The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-11-29

The recent decision or the supreme
court OF this state In the celebrated con-
sptracy-dfvorce case OF Van Aistine VS..
Van Alsttne threatens 10 eompiicate the
relations Of the parties to the action IN
a manner that would have delighted the
heart OF the late Charles II. Hoyt, the
playwright. Under some such title as
"A Golden Nugget" Mr. Hoyt. rere he
now living. might weave out OF the mus
ty court records In the Van Alssine case
q fsrce-comedy not q whit inferior 20 the
many he evolved from his fertile imsgi-
nation.
The decision. a copy OF which was re-
ceived In this city yesterday. reveals the
startling fact that after months OF liti-
cation and delay the court OF last resort
has. az II were, wiped the slate clean
and left Con Van Alsfine. the guiieiess
klondike capitalist. and Lou Van Aistine.
his wife with past, in exactly the same
position that they were before the ia
nous suit was brought. save and except
the former IL left q large store OF ex-
pensive experience and one more wife
than the Law allows.
Tho upper court holds that the King
county superior court In which the ac-
ton was originally brought. had no turis-
dicsion whatever over either plaintiff or
defendant In the famous case. ana that
Judge Moore's decree declaring the mar
fraud. and giving the defendant Klor-
diker Judgment for ~ ooo against his wife
and her sister. Emma Norton. is merely
so much white paper. and nothing more.
Van Alstine's Predicanent.
In view OF the fact that Van Aistine
soon after the rendition OF Judge Moore's
decision wooed. won and welded another
wife. and with her sailed for Dawson to
win another fortune from his Kiondfks
claims. the supreme courts decision
places him In an exceedingly uncomforf-
able position. although. thanks to the
rigors OF the Northern winter. II may bs
several months before he receives the
dfsuuieting news
Newrpape readers viii readily recall
the Van Alstine case from the fact that
FOR several weeks last spring II occupied
the entire attention OF one judge and
nearly a dosen OF the most prominent
lawyers - the King county bar. Van
Aistine. . miner. lucky but IMMERSED In
the ways OF the wicked world. met on HE
way out from the Klondike. Lou Mahaf.
fey. q woman mature in years and xtiii
more mature In experiences He fell .
victim TO her wiles and married her In
Seattle about two years ago.
After q few weeks Of married itfe Mrs.
Van Aisttns one night left her unsus-
pecting husband In Salt Lake and ssed 10
In bank drafts which he claimed he had
Entrusted 70 her care for safe keeping. lie
followed her. and by the aid OF detectives
innumerabie brought her back from Eu-
rope. where she had gone TO evade him.
and finally returned with her 10 q atis.
Here he attempted TO force her 10 return
the money he claimed she stole. She re-
fused and he became violent and abusive.
She sued for a divorce on the ground OF
eFtf&7fN 10 raft "a fx.A
plant IN which he charged that he had
been inveigied into fraudulent marriage
as a result Of dark conspiracy BE-
tween the Mahaffey woman. her sister
Emma Norton. A. Il. Noycs, hack
driver. and Melvin q. winssock. a Seat
tile lawyer. He dema nded his money bark
In the same suit.
Aba saensa Hts sutt.
The court ruled with Van Aistfre and
after the Judgment was rendered az
tempted TO enforce its payment by con-
tempt proceedings. The supreme court
would not. however allow the frnprsran-
ment OF the two women for their refusal
to pay, and shsreupon Van Aistin@ ahan-
donsd the case. married again and went
North TO recoup his fortunes. He Ia nov
In tho kiondike.
But Mrs, Van Aissine ana her sister.
through sheir attorneys. John v. Dore
and Charles Y. Shepard. who had played
for weeks los3ng game with the lower
court. appealed from THO entire decision
az that tribunal and now. after the lapse
Of months are declared victorious on cv-
cry point
Like their client. Van Afstlne's ats0v.
neys. Richard wlnser ani fssiilns~r Ron.
aid A Battle. Lost Interest IN she case
whsn the supreme court decided that
nothing could he done TO collect a..
Judgment and were consent with the nn-
nalinent 81 the marriage They are
somewhat surprised ~ the recent deci-
Aion- and are nes yet ready 10 say
whsther Van Alstfre viii take any f,sr.
Their steps in the matter.