The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-09-24
Mrs. MargaretSWanLOSe
Her Divorce Suit.
CHARGED INTEMPERANCE.
Some Spicy Testimony Given by
Witnesses on Both Sides.
THE COURT TOOK PROMPT ACTION

This morning the first session Of the
Appellate Court since the long VACATION
was held. Chief Justice Mattoson and
Justices Stinoss and IillinGhast heard
the cases on the calendar that were ready
for trial.
The first case heard was one that had
been in court for long time. lt was tho
petition of Margaret J. Swan for divorce
from her husband William W. Swan.
Mrs swan seeks an absolute divorce
from her husband on account OF cen
tinued drunkenness and extreme cruelty.
Both PAL ties are former residents OF Cen
treville and as Mr.. Swan has property,
Mrs. swans petition inoludes a prayer for
alimony.
A number of witnesses testified TO see-
ing MIR swan drunk at frequent times
during 1893 and 1894 previous 10 the ming
of the petition in the latter year. one
witness testified that once Mr. swan
struck his wife on the shoulder with
bottle, attempted To chose her anu hnd
threatened 10 blow her head oil.
Mrs. swans story was To the elect thht
her husband for long time previous 10
the bringing of her divorce petition, was
drunk all the time, that Nh. swan had
OF whiskey on one occasion, making many
efforts TO choke her anu threatened to Kali
her.
On cross examination witness adm mitted
that man named Thomas lnman had
been working for her husband just prevl-
Gus to the separation at the hotel IN
Coventry that sho ana her husband ran
This man. Mrs swan admitted, left Mr..
Swan s employ ut about the same time
that she went away. She had been house
Keeper in the hotel run by lnman since
early i'm 1895 aDu was forced TO work In
order To get tho necessaries of life.
In redirect cross examination Mrs.
Swan saic that she was afraid TO remain
in her husbands home after lnman lett
1t, because Swan performed his acts OF
cruelty when tnuro WIS no man around.
MIR swan, the respondent, testified
shat Mrs. swan told him just after the
petition for divorce was He'd that " lom
inman was the CAUSE. The witness said
that while his wife was not very fire.
quent drinker. sometimes liquor made
her very thick, ana that he never choked
ner nor more roughly handled her than
was necessary To prevent her from doin x
serious harm to herself. There were de-
malls made Of the statement that Mr.
Swan hit his wife with a bottle of wbis-
key, on the contrary, Mrs. swan, her
husband claimed. tried to throw lamp at
party in barroom. ana also of the
statement that swan had threatened TO
blow the petitioners wife.
Mr.. Swan said there was no trouble in
his home.previous TO Mrs. Swans depart
Lre until MIR. Iuman was discharged.
Then Mrs. Swan went away. MIR. swan
denied the charges OF drunkenness and
vaid his wife had an ugly temper.
Albert X. Green was attorney for the
petitioner and y. j. Mccarthy attorney
for the respondent.
A number Of witnesses were called by
Mr. Swan to suhstantiate number of
serious charges against his wife. All of
these charges Mrs. Swan denied but at
the conclusion of the hearing the chief
Justice announced that he could not
grant tho petition of Mrs. Swan so it
must be denied and dismissed.