The herald., 1898-12-13
A DON OF HIGH DEGREE
sEpULvEDA's SUIT FOR DIVORCE
PROVES A BOOMERANG
HE WAS TAKEN IN" TWICE
Once bv an Indian Woman and Once
by Major Bell-Pleadings in
the Case

Judge Van Dyke was engaged yesterday
in the trial of a divorce suit, which con
tanned more than ordinarily racy allegations,
esnecially in the answer Of defendant. TAs
plaintiff, Pedro Sepulveda, by his third
amended complaint, set forth that he mar
ried the defendant, Francisco Romero &c
Ybarra Sepulveda, in this city in $780, since
which time they have cohabited as husband
and wife.
For more than year past, the husband al
legged, the wife has been in the habit OF IN
dulging in Intoxicating liquors to such an
extent as to have become habitual drunk
ard. One night, he says, she came home
drunk while he was asleep in bed and struck
him on the head, laying open cash about
two inches in length, swearing at him mean
time. calling him all manner of vulgar and
profane names, and threatening him with
death.
On June 5 last, the complainant went on
to state. the woman was again drunk, and
drove her husband out of the house IN East
Los Angeles and refused to allow him to
remove his clothing or to re-enter the house.
Among his belongings, so left on the field OF
battle, was household utensil for grinding
corn. known in Spanish as "metate." This,
though not of intrinsic value, is priced
highly by Sepuveda on account of its being
so many years in his family. He asked that
this be awarded to him, together with his
other personal effects, that the marriage be
annulled, and that the little home, valued at
$500, be sold and the proceeds equally d.
yided between himself and Francisco.
The answer was more spicy, being in the
choicest English of Major Horace Bell, who
was the attorney for defendant. In this in
strument Francisco ignored the name of
Sepulveda. and said she was never married
to plaintiff, and never lived with him in the
marital relation; that they had no property
in common the house being her separate
estate. If Sepulveda had any clothing
about the premises, she said he could send
and get it, and welcome. As for the me
tate she held that as a pledge for an old
board bill.
Further answering, the defendant said the
plaintiff was an "hidalgo," don of illus
trious and high degree; that she was herself
very common, uncouth, uneducated, ignor.
ant, full-blooded Indian woman, without
any admixture of Spanish, or other foreign
blood, but that she was frugal and indus
trious, and by occupation washerwoman.
Going on, she related that several years
ago, out of sympathy for this ancient ''c.-
ballero," she gave him shelter in her humble
home; that he was sick, and she nursed him,
hungry and she fed him. and she washed and
ironed his very limited supply Of "ropa''
Being thus maintained and nourished,
Francisco said he developed into street
corner politician, drunken, lazy, worthless
loafer and incorriglble nuisance. and per-
sistent leech' upon her bounty until few
months ago, when she Bounced" him: or,
in the more expressive language Of her an
swer, 'she tumbled him out of her house,
and has not permitted him to return" She
asked that the plaintiff take nothing by his
action, and that she be dismissed hence.
sine die.
Evidence in partial confirmation of the
complaint was introduced by Sepulveda, but
when his Indian friend and Major Bell took
their turn in court the plea of plaintiff was
soon demolished. Judge Van Dyke found
for the defendant, whose assumption of the
character of the good Samaritan was thus
sealed with the approval of the court.