The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-06-20
THE PONTIUS CASE
All the Sensational Features
Are Now Eliminated.
ONLY CONTEST OVER PROPERTY
M Other Mismssed Couples Receive
Their Releases Receiver for
the Belt Line Rafiroad.

hearing before Judge Osborn in the ST.
perfor court yesterday morning at II
o,cssck II was set for an earlier hour. bur
the attorneys for the parties we're in con-
ferencs for the purpose Of endezycrsng a.
much as possible In the matter 20 eiInin-
ate from the ease ali the sensational fea-
lures and leaving II simply = contest over
N equitable division OF the properly. The
basis Of the agreement reached between
che counsel was that Mrx. Pontizs should
Withdraw ali charges CONNECTING her hus-
tznGs name with "a certain widow" the
ntter should withdraw his crozs-com-
pszlnt. the mother should take tbs little
giri. and the father the boy. and after
csying the debts the whole property own
e By PontIus. whether community or sep
arase property. should be divided between
them. This left practically the sole aues-
ton In issue the value of the property.
The attorneys for the wife tried TO make
gu, that the property had much higher
value. and that the debts were less than
the defendant would admit. and 20 this end
the examination OF witnesses was direct
81. after bringing out proof sufficient to
warrant the granting OF . divorce. The
ease was not concluded yesterday. but
goes over until next Monday. r. ~. Hxr-
din and w. n. Gay appeared for Mrs. Pom
titus, and r.. G. Hughes and Alfred Battle
for the defendant. At II O'Clock. when the
case Was called, Mr.. Gay arose and said:
IF the court please. when we commenced
this suit, in our complaint we made GER
tain specific alieg atoms OF matters which
particularly appear Ia paragraph 9 In
thai paragraph reference IL made to q
lady. whom VIC have denomlnAted as a
widow. II was not intended at that time
10 charge any immoral or illegal conduct
between said lady and the defendant. They
were simply pleaded as matters sxplana-
tory Of what the plaintiff believed 10 be
enc of the causes OF tho estrarge-
ment OF defendant from her At
that time. as I said, We did not
believe there was any immoral or
Illegal conduct such that the name OF the
lady should be given. and for that reason
II was omitted from the papers. and upon
withdraw All allegations In relation to said
lady"
Tho hearing then proceeded. Mrs. PEN
tins was the first witness examined she
testified that they were married July -.
isTs. In Thurston county. and have since
resided In this county. There are two
children. Frank A. r., aged iz1z. and
Alice. 10 years. She has always treated
her husband kindly ard been n good sife.
They lived happily together for seventeen
years Their first trouble arose about two
years ago. about July. iss4 Since that
time he has ceased 10 treat her affection
atsiy. He has been cold, and has ignored
her altogether. He has repeatedly, on
dozens OF occasions. said that he would
DOT live with her. that he hated and despis-
Cd her; that he was going 20 get a divorce
II witness would not do so.
They have been living in their own home
IN the frank Pontius addition for six
years On January q. fssS he left the
house and has never returned. He took a
separate bedroom IN October, 1895. and
they have occupied separate rooms since
He told her in October TO consult A lawyer
ard get a divorce. She told him that she
DID not want a divorce. and for the sake
Of the children the matter should be set
ted. In August. 1896. her sister came TO
visit them She and her sister had q con-
versation with the husband. He said he
was going 20 take HIS hat and leave. On
August 3 they had another conversation.
He said he was determined 10 leave and
fet divorce. He hated her face, and
hated the sight OF her
He would leave the house at IN the
morning and would not return untu from
i to 9 O'Clock the NEXT morning This com
mencsd In May, 1895. and continued until
ne finally left On October f2, 1885. the
witness went to Tacoma. returning the
zane evening. IL was - minutes TO II
when she returned home. The door was
locked and she could not get in. She had
70 throw stones up 10 the window 20 awake
the s>rvant girl. Mr.. Pontlus had locked
the house. That same might he COM
rencet occupying a separate room.
AZ the time they were married the par
ties had Just $40 in cash. The real estate
CT the parties was acquired By Mr.. Pom
uas from his father and mother MFR
Pont'ns had the money, the 600 Seven
lets IN fhA Tatr4rtrx a.s
70 both or them az n wedding present tn.
remaining property was given some three
years afterwards. IL was Wild land then
II has since been improved, the lots clear
ed ap and plated and streets graded. This
has been done with money earned since
marriage
The residence occupied BY them IS a %
roen house. situated IN the center Of SIX
lots, with lawn. shrnbbery. walks aud
Sewers. The house is IN good repair. cost
between ssoeo and tS.esa EXCLUSIVE % tha
cost OF fixing thu grounds. The improve
ments Altogether cost 5000 ~ ts furnish
81 IN plain. ordinary manner.
Iaey have lived In a very plain man
ner. Only part Of the fins since marriage
nave they had servants. They recently
had a man employed taking care of the
grounds ana horses. and also = maid SER
want The maid servant was DISCHARGED
vas tn poor health and IN no condition 70
Dc the household work. The mar was dis
charged last October.
she testified further concerning the
various properties owned by them ana how
shey were acquired. and also IS to her
SEPARATE property.
Since January. iSes. he has not furnished
her 20 exceed 81 20 SO month She has
eeea compelled to borrow from relatives
All frfaFsfn = aNsaFr 80
uss The defendant has On various coca
sloas used improper language. has sworn
:, ner. called her vile names and used In
escant language toward her. For TIE last
tes months he has never sraken. except
es rare occasions. II worried her. made
ner sick and ereke down her health. she
seVer gave hifn any Gauss. she tried
sesens % times - effect q reconciliation.
est without any result whatever
"her tAey were first married Re Was en-
sag~4 IN the drug business. racA was -
sears OF aEe. The plaintiff fie her own
AeFk- spent very httie, lived IN a ntsie
eetfaSe On the outskirts % the tovH. ana
we &C AL that she could 20 help hsr. 20
: 81 Along. They iivef there fcr ten years
shs said that all her clothing together
vas Hot worth ever So. ana her tewslrv
consisted % a watch sn3 Hgn. Ca jana
az IS after he discharged the servants. he
~lAes her sn obscene and vie nar.e. ana
ssAec her when she was going 60 give hfra
81 answer. meaning when she was xoiuE
81 esra aave = divorce He shook his
- N her face he told several merchants
go 20 trust her wftA aay wAcas.
sc testified tksR ths value 81 TIE tsss a
-. - FTsak pontIuS a5sssioa was $50 20
- eacA- IN the last two Years Mr. Roa-
US has BAD from sia 40 20 s13@sa. Part af
: ne spets IN paying bills, sene II pavfnx
aese> BE Ect the money BY borrowing
$50 fFOra sales ana rSsi& TIE rszs~ are
49,, SIS per uaonth
NJ Roatfgs resumed the xt&n4 a.
9Niack anF weas axav~sr.a8 sss~~ka- 4, -