Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-03-21
But Christian Does Not Ac-
knowledge Sixth Child.
HE CHARGES ADULTERY
Likewise PrOclaimS His Wife Guilty
of Intemperance and
Cruelty.

Stephen Christian filed in the district
court today an answer and cross bill to
his Wifes complaint for divorce In the
document he admits that the marriage
of Susan Christian and himself took
place in New York in August of 1884. but
denies that he has treated her in a cruel
and inhuman manne as alleged by her
in the complaint; denies tha he struck
her on the arm and head with a rolling
pin. or struck her with his fists; denies
that he used indecent language towards
her; denies that on January / of this
year he brutality kicke her in the face
and at the same time struck her on the
head, face and body with his hands and
fists; denies that he ever accused her of
unchastity. The defendant admits that
he stopped her credit at the stores, but
denies that his children have been de-
pr1ved OF the necessaries of life. On the
other hand, he says he has continually
paid bills incurred for the support of his
wife and children, and at the present
tim owes the Hennessy Mercantile com-
pany $50 for supplies. He further says
he is the owner of about $50 worth of
household goods, located at 316 East
Park street. but denies that the six chill
dren mentioned by the plaintiff are the
issue of the plaintiff and himself. In
connection with the children he ac-
knowledges himself the father of five of
the six, but says he has never claimed to
be the father Of Mary, aged 10 years.
He further denies that Mrs. Christian is
in INDECENT circumstances.
In his cross-bill Mr.. Christian say he
has been informed and believes that
plaintiff is now living with Washer at
1900, commit adultery with William Was
mer in a frame building at No. 435 East
Park alley; that she repeated the act on
January 5, with the same person in the
same place, and has been keeping it up
since that date; and, he further says he
has been Informed and believes that the
plaintiff is now living with Wosmer at
316 East Park street: that since he learn
her. -t.
Further. Christian alleges hat for
more than a year Mrs. Christian has beer
guilty of habitual intemperance and has
been wholly unqualified to discharge the
duties OF a wife n mother =.
Christian also says that in the spring
of 1887, his wife deserted him in Youngs-
Ohio, went to Pittsburg and lived
separate from him; hat after more than
a years intervention she returned to him
and besought him to a k her back,
promising to reform and become a faith
full wife; and he, so relying upon her
promise. did take her back and provide
for her as a husband should. Christian
goes still deeper. He says she a been
guilty of extreme cruelty towards him;
that on December %, 1899, without prov
ocation N while she was drunk she as
saulted him with a bucket, striking him
on the head n intiicting a wound which
necessitated the services of a surgeon;
that she at divers ather times prior to
the bucket act drove him from home and
threatened to kill him by poison and the
gun: that she has continually treated
him cruelty and harrassed him, and has
on occasions torn up inc destroyed his
clothing.
Christian asks for a decree OF divorce
and the custody of five of the six child.
rem he acknowledges as his own.