The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-03-28
II WAS THE DANCE DID IT.
The Hit Divorce Case Tried i'm the
District Court.
Roth SIDES SAY BITTER THINGS,

WHICH &h@ Testimony VA @AS OPPO@A@S
shows 80 BE OveFdrawn-Mr, and
Mrs. Hit COuIdn'G Live Happily To-
gether.l
/. The most important divorce case which
P@has been tried in the district court for
many months, owing to the social stand
ing of the parties involved, was that of
Matilda B. Hit VS.. Oliver j. Hit, which
came up before Judge HAGEN yesterday
afternoon
The case was fought bitterly on both
sides, and court room full of men and
women, who know the families of the
contestants, listened to the sensational
( testimony.
Mrs. Hit is the daughter of Rev. J. F.
Sloan, of the Christian denomination,
who lives at 629 West Seventh street, and
s9liver HIT is son of Lawyer J. ]. Hit,
Who lives across the street from Rev. Mr.,
Sloan.
There is much family feeling in the
matter, each family holly championing
the cause of its relative. While the
case was being tried the women gave
audible expressions of incredulity when
ever a. witness ths opposite side resti-
fed to particularly pertinent point, ex-
claiming only, N.Y." "Did you ever"
That's one lie she's told already, laugh
ing derisively and once when o. ]. Hit
maze q point 1OE LIS Case WASu A6 w a5
on the stand the women on his side ap-
sauded.
Lawyer S. B. Isenhart conducted Mrs.
Hits case, while David Overmyer and
J. J, Hit defended young Mr.. Hit.
Much of the contest was over the custody
of the 6ysar-old boy, Raymond. The
trial began at two and lasted until $50.
Mrs. Hit is = rather good looking and
Intelligent appearing woman who dresses
slylishly. She was first upon the
stand. "When were you married
TO Oliver J. Hitt?" was asked.
"On October 20. 1883"
i'Hsve you ever had any serious diff
Guilty with him."
'Yes, sir. The first time was about
three months after our marriage. l
loaned a cape TO a neig h Dor one evening,
and he said he'd be -- if he'd ever
get me anything else, if that's the way 1
was going to do"
did you ever live at the home of his
,pareuts?"
Yes, and they treated me as though l
didn't know anything. He kept saying
he didn't see why I didn't go home toeat
instead of lying around and eating his
fathers grub. He tantalized me by say
ing my father wouldn't take me home"
Ever call you names?"
The witness said he had sworn at her
several times, usually calling her a re-
probate with oaths attahced.
Ever lock yeu out?"
"Yes. twice. You see he didn't want !
me to 60 to church and Whenever / start
ed to go to sing in the choir he would |
say church people were all hypocrites. |
He locked me out of our house on To- !
peka avenue when l had been to church.
The other time was a like occasion in
Pond Creek, and when l woke him he
said, 1 told you if you went I'd lock you
outv
when he got mad he made me sleep
On the floor. He said i'll tried to get in
TO bed he would Kick me out of the house.
During the seven years l slept the
door about seven times. During the last
TWO years this happened pretty often. 1
SLEPT on the floor four nights in success
sion when we lived in Pond Creek, o. T."
Ever strike vou?"
'Once. He was out until $3.50 one
morning, aud 1 had had Mr.. Hit out
hunting for him. I was sitting up in bed
logging him to tell me where he had
been and he slapped me in the mouth as
hard as he could, knocking me to the
bed.''
Did hs ever mortgage your household
goods?"
He was checked up 1881 short when
hs was working cashier for the rail-
road company in Goodland, and got me
to sign mortgage on the goods. He
said: 'Shorty-he always called me
Shorty-sign this and didn't know for
two weeks that it was mortgage"
''Did you ever know of his getting
into trouble at the Shawnee mills?"
Yes. He was working there and was
discharged and told me that the mill was |
not going to run any more nights. But
found out different"
AIRS Hit said she paid $12 bill to |
Groceryman w. P. Fisher, who lives at
III Lane, with money which her father
mad sent her TO pay the rent and Fisher |
mad threatened to arrest Hit because he
obtained the goods by representing him
self to bs clerk in the Santa Fe Offices |
How have you got your livingf"
"for the last seven months l have |
worked for it in Signet, o., as hat !
trimmer. l took Raymond from Topeka |
with me and he has been with nv sister |
IN Mercer, Pa, until March l, when l |
brough him to Topeka and he was forci- |
bly, taken from me on the street by his |
father l hung on to Raymond as long |
as l could, but he pulled him away. He |
pullSd off his coat to fight.
de has never, but meagerly supported |
Mr.. Overmyer cross-examined:
p y GU knew your husband was a labor
ing man when you married him?"
II did When he worked at Crosby's |
niD ne got 50 week. But we ran be-
hind although l took in sewing and
father furnished many things"
"lt was because of your extravaganza,
wasn't if"
mo. sir, it was not"
didn't you pay $40 rent for a 7-room
house onceT"
~Yes, sir, he said he wanted To bs
closer to town."
do you mean to say that a man who
was getting but $40 month wanted TO
spend half of il for rentf"
No, don't, for he never paid it. so
they let US stay there only one month" !
Mr. Overmyer Introduced list of |
dresses which it was claimed Mrs Hin |