The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1901-11-28
DIVORCE GRANTED.
Mrs. Morse to get $40, 900 Aim
ony and So, 900 Costs.


this morning when Attorney Lyman
announced to the court at the opening
hour that a settlement had been reach.
ed between the parties and that no
evidence would be offered by the de.
PENDANT, Morse, in denial of the plain,
tiff's petition; that the matter of ali
mony had been agreed upon, and that
the question of whether the plaintiff
had substantiated the charges in her
petition and was entitled to a decree
were in the hands of the court
This ending of the famous case had
been expected by those conversant with
the proceedings and conferences of
counsel. From the hour of the after,
noon adjournment yesterday the oppos.
ing attorneys had been actively con-
ferring. At midnight a weary news
paper man caught sight of young at
torney's countenance as he left a con.
ference of the defendants attorneys,
and suspected that settlement mad
been reached. Further investigation
proved the truth of this suspicion.
They were long in coming to an agree
ment. The plaintiff, Mrs. Morse, talk
ed of $4,000 and refused $4,000. AZ
last a proposition came from the plain
tiff to accept $4,000, the piano, cut
glass and dinner service at the Morse
home, and all expenses and costs.
Morse refused, saying he would not
have his home dismantled. The
plaintiff waived the minor considera-
lions and in return the defense grant
ed the $500 suit money already paid
In, together with $4,000 alimony.
The motive of the entire drama is
found in the old allegory where May
Weds with December where beauti-
full and blooming woman instinct. with
vigor fresh in the fullness of woman
hood, mates with a man bowed with
the intirmities and unstrung muscles
OF old age and the senility of sixty
years. 1t is the same old story of age
that Graves ownership and youth that
demands action. OF the puerile jeaI-
ousies, the nagging watchfulness of an
old man with a young and beautiful
wife, whose attractiyeness and beauty
are at once the source of his pride and
jealous fears. Morse promises his
young bride (she says) unlimited
funds-and practiced economy; told
her she should travel the world about
and remained at home; made light
OIL sickness that came upon her and
treated her with contempt. Accused
her Of infidelity, struck her and final
ly left her without resources, after
having warned the merchants about
Grinnell against givin CHER credit on
his account. This is the woman's
story, and is generally credited in
their home town of Grinnell.
The history leading up to the di-
vorce suit has in it the elements and
action of play by Pinero. Maria E.
Johnson Reynolds, the present Mrs.
Morse, was Californian, beautiful,
fascinating and a widow when Morse
first met her. She had been married
and divorced before Morse made her
his wife. Reynolds, her first husband.
has been sent to the penitentiary on
the charge of embeZzlement. She had
spent her time and private fortune
working for his release and reforma-
ton, had met him at the prison doors
when his sentence expired, stood by
his side and fearlessly shared his
shame before the world. Not until the
prison doors closed upon him for the
second time did she forsake him.
When hope of his reformation was lost
she sought separation. Reynolds
came from the penitentiary, wandered
to Australia and died there nobody
knows how. She worked in Los Ange-
les copying for attorneys and main
tanned herself until her mother inner.
tied a fortune. Her reputation was
unstained and her friends were un-
numbered. While staying at a resort
hotel she met Morse who was en- tour
with his first wife whose health was
precarious. Morse appears to have
been charmed with the young widow
for after the death of his wife, which
occurred shortly after their return
from California he lost little time in
seeking her out. He urged his suit
with an ardor scarcely to have been
expected from his years. She says lie
told her his income amounted to $4,000
monthly, and that he had nothing TO
do but spend it. Metphorically he took
her upon high mountain anC showed
her the Kingdoms of the earth and
told her to take her pick. He was ir-
resistable. The blushing widow gave
her hand and presumably her heart in
to his keeping and became the second
Mrs. Morse. This was in July 81.
The welded pair came to Grinnell.
Mrs Morse didn't like it there. She
went little into society and became dis
satisfied and unhappy. Matters were
not, she said, as Morse had represent
ed to her when he gained her consent
to matrimOny. The tours of travel he
had promised had failed to material
ize. Instead of profusion of means
and money she was expected to eCono-
mize. She grew nervous and hysteri-
cal, and was met, so she says, with
sneers and contempt. She complained
and was met with a charge of mercen'
airy motives for her marriage. At last
she was charged with infidelity to her
husband. The matter eliminated in
a tearing domestic row and at eleven
o'clock at night she left the house. She
took the midnight train for Chicago
with but $25 in her purse. On her ar
rival in the city she went to the Audi
torium and sent for Secretary Bromley
of the American Bicycle Trust. Brom
ley was an old acquaintance, friend
and a thorough gentleman who had
once sought her hand in marriage. He
came bringing with him a physician
and a nurse who had attended her on
another occasion. She was three
nights in Chicago and when in the
opinion of the attending physician she
was physically able to bear the jour
ney was sent home accompanied by the
nurse who Morse at once turned away
Morse charged her with undue and
criminal intimacy with Bromley and
that she had staid two of the nights
during her Chicago trip in house OF