The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-12-02
MRS. WALLS CHARGES
Accuses Husband of Cruel and
Abusive Treatment.
FOR A DIVORCE
CONTEST OVER CUSTODY oF THE
CHILD.

The trouble between the Walls has
broken out afresh. but this time the
district court has been appealed to to
settle the differences which have
caused husband and wife to drift far
Their apart while both were clinging TO
their little child. Yesterday Mrs. Edith
Vail. nee Mcconnell. instituted suit for
divorce. alinony and other relief from
her husband. Elmer A. Vail the we'll
known railroad and mining engineer.
Ever since the dramatic taking of lit
tie Gladys from the keeping of the
Sacred Heart academy at ogden, where
she had been placed by her father. by
Mrs. Vail and her mother ten days
ago, this sequel has been expected
In her complaint. prepared by Pow
ers, Sb'aup & Lippman, Mrs. van re-
cites that she married defendant AT
Ogden on March u. 1892 and that she
lived with him as his wife until feD-
q of this year. Two years after tbs
marriage their only child was born
Charges Cruel Treatment
For cause of action, Mrs. Vail alleges
that she has endured cruel and abu-
sive treatment from defendant ever
since the month of August following
numerous alleged acts of choking, beat
ing, kicking and pinching of plaintlm
by defendant, and likewise the use Of
blasphemous and lewd language, such
as only a coarse, vulgar man would
apply, she charges, to a woman of low
repute. Page after page of specifica-
lions of this sort are contained IN the
complaint.
It is further set up in the complaint
that the defendant is penurlous and
has always complained of plaintiff 5
most economical expenditures, not
withstanding that she has earned more
than $3.50 a month, and is now COM
/ fortably situated financially.
An act of defendant alleged as cal
cuIated to show mis- lack Of affection
for plaintiff is that on frequent occa-
siOns he tantalizingly let her get "A
I glimpse of the picture of another We
man, and as often telling her he would
/ have married the other woman instead
! if he had not made the mistake of
/ knowing plaintiff first. Mrs. Vail also
alleges that her husband has many
/ times expressed the wish that she
would die or take poison. She further
} charges that he sent her deCOy letters
I in the effort to entrap her in making
appointments with other men.
Kidnapped the Child.
i The complaint lays great stress upon
/ the allegation that on Feb. Il Of this
/ year defendant urged her and a wo-
/ man friend to go to the theatre with
/ tickets ne furnished, and that while
! gone he kidnapped their child, Gladys,
| and after his return to the city would
not tell her where the child was, nor
did plaintiff see her until the date of
! the rescue in Ogden on Nov %
J A second cause Of action charged is
I that since the month of February, Vail
| has contributed only SIS for her sup
port.
Besides praying for a decree of di-
/ voFce. temporary aHmony and suit
money and permanent allowance
j Mrs. Vail asks to be awarded the Gus
+ tOdy of the child
1t is known that the defendant viii
/ contest the suit of his wife and that
/ he viii make a ross-complaint alleg-
/ ing that his wife is unfit to rear little
/ Gladys.