The Wichita daily eagle., 1901-06-14
CONTEMPT Of COURT
Joe DunSton Driven Out of
His Own House.
APPEALED TO THE LAW
To ReinState Him in His
Family's Bosom.

There was a contempt case before Judge
Dale yesterday that caused good deal
Of interest about the court house for the
reason that its outcome may determine
the right of possession TO a house and
lot in this city.
The people interested are colored peo-
pie and the whole colored population of
the city are taking sides in the matter.
The contempt proceedings is the outcome
Of the Dunston divorce case that created
a sensation among the colored people and
a good deal of amusement for the court
house crowd. The divorce suit was fled
by Mrs. Dunston and the evidence show
ed that Mrs. Dunston's sister, Mrs. Tay-
lor, had come here from Colorado and
stopped with the Dunstons. Joe Dun
ston's brother, VIII. was a boarder in
the family and Joe claimed that the three
made it 50 unpleasant for him that he
was forced to leave his home. Mrs.
Banks and some Of the other better class
Of colored people gave evidence that tend
ed to confirm Joe Dunston's explanation
to grant Mrs. Dunstons decree of di-
vorce- He read the riot act to Mr.. and
Mrs. Dunston and told them to ire her
sister and Joe's brother and try and get
along peacefully.
The peace never came and a short time
ago Joseph Dunston hIed a suit for di-
vorce from his wife. Emma Dunston.
Pending a hearing of the case. Judge Dale
made an order that Dunston and his wife
should both be entitled to live in the
homestead until the case was finally de-
termined. Joe Dunston went home and
his brother and his wife's sister ran him
OF.
Mrs. Emma Dunston, Mrs Taylor and
VIII Dunston were therefore brought be-
fore Judge Dale on the charge Of con-
tempt. Judge Dale roasted the whole
gang and told Mrs. Dunston that he
would just give her until o'clock this
morning TO clean out LIE ranch and make
room in the house for her husband or
promptly at that time he would make an
order giving Joe Dunston possession Of
the house and be would see that she and
her crowd vacated on the double quick
This order created a great sensation
among the colored population and all last
evening they gathered in groups in the
bloody second ward and discussed the
matter ;and spies were sent to bring in
the tidings if Mrs. Taylor and VIII Dun
ston vacated the premises. Joe Dunston
says he is ready TO go to his own home
but he is waiting to see If the enemy in
possession are going to obey the order of
the court.
Yesterday was a hard day among the
divorce litigants and Judge Dale had
several others lined up in front Of him.
Judge Sankey wanted Jackson Bernaugh
filed divorce suit for Mrs. Bernaugh the
court ordered him to pay an attorney fee |
of SIS for her and he had failed to 10 it. /
The evidence showed that the parties !
were living together and that MIS-. Ber- |
naugh had an income OF $50 a year in her /
own right and Judge Dale reversed his /
former order and said she might pay her |
own attorney fees. And Judge Sankey /
never smiled again.
Otho Ramsey Of Valley Center was /
brought before the court on the charge /
Of trying TO evade the order Of the court 1
IN paying alimony to his wife pending the
hearing Of the divorce case and Judge
ct to comply with the order Of the court
Mr.. Ramsey appealed to the supreme
court and gave bond IN the sum ds $500
and that entitled him TO his freedom for
the present