The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-14
UNUSUAL DIVORCE CASE
FLORA JUsTUs SAYS SHE WAS KEPT
IN IGNORANCE Or IT.
Judge feathers VIII Investigate the
Conduct of John ". Justus,
of Chicago.

On Dec. II, last, Judge feathers, of the
Superior Court granted John W. Justus d
divorce from Flora Justus. Yesterday Fred
erick Duffy, a Chicago lawyer, appeared be-
fore Judge Leathers for the purpose of hav-
ing the decree set aside on the ground that
the court had been imposed on by Justus
and that the divorce was fraudulently pro-
cured Attorney Duffy presented the affi-
davits of several Chicago people in support
Of his motion to have the divorce proceed
ings annulled. Justus is a travelling sales
man employed by A. Bauer, a wholesale
liquor dealer Of Chicago His former wife,
who is about thirty-three years of age lives
with her mother at 1854 Vernon avenue, Chi
cago.
Justus and his wife were married in Dan
vile, H., about eleven years ago. They
afterward lived at Marion and at one time,
since the marriage, Justus was in business
in this city. For several years he has made
his headquarters in Chicago, where Mrs.
Justuss parents have lived for several
years. Attorney Duffy says his client told
him that she and her husband quarreled one
night during the first part of September,
1893. This was the first serious quarrel they
had ever had. That afternoon Justus had
gone out to consult clairvoyant and had
received some written answers to questions
he had asked. When he came home he told
his wife where he had been, and she asked
him to let her see the answers He declined
to do SO and they both became angry. After
the quarrel Justus left home and, as his wife
supposed, started out on his regular bust
ness trip Attorney Duffy says that Justus
came to Indianapolis and, seven days after
the quarrel with his wife, consulted Attor-
ney John M. Bailey. of this city, and ar
ranged to bring a suit for divorce. The suit
was filed in the Marion Superior Court on
Sept ..
1t is claimed that after the suit was
brought Justus returned TO. his home in Chi
cago as usual and treated his wife most af-
fectionately He was at home on Dec. g. it
is claimed, and parted from his wife with
the remark: I'm be home on Christmas"
Since then he has not visited his wife On
Dec. II the divorce was granted. Mrs. JUS
tus claims that she had no knowledge that
divorce proceedings were pending. The first
she knew of the matter was when she re-
ceived a marked copy of an Indianapolis
newspaper containing notice TO the effect
that her husband had procured a divorce.
Her brother and sister also received marked
copies of the same paper. Mrs. Justice told
her attorney that she much surprised to
hear that a divorce had been granted. She
said that the last day her husband spent at
home he was very tender and devoted in his
manner toward her. She told the attorney
that on that day her husband kissed her at
least 500 times.
Judge feathers distinctly recalls the JUS
tus divorce suit from the fact that he was
a bit suspicious of the case at the time and
held the matter under Amusement for nearly
two weeks after hearing the evidence
Justus charged his wife with de-
sertion. He brought several travelling
men into court witnesses. Judge Leath-
ers remembers Justus as being a very fine
looking man, of refined and quiet manners.
The court asked him for the defendants adj
dress in Chicago and Justus furnished 1T.
After hearing evidence Judge feathers in
structed his clerk to write to the wife and
inform her of the proceedings here If she
had not already been advised. After wait
ing a reasonable length of time for a reply
to the letter, the court granted the divorce
The letter to Mrs. Justus was sent to the
number which Justus furnished the court
Judge feathers will hear evidence in sup
port of the attorneys motion next Saturday,
when Mrs. Justus will be here to tell her
the court