The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-02-06
Engineer Kennedy Explains Why
He Slashed a Handsome
Cloak.
THE FATE OF A TAMALE.
How the Plaintiff in a Divorce Suit on
One Occasion Dropped Hot
Stove.

The case of William ]. Kennedy against
Catherine, his wife, for divorce, was begun
before Judge Slack yesterday morning.
Kennedy is an engineer in the Fire De-
partmept - Engine Company o. He
charges his wife with cruelty and deser-
ton. Kennedy testified that his wife
created such frequent disturbances about
the engine-house, No. II OF Mint avenue,
to which he was attached, that the Chief
Engineer said be could not stand it and
transferred him to No. 9.
The trouble between the couple began in
July, 1894, at which time the wife, accord
ing to the testimony, had fallen into the
habit Of going to entertainments without
asking his leave. She went to a
suburban picnic against his protest, and
from that time forward there was trouble.
Kennedy took his wife to the Orpheum
| some time later and after the theater was
out suggested that they go to a certain
| place for a tamale. He had never been to
the place, but his wife had admitted that
| she had gone there with her sister, a lady
| friend and two young men.
He wanted to see the character of the
| place. Mrs. Kennedy led the way to a
| private room and touched the electric but
ton Tor waiter, and altogether showed SO
much familiarity with the place that the
! husband declared it was time for them to
separate. He told his wife she was s'get-
ting too fly, travelling too speedy" to suit
him. He testified also that she confessed
to him having visited place of i'll repute
with a woman friend.
Colonel O'Byrne, attorney for the wife,
who sat beside him, cross-examIned the
husband at great length He asked for
particulars about the scene at the "Iamale
joint on Kapp street"
Mrs. Kennedy whispered to her attorney.
"0h!' said the Colonel, 81 am not up
on these places. Tell US about the scene
at Captain Streets tamale joint"
Under the cross-examination the wife
produced rather handsome black cloak
cut to pieces and asked him to explain how
it came so.
He said it was part of an outfit his Wits
had purchased with money he furnished
| Just previous to their marriage. That
afterward, when his wife took to keeping
company of which he did not approve,
| she was about to give the cloak to her sis
| ter. He thereupon cut the cloak to prevent
her doing SO.
| Mrs. Kennedy also exhibited box con-
tanning the fragments of the ornaments
that had decorated their wedding cake,
and Colonel O'Byrne asked the witness
how they came to be broken in that
! fashion.
CATER we separated" he said, sand my
wife had taken all that she wanted from
our rooms, she left these upon the mantel,
saying that / might decorate my room
with them. l threw them upon the floor"
Colonel O'Byrne wanted to know about a
certain occasion when Kennedy threw an
oil stove out of the window. He explained
it. He forbade his wife Keeping company
with certain young girl. She went
away with the girl, however, and her sis
ter, and returning to the house they
climbed into back window, got upstairs
and were cooking supper on the stove
when he discovered their presence.
He climbed the stairs. and, picking up
the stove, was going to carry it down. but
it burned his hands and he tossed it out OF
the open window.
a physician testified to having treated
Mrs. Kennedy for Commissions upon the
side and hip. The bruises, it was alleged
by the respondent, were inflicted by Mr..
Kennedy. Kennedy declared they were
the result of fall from bicycle while his
wife was riding in the park, and at time
subsequent to their separation.
| The case will be resumed Saturday
1 morning.