The herald., 1898-08-04
DENIED THE DECREE
Judge Shaw Makes Personal Investi-
cation of a Divorce Suit

The court yesterday INDUCED in little
investigation on its own "hook,' and the
rather unusual proceeding resulted in an
entirely unexpected turn in the case under
consideration.
Fred T. Altmeier, young man now in
the employ of a large grocery firm in Los
Angeles was a petitioner before Judge
Shaw for a divorce from his wife, Mary j.
Altmeier, who now resides a the corner of
Second and Main streets. The couple were
married at Pueblo, Col, in 1889; but, on ac-
count of the husbands health, moved to
Little Rock, Cal. in 1894 where they en-
gagged in the hotel business. Then the
trouble began. The husband alleges that
the wife was cross, irritable and at times
violent She would keep him awake all
or the greater part of the night, often car
rying on an alteration at the top of her
voice and occasionally indulging in screams
which would not only disturb the guests in
the hotel, but often aroused the neighbors
in distant parts of the settlement. She
threatened TO leave him, and once started
to walk across the desert to Palmdale, nine
miles away, but was finally persuaded to
return, and subsequently took a dose of
poison as another method for ending her
miserable existence.
Heroic methods saved her life, and then
she sought relief in attempts to iniure the
husband, employing the broomstick and
rifle as the mediums, but being foied in this
contented herself with accusing the young
man of committing adultery with her sis
ter, the charge being made in the presence
of other people. All this was alleged in the
plaintiffs complaint, and was substan-
tiated by guest of the hosiery under his
management, and his mother, Mrs. Hus-
ton.
The court interposed question now and
then, and did not seem entirely satisfied
with the testimony. Finally witness re-
marked that the husband had on one occa-
sion accused his wife of being too free with
one of the guests, and this seemed to define
the proper course of action to the judge.
"Can you produce the defendant in
court?" he asked Of counsel.
st think so, your honor" was the an
swer.
'"Then let her be subpoenaed at once"
came the order.
Mrs. Altmeier a tall, ant-lookng
young lady, did not arrive until the middle
of the afternoon, and was Immediately
sworn. Her testimony proved to be COM
plete denial Of every allegation contained
in the plaintiffs complaint, except as to the
preliminary information stating the time
of marriage. etc. She stated that the trou-
BILE between her and the husband was mere
ly misunderstanding and an inability to
agree. The rifle episode she alleged was
not true. inasmuch as she had intended to
use the weapon on a certain woman who
frequently came to their house and threat
ened to take her husband away from her
Mrs. Altmeier stated that she had filed no
answer to her husbands divorce petition
merely because she no longer loved or cared
for him, and it did not matter 20 her wheth-
er he got divorce on false grounds or how
he got it.
The court felt that his investigation had
not been for naught. and ruled that a d.
vorce could not be granted under the facts
as they appeared to be. The case NAV he
appealed.