The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-08-14
A MUCH ABUSED WOMAN
Mrs. McGovern Tells Her Story
to the Court.
WAS GIVEN A DIVORCE
She said Her Husband Had Been Trying
for a Long Time to Get Rid of
Her-Tried to Drive Her
From Home.

Probably the most abused n worst
treated wife that ever told her trouble:
in the Butte divorce court is Mrs. Mary
McGovern. She is, or rather was prior
to yesterday morning. the wife of Frank
McGovern, a well-known rancher liv-
ing between Mammoth inc Pony, and
proprietor of the country hotel known as
the Mountain Home. The ranch is es-
timated to be worth $4,000 and is well
stocked, and after Judge Clancy had
listened to Mrs. McGovern's story Of
abuse n suffering he made an order
that she shall be paid S2.0 900 in alimony
and an attorneys fee or 5000, the ali
mony to be paid at the rate of $50 a
month. Mrs. McGovern has the appear
ance of "A woman who worked herself
half to death pm a ranch. n she said
that the entire property had been accu-
mulated and improved since her mar
rage 10 McGovern five years ago.
Two years ago he began treating ME
bad" she said, land he tried to get rid
of me. He told me he had lived with
me as long as he wanted TO and that he
wanted to get another oman He pre-
ferred a girl is yCGrs of age. He said
lidt was Ills way. men he got urea u
one woman he wanted to make a
change. l wouldn't go and he called me
all kinds of vile and indecent names
and swore at me-"
Miss McGoyern repeated the language
used by her husband and she placed
such emphasis on her 'cuss words" that
even the old-timers about the court
room looked surprised and shocked.
He said he didn't carr as much for
l. g. a. IL.
feet. He said he would make ii so dis
agreeable for me hat I would be glad
to leave him. He said If 1 had any
style and get up about me l woul 90
and never come back. He said he had
many women afoot and he would
treat me the same way"
Mrs. McGovern said her husband
her down and frequently drove
her from the house. but she would not
go away, as she liked the home which
she had helped to make.
Last winter when il would snow and
he would tell me hat was a
good time to get out. He said the road
was wide and / could GO"
She said that whenever she suggested
anything he purposely did the contrary,
and when he lost by his stubbornness
he abused her for making the sugges-
ton in the first place, for il she had
not ne "Oulu nave uoHt tue lnlHB the
right way. She was on a load of hay
one day and he was driving. He was
watching his horses and the wagon
in danger of striking a big rock. |
She called his attention To 1t and he
then maliciously allowed the team to hit
the rock and the load of hay was upset
and she was buried under il. McGovern
wouldn't dig her out and she had to dig
her own way out of it. She was badly
..aA - - - g.. z 4 I
nonths. She was in bad health last
January and she went out to him where
ne was %chopping WOOD and asked his
to use a horse to come to
to see a doctor. She wanted to
get ''doctored up" so she could work
m the ranch when spring came. He
old her If she didn't go away from
he would throw an axe through her,
md declared he would pay no doctor
bills for n woman He told her she
'ould have a divorce, as he would not
IL so long as she didn't sue for
.limony.
Don't you see every day and every
light that l don't care for you?" he
sked her. IF you had any style and
nun about you you would have sued
or a divorce long ago"
Mrs. McGovern and her attorney both
estified as to the value of McGovern's
which consists of a ranch,
orses, cattle, mining claims and a
ouse and lot at Sand creek, w by
Bill Stevens place"