The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-02-03
Case Heard BY the Court Principally on
Depesltluns---No Defence Put In.
Non-sUppORT AND CRUELTY CAUSE.
TESTIMONY Showed That Mrs. Potter Was Com
psIIed 10 Do Her HoussWoh When in Deli
cate Stats Often Sworn A.

This afternoon i'm the Appellate Court |
Chief Justice Matteson and justices
Stiness and Tillinghast after hearing
mart OF the depositions in the petition
Of Mrs. Sara Tillinghast Potter for
divorce from her husband. former MIX
Inspector Charles A. Potter, granted
the petition. Some of the testimony
was OF nature unet for publication
because IL consisted of oaths, some ot
them OF q blood curdling nature. Mr.
Potter did not contest the case. but was
represented i'm court by Rathbone
Gardner. who said that the matter OF
aiimony had been fixed by counsel
The divorce was asked for on the
ground of extreme cruelty and deser-
tion.
Mrs. Potter i'm her deposition stated
that she was married April 3, 1896, ana
that she had been separated from her
husband since June "a. 1898. Their re-
Iations had not been pleasant since oc-
tober q, 1897. when he found out she
was to give birth to g. second child
After saying she was responsible Tor
her condition, he added that he wished
TO God he never had been married, as
then he could have horses and car
rjaces and go around with the boys.
soon after this he refused to let Mrs.
Potter have proper assistance III her
housework. though he had a consider
ahle income. This work in her delicate
state led TO spell of sickness, whlch
was followed by her confinement. VII
ness said her husband would not SIT III
the room with her. and would go out
when she was sick and stay until after
~ midnight. Before the bapy was
week old he was away all day-thls
was Decoration Day-until O'Clock the
next morning. One night, witness said,
she wanted him 10 sit up with her. Dut
he went TO bed, and the next day called
her a d--mn--d liar. He followed TINS
by walking up and down the ROOM
using very violent ana proIale Iah-
guage. In one OF series or walking
and stamping experiences. he told her
she had better go home and said he had
lived i'm hell the past two years ana
would not stand IL any longer. Though
she gave him no provocation for abus-
ing her. he on another occasion tola
her there was not word in the Eng
Iish language bad enough 10 call her
This treatment, Mrs. Potter said,
caused her condition To become so bad
that she could not nurse her child.
< which became so weak she asked her
husband on the doctors suggestion, To
provide wet nurse. This he refused
10 do. once. when witness asked re-
spondent for money, he put her on
bread and water and witness said he
even refused her money for pair OF
stockings. About the same time Mr.,
Potter proposed she and the children
go TO Rutland. VT The party started,
n but Mr. Potter went only to Worcester,
and never wrote TO his wife, though
she STAYED in Rutland and wrote Ia
him until July 10. From June l until
nearly August the babys life hung by
a thread. but though word was sent
Mr.. Potter, his wife deposed he would
not come TO see II or send any word of
inquiry.
When his children went with her To
Rutland. Mrs. Potter says her husband
broke up their home, though she lefi
here intending To return in Few
weeks To 1t. She fiRst heard OF the
break up from her father. Her hus-
band never asked TO see the children
but once he met her and the children
and said she was "A peach and he was
ashamed 90 see her on the street.
Mrs. Helen r. pease testified sh,
lived I'm the same house with the Pot
tcrs on Lloyd street. and once said {,
respondent: That's fine plump baby
YOU have" and he replied. "Humph.'
She heard Potter abuse his wife. ant
her husband wanted TO go out and kici
him.
Dr. Henry l.. Whitmarsh testified {,
Mrs. Potter's condition. and SO did he
father. John W. Tillinghast.
Though the respondents counsel wal
present when the dispositions wer
taken he asked no question. The cour
did not care TO hear any deposition
when Mr.. Gardner stated the case wa
practically uncontestcd. but granite,
Mrs Potter an absolute divorce an.
a.. l. ~
drcn.