The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-08-03
NO NEED OF ANY DIVORCE
MR.. AND MRS. ADELBERT VIII
KINS STILL MAN. AND WIFE

piness Which Hos Caused Com
ment Among the People of Cot
tage Grove Ends In the Court Re-
fusing to Unite the Knot Which
Binds the Couple Together.
For months past the good people of
the village Of Cottage Grove have
been engaged in specializing on what
could possibly be the outcome Of the
falling out between Minnie Wilkins
and her husband. Adelbert. And now
the speculation is all stopped, and Min
ME must continue to stand before the
public as the wife of Adelbert, for
she Is not to have the divorce for which
she asked. The case was one of those
little affairs which might pass all UNI
noticed in the turmoil Of city life, but
it has divided Cottage Grove IN twain,
There was no suggestion of any Of
those things that go to make the av-
erage divorce case to be devoured in
detail by the perverted and morbid
mind. Never a word did Minnie allege
against the constancy of Del, and Del
gave it out that Minnie was all that
Sshe should be- SO far as her conduct
was concerned. In fact, Adelbert didn't
want to think Of the possibility of be-
ing obliged to live apart from Minnie,
and, when she asked for a divorce, he
moved heaven and earth to contest her
right to a divorce. The consequence
of his fight was that yesterday Judge
Wiliiston, of the district court of WaSa-
ir.gton county, filed a decision at Still
water, in VIII ich Minnie is denied di-
Vorce and costs of the action given
against her.
They were not exactly boys and girls
together, Minnie and Adelbert, for he
was nine years old when Minnie was
born. But their people lived ON farmS
that were very close together, and from
the time Minnie was girl at the vii
lage school at Cottage Grove until she
donned long frocks-and even to th-s
day-Adelbert loved none but her.
Minnie was a belle Of Cottage Grove,
which is only just over the county
line and without the city limits OF st.
Paul. So that it came about that,
when, seven years ago, Adelpert came
in his lusty young manhood, and paid
court to her, Minnie lent willing ear,
and they became engaged. Adelberts
mother had and still has fine farm
just over the lire in Washington coun-
ty. and Adelbert was her only son, so
that he was considered as young
man with prospects. So it turned out
that they were married. There were
great festivities in Newport at the end
of March. 1898, When they were mar
ried. and most of the girls in that part
Of Washington county enVled MINNIE,
and all Of the boys env:ed Adelhert
They first went to live on the old
farm with Adelbert's mother, but Min
ME was ambitious that they should
have a home of their own, so they
moved into Cottage Grove and went IN
for the leadership of society there
Cottage Grove is by no means me-
tropolis, even in Washington county,
but it was better than living on a
for a time. Wilkins was acquainted
with john Zelch, and, when that 20
litical magnate was made boiler IN
srector, why he made Adelbert an as
sistant The position was not what it
might have been for a man whose
mother owned the finest farm in the
country about, but, as Minnie wanted
to be Independent of his mother, he
was satisfied. So they got along very
WELL and there came to them a couple
of little Wilkinses in the course of
years.
The last of the little ones was born
in March, 1897, and it was after that
that the neighbors began to-. talk of
the fact that Del and Minnie were not
getting along together. Even then
there was no great comment. That
they quarreled was fact that was
not to be doubted, for the woman next
door had ears, and she was thankful
that she did not quarrel with her hus-
band But things did not get too bad
until late last winter. It was on March
Z that the woman next door went over
to the woman across the street and an
nounced what they expected had hap
pened.
Minnie Wilkins has left Adelbert,"
she said. And so 1t was. While AIDE
bert was absent from the house, Min
ME had moved the furniture out and
had set up housekeeping on her own
account. The good people Of Cottage
Grove were shocked, and the moving
became Of great Importance 1t COM
pletely overshadowed the national in
terest evoked through the severance Of
diplomatic relations between the United
States and Spain, for Minnie Wilkins
was very much In the public eye, being
at that time and for some months pre-
vious the village schoolmaam. It made
no difference to the goSSipS that neither
Adelbert nor Minnie made any charges
of misconduct against each other. Of
course such stories might have added
flavor to the gossip, but there was lit
tie in the story of the separating to
tickle any but the sharpest palate
The edge was worn off the story of
the separation, and it was getting stale
when Minnie took the step that shook
Cottage Grove from center to circum-
ference, that even penetrated the social
environment of the place and caused
distinct disturbance in society as far
up the river as South ST. Paul and
down to Newport. Mrs. Wilkins had
asked for a divorce from AdeIbert.
The papers were filed in Washington
county, and there was much specula-
ton as to the allegations in the COM
plant. They really were not so awful.
no
her, had shaken her. upon more than
one occasion; and alleged that his con-
duct was Of such a cruel nature that
she must refuse to live longer with
him, and sought to have the marital
tie dissolved, to have the custody of
the children awarded to her. and to
have attorneys fees and provision for
the children allowed her.
Did Adelbert sit down and let her
get her freedom? Not he. He drove
over to St. Paul and engaged John B.
Townley to fight the case. They went
together over to Saltwater and, as a
preliminary, they succeeded in knock
ing the plaintiff out of court on the
pleadings. Minnie got Lawyer CHRIS
court on amended pleadings, and then
came Adelbert with his answer. He
denied all the allegations of cruelty,
and tried to show that he had been an
indulgent husband in all things, and
that she had no cause for complaint.
He even went so far as to show that
he had INDUCED her in the desire she
had to become schoolmistress at Cot
tage Grove, and by his influence had
secured the place for her. He adds
that, in consequence Of her acceptance
of the place, he had been obliged to
stay away from his work and was
called upon and did take care of his