The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-11
AN ANONYMOUS LETTER
1T STARTED THE TROUBLES OF THE
CALDWELLs, OF LEBANON.
A Host of Boone County People Here
Attending the Divorce Trial
Hearing.

A host of Boone county citizens and two
special newspaper correspondents from Leb-
anon newspapers are here attending the
Caldwell divorce case. which is on trial in
Room g. Superior Court. The suit came here
on change of venue from Lebanon. Mary
Caldwell sued James Caldwell for divorce,
charging cruel treatment. The defendant
filed a cross-bill and now both are trying to
obtain the decree. Both are we'll known
about Lebanon. Mrs. Caldwell, who Is
about thirty-five years Of age. is the daugh-
ter of a minister. Her husband was former
ly deputy town marshal of Lebanon.
The evidence shows that the CaIdwells
separated last April, the wife coming to this
city, where she has since resided. They
have three children, two of whom live with
CaldwelIs parents in Boone county. The
Shird child. pretty little girl OF ten, has
until last Monday been in school at Leba-
non. 1t was the anonymous letter writer
that brought about an estrangement in the
Caldwell family and sowed seeds of suspi-
cion in the husbands mind. The family
was comparatively happy one until three
years ago, when an anonymous letter was
sent to the husband. The epistle intimated
that Mrs. Caldwell was faithless to her
marriage vows About this time, it is
claimed, the gossips began to make free
with the wfe's reputation, and the plaintiff
charges that on the receipt of this letter
Caldwell himself began to talk about his
wife. One of the charges of cruelty brought
by the wife is based on the claim that her
husband assisted in tearing down her repu-
tation. She declares now that she hates the
man, and wants nothing more to do with
him.
Last Monday Mrs. Caldwell went to Leba-
non ana visited the school attended by her
daughter When she returned to Indianapo-
lis she brought the child with her, and her
husbands attorneys secured an order from
the court requiring the mother to have the
child present at the trial yesterday Sew
eral witnesses were examined as TO the con-
duct of Mrs. Caldwell. Her husband it
seems, complained she was much in the
company of a man who occupied his time
In training horses at the Lebanon fair
ground. Several witnesses stated that Mrs
caldwell had not the best reputation ir the
town or Lebanon, but none of those who
testified recalled specific acts of misconduct
or immortality on the wifes part. One wit
ness had seen Mrs. Caldwell and the horse
trainer standing on the bridge over Prairie
creek after dark This stream runs between
the town OF Lebanon and the county fair
ground. Mrs. Caldwell admitted having
been on the bridge with the man. but
claimed he was an old friend. She says it
was during the county fair, and she had
home. The horseman was coming into
town, and they walked together. Another
witness had often seen Mrs. Caldwell and
the horseman sitting on the steps of her
nome. The witness thought they were Sit
ting close together. Caldwell claimed to
have seen man coming out of his house
once, which aroused his suspicious. Mrs.
Caldwell denied that the man was in the
house, and it is claimed the man himself
denied being there.
The suit is on trial before Special Judge
Edgar A. Brown, the regular judge of the
court, Vinson Carter. being detained at
home with heavy cold. The case will. be
continued TO-DAY