The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1899-10-24
WANTS $50, 900 FOR Els WIFE.
A Law Sned for Alleged
Alienation of Affecfiaus.


BALTIMORE. Nd, Oct. 24.-Liston G.
Ketchum, who last year obtained an abso-
lutte divorce from his, wife, Laura Singer
Richardson Ketchum, has sued her father,
Charles A. Richardson, for $500 dam
ages in the city court. by George White
lock, attorney. Mr.. Ketchum is young
lawyer. He and Miss Richardson were Sc
cretly married at Brattleboro. VT, Decem-
Der 25, 1894. by justice of the peace.
On January IA, 1895. Mrs Ketchum left
Brattleboro with her parents and went to
Europe with them. In November, 1896,
Mr.. Whitelock, as attorney for Mr.. Ketch-
UNI. went to Pittsburg, the home of Mrs.
Ketchum's mother in the hope of ascer-
tanning Mrs. Ketchnms whereabouts. He
saw Robert Singer, an uncle Of Mrs Ketch-
UNI, who refused OF give any information
as to where she could be found. Mr..
Ketchum applied for a divorce March %,
1898 on the ground OF Abandonment. A
decree was granted July 9 the same year.
As the divorce was granted upon publica-
ton without Mrs. Ketchum appearing in
the case, the decree was stricken out De-
cember 5. 1898, upon her petition. She
then filed a formal answer to Mr. Ketch-
um's suit, and second decree was signed
in his favor
The answer of Mrs. Ketchum stated that
when the divorce suit was filed she was In
Europe. where she had been since January
80. 1895. when she left the United States
with her parents for long residence
abroad. She remained abroad until a few
weeks before her answer was filed. In the
petition she admitted the allegation of de-
sertion in Mr.. Ketchum's bill of complaint
The declaration in the suit against Mr.
Richardson alleges that Mrs. Ketchum was
unlawfully induced and coerced TO leave
her husband Mr.. Ketchum, il is stated
resorted to every means in his power to
ascertain his wife's whereabouts and to
communicate with her for the purpose of
having her restored to him. Mr. Richard
son is charged with 'unlawfully, unjustly
maliciously, wantonly, and wickedly" per-
suading and enticing his daughter to leave
Mr.. Ketchum, to keep away from him, and
to hide. from him. BY means of this per
suasion, procurement, enticement, compul-
sion, Misrepresentation, and alienation of
her affections it is alleged, Mrs. Ketchum
continued absent, apart and secreted from
her husband.
Mr.. ketchum claims to have lost the
comfort, assistance aid, and services Of
his wife. her aid and assistance in his do
mestic affairs. and the profit and advantage
he would and ought to have received from
the marriage. He claims, besides. that he
has been deprived of the care and custody
| of his infant daughter. now about four
years old
The declaration states that Mr.. Ketchum
had no knowledge of the birth of the child
until within the last three months, when
rumors of ii reached him. He at once in
stituted enquiries and definitely ascertained
the existence of the child, it is stated He
learned at the same time. it is also stated.
that almost Immediately after he obtained
the divorce his former wife remarked
In conclusion the declaration states that
by reason of the wrongs and injuries com
| mitted by Mr.. Richardson great mental
anguish and suffering have been endured
by Mr.. Ketehum, and his whole life has
been embittered Besides. il is stated. he
has been put to great expense in endeav-
oring to ascertain the whereabouts of his
wife. and to have her restored TO his COM
partnership