The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-05
THE RUSIE DIVORCE CASE
BIG PITCHER CREATED A sENsA-
TION IN THE COURTROOM.
He Said He Had a Revolver and
Threatened to Use It-Other
Cases in the Courts

The divorce suit of Susie Rusie against
her husband. Amos Rusie, the big base
ball pitcher, was heard by Judge Allen
yesterday. and the case was accompanied
with much sensational excitement. Mrs.
Rusie came into the courtroom and sat
down beside her sister, Mrs. Belle Cupp.
OF Muncie, near her attorneys. Later her
husband came in. He was intoxicated, and
going up to the railing where his wife
was sitting, leaned over and began to talk
TO her. She turned pale. then got up. and
going to Judge Allen and Attorney Rich
creek, her husbands attorney. said her
husband had a revolver and had threatened
to kill her if the divorce proceedings went
on. Attorney Richcreek Immediately asked
Rusie to give up the revolver. but he re-
fused. He was then told that he would
be placed in the hands of the sheriff if he
did not deliver the weapon, and Judge Allen
told him he must either turn the revolver
over or leave the room. He hesitated. then
left. Mrs. Rusie and her sister were es-
corted to the judges private room while
the controversy was going on.
After Rusie had gone the attorneys tried
to compromise but were so slow that Judge
Allen called for the testimony in the case.
Mrs. Rusie was the first witness. She said
that her husband had made from 81 900 to
$4,000 year playing ball since their
marriage in $780, with the exception OF two
years when he did not play. She said that
during all this time he was drunkard
and severely abused her. She testified that
while they lived in Brightwood last Janu-
airy he said to her: "Susie, I've a notion
to blow your brains out and mine too
when he learned that she had told the
saloon keepers not to sell him any more
liquor. She then told the story of the
scene in New York, which led TO their
| final separation.
SCENE IN NEW YORK.
Rusie had gone to New York to fill his
engagement with the baseball team of that
city and took his wife. She said that on
| the 18th day of last April he came home
drunk. struck her with his fist, threatened
| to cut her throat with a razor and tried to
get into room where she had fled for pro-
lection, to carry out his alleged purpose.
She got hold of the razor and hid 1t.
| Later, she asserted that she pawned her
| diamond ring and watch for s12 and bor-
rowed s. from a friend to pay her way to
| Indiana. She did not let her husband know
that she was coming here, because she
| says she feared he would kill her.
When asked what her husband said to
her when he entered the courtroom at the
| beginning of the trial, she repeated: Susie,
| If you go through with this you won't get
out of this courthouse alive"
| Mrs. Cupp, Mrs. Rusie's sister. testified
| that she heard the conversation that
passed between the two, and said that
| after Mrs. Rusie walked away from her
husband, he leaned over and said to her:
| Belle. this had better be settled out of
| court. If it isn't, I'll kill her..
Bicycle policemen Bray and Losh were
| called to escort Mrs. Rusie from the court
/ house at noon, it being said that her hus-
| band had returned, but he did not appear.
During the afternoon there was grow
| ing disposition to compromise, no attempt
| being made to prevent q divorce, and the
| only contention being over the property in
| volved. Mrs. Rusie said that her husband
| owned property worth more than 5000, on
| which there is mortgage of $500, and some
/ Barrett law assessments. This property
was recently willed to Rusie by his
mother, but evidence was introduced to
l show that he had previously transferred
| Ii to her to hold in trust.
| QUESTION OF ALIMONY.
| At the close of the evidence, Judge Allen
said enough had happened in the court
room to give the plaintiff decree for di-
vorce. but that he could not decide the
L
heavily the property was encountered. The
attorneys tried to compromise. and finally
Attorney Richcreek offered Judge Gregory
| of Muncie, one of the plaintiffs attorneys
5000 and the household goods valued at $500
This was refused. the plaintiff asking ST. Ot
| and the household goods.
| In the meantime Judge Allen said he
| would allow the plaintiffs attorneys fees
| and asked Judge Gregory what he thought
his services had been worth. After some
hesitancy, he said he thought $500 was very
| reasonable, but Judge Allen promptly dis
| agreed. The judge said that he thought
800 was sufficient In this case, if it Is an
| exceptional one, and although such fees
| may be customary in Muncie, he said at
| torneys in divorce cases in Indianapolis
| could be hired much cheaper.
| The attorneys tried again to agree and
| finally decided that they would settle fol
$1,000 alimony, the household goods. $1Ot
| attorneys fees and a divorce.
/ A dispatch from Muncie last night says
| Mrs. Amos Rusie, wife of the ball player
came home from Indianapolis tonight and
| at midnight called the police to guard her
| home. She believes that her husband fol-
| lowed her to Muncie and will try to kill her
| before morning, as he threatened to dc
| tn nd a 01