The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-11-27
Mrs. Nation Exonerated From
the Charge of Cruelty.
PROPERTY is DIVIDED.
The Medicine Lodge Home Civ
en- to the Husband.
Reasons of the Wife For Opp0s-
ing Proceedings
Desired to Continue Sharing
the Pension Money.

Kansas City, Nov. PA Star special
from Medicine Lodge, Kan, says:
David Nation was today granted a
divorce from his wife, Mrs. Carrie Ma
tion, the joint smasher. The court ex-
onerated Mrs. Nation from the charge
of cruelty to her husband and divided
the property. The Medicine Lodge home
will go to Mr.. Nation and outlying pro-
perty to his wife.
In reply to questions of the court.
Mrs. Nation said that one reason she
fought the proceedings was that she
wished to continue to share the pension
money drawn by her husband. Mr.. Ma
tion in support of his petition for the
divorce cited a letter from his wife in
which she had denounced him as a
"hell-hound hypocrite." He charged
that she did not attend to his wants.
Judge Gillett granted the divorce on
the ground of gross neglect of duty
When Mrs. Nation first started out on
her career Of joint smashing a year ago
Mr.. Nation seemed to be in sympathy
with her raids, but when she spent all
of her time away from home, crusading
or serving sentences in Jail for destroy
ing property, he went to the home of
his daughter in Indiana and lived. He
was Mrs. Nations second husband and
was nearly 20 years old. The couple
had lived together for many years.
Medicine Lodge, Kas, Nov. 27.-The
court room has been crowded since the
opening of the Nation divorce suit, with
Judge Gillette presiding. Tichener &
Martin have conducted the case of Da-
vid Nation most ably, while Mrs. Ma
tons interests are being guarded by
Judge c. w. Ellis.
David Nation was the first witness to
take the stand His testimony was in
teresting. He stated that he was mar
ried to Mrs. Nation November 80, 1874
WAS she a widow or a young woman
when you married her?" asked Mr..
Martin.
"She was widow"
And you?"
Il was widower."
ibid either of you have any child
rem living?"
'.Yes; I had three girls and one boy
and she had one girl"
How old are YOU. Mr. Nation?"
Il am 73 years and six months DID,
How old is the defendant?'
81 think she is 54.'
''At the time of your marriage to
Il had 40 acres of land in Holden, Mo-,
and a residence in Warrens burg"
What did Mrs. Nation have?"
"She had a small house in Holden
that I always understood belonged to
my wife's-excuse me-Mrs. Nations
mother"
How long did you live in warrens-
burg?"
From November 80, 1874. to Decem-
Der, 1876"
what was the conduct of the defend
ant toward you all that timer"
1T was very fair. / have no serious
objections to it"
Where did you go to from Mis-
sourf?'
WAS Mrs. Nation a professor of re-
ligion when you married her?"
Yes, she belonged TO the Christian
church, and so did /.
in TaXa
Until 1878"
when did you first come to Medicine
Lodge?"
In 1855 1883: Mrs. Nation didn't come
What was her conduct toward you
at that timer
well, nothing serious occurred"
Estate when the first serious trouble
occurred"
well, was preaching at the Chris
tian church here, and when / came
back from Texas l went to Holton to
preach. When 1 was preaching at this
church she would get up while 1 was
talking and speak out and say It's not
SOL she would quote passages Of
scripture"
What further trouble?"
well, I spoke to her about it, and
told her to keep quiet. She did and
then organized a Sunday school class
which met in the court house. 1t was
composed of children from all the Sun
day schools. They would march over
town and sing. Ihat became so OD-
jectionable that L had to quit the
charge. Then We came back here"
Now. have you told all that she did
in Holton that caused you to resign?''
Il don't think of anything else"
when next did She do. anything to
affect you2"
''Well, in 1892 she left me and went
to Texas and was there month"
What was your condition at that
timer"
Il was the sickest that I ever was in
my life. / never was in such pain be-
fore or since. 1 couldn't care for my
SELF
What doctors did you have?"
Doctors Gould and Moore"
@fWere you ever unconscious?"
Yes. the first time l thought that
I couldn't live and lay at the window
and 'hollered' for someone to help me,
but could raise no one until Mr.. Nor
ton drove by. I said, Mr. Norton.
am dying He drove home as fast as
he could and came back and stayed
and doctored me all night
Mrs. Nation left when you were sick
did she?"
YES; begged her not to go. but she
would anyway"
did she return before you got well?'
YES; then 1 went to Geuda Springs.
did she go along?"
sNo."
what did she do?"
"She stayed at home I reckon: don't
know"
Now. Mr.. Nation. have you ever
been sick since?"
YES"