howard.
Fannie VS.. Ewing Page.
Matte VS.. Dudley Arthur.
| Winnie vs.. Frank R Dunlap.
| Dora E. VS.. c. M Henstis
| LueIla A. VS.. Vim. r. French.
Catherine vs. Henry Snider.
Two or three cases were continued
and two, Pratt vs.. Pratt and Hummer vs.
| Hummer, are to be heard before court
| adjourns today.
Today was the beginning of three
divorce days, the other two are mex