The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-06
HH|TCH[R GETS A DIVORCE.
COMPLAINS TO COURT THAT HIS
WIFE IS BENT ON SUICIDE.
Sent Across Continent for His Bride,
but Says He Made Bad Bargain
Divorced Husband Is Com mitted
to County Jail for Contempt.

The monotony of motion day in the
criminal department OF the superior court
was broken yesterday when Judge Benson
made disposition OF two divorce suits. in
one Of which decree was granted the
plaintiff on somewhat unusual grounds.
The complaining husband alleged that he
was kept in continual state of nervous
collapse by reason Of his wife's threats to
take her own life. On one occasion, he
said. he was compelled to walk her up and
down their bedroom, after she had taken
dose Of iaudanum with suicidal intent. 10
prevent her from iapslng into a sleep
which would mean death.
In the second case the court was called
upon to dispose OF supplemental proceed
ings to compel divorced husband to pay
alimony to his former wife. He was com
mittsd to jail until such a time as he sue
ceeds In raising the funds to comply with
the courts order. r. w. Bates Is the
name of the unhappy husband, and this Is
the second time within two weeks that his
former helpmate has caused his committal
to the county jail.
Charles c. Whitcher was the plaintiff In
the action against Mary f.. Whitcher for
divorce on the ground of attempted sui
eide. He told the court that he sent TO the
state of New Hampshire for his bride,
paying her expenses across the continent.
When she arrived Whitcher testified, he
realized that he had entered into what he
feared would prove an unprontsnle am,
bad bargain. He testified that before ne
had been married two weeks his wife be-
ran 10 berate him. and when he attempted
to soothe her she threatened to commit
suicide.
One night. he said. he was awakened by
his wife. who appeared to be In great
agony, and discovered that she had taken
dose Of laudanum with suicidal intent.
He attempted to go for physician, but
was thwarted by his wife's threats TO re-
peat the dose should he leave her. In his
PEELED to resort TO the walking cure to
prevent her from falling asleep and dying.
All night long, he told tho court. ne walk
Cd his spouse up and down her bedroom.
Mrs. Whitcher. who had come All the way
from the New England state TO contest
her husbands suit, took the stand and
made a general denial OF the plaintiffs
cd her at Spokane In October, 1898. and
that before he had been married two
weeks to her she caught him In the act OF
addressing letters to his former wife, from
whom he was divorced. in such endearing
terms as MY darling Carrie" The plain
tiff frankly admitted that he had written
such letter. but vehemently denied that
ne had deserted his second wife.
Judge Benson granted a divorce to the
plaintiff. When tho decree was entered
Mrs. Whitcher informed the court that
she had come 5000 miles to defend this
action. and now that II had gone against
her she was without funds to return to her
home In New Hampshire. where. abe said.
she was living upon the charity or her
relatives. The court suggested that the
upon the matter Of providing transporta-
tfon for Mrs. Whitcher's return, and said
that II they could not arrive at an agree
ment concerning II he would enter a de-
cree in the matter Tuesday.
The supplemental action against r. w.
Bates was brought by his ex-wife, Hester