The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-04-08
COUNTER
DIVORCE
I. Il. CASES.
Marital Trouble Of The Laprey
Family Were Aired Before
JudgsOougIas This Morning

Some interesting testimony was given
before Judge Douglas today In the hear
ing OF the contested divorce cases OF
Louis j.. Laprey vs.. Josephine c. Laprey
and Josephine c. Laprey US. Louis j. La
prey.
Mr. Laprey asked for a divorce on the
ground of extreme cruelty, because his
wife associated with persons OF bad
character. and because she was absent at
night without his permission and against
his wishes.
Mrs. Laprey charged her husband With
non-support and extreme cruelty, con-
sistine of number oG assaults and the
use OF abusive language. Mrs. I.aprey
also asked for the custody OF her child.
The petitioner Louis J. Laprey testi-
Mass, Ia September, 1854, and before mis-
marriage and after IL he had lived here.
His wife's conduct he claimed was very
good for year and half after mar
riage, but later she went out late at
night and would say when he asked her
where she was that IL was none Of his
business. Soon petitioner says. his wife
began going 10 dances that he pro-
nounced common Olneyville dances.
William Fitch, counsel for petitioner.
asked witness what was meant by COM
mon OlneyVille dances. The reply was
those conducted by the Night Hawks.
4 further explanation was made by the
petitioner 10 the counsel, the petitioner
saying the dances We're those that COM
mon every day mill people went .-.'
Mr. Laprey said his wife made a friend
of n married woman who had a male
friend other than her husband, who fur
nshod ner tickets. Once this married
woman brought note 10 where witness
worked He read the note and saw the
woman wanted his wife to meet her on
Mathewson street and go 10 a theatre.
When he. went home the same night he
found his wife had no supper ready and
had found out about the tickets for the
theatre. Witness locked her I'm and there
was a long argument betwee.. the two,
but the wife triumphed and went TO the
theatre coming home though about $3.50
o'clock.
MIR I.aprey said he had TO move owing
60 his wifes conduct and went TO live on
Harrison street. After he had been there
-four months the landlord, witness says,
requested him Ia move az many people
strangers were going To the house. He
told his wife after this they had better
separate.
Mrs. Laprey. according TO her husband.
had knocked him over the head and
pushed him from a stool Frequently
Mrs. Laprey was. on the same authority.
20 be seen on her doorsteps smoking ci-
garettes and drinking beer.
When he demonstrated she replied she
would smoke all the cigarettes she
wanted and drink beer too.
Witness said his wifi. drank beer with
married men.
once the witness and his wife had
trouble. and the man from upstairs came
down and sent Mrs. Laprey up 20 his
wife and wanted To stop with witness all
night expressing the fear that witness
would kill himself. Witness kicked the
man out.
After this Mr.. Laprey could not get
into hts house for four DAYS and when he
did get In found the house i'm disorder.
To John w. Hogan, counsel for Mrs.
Laprey, witness said he did not ask for
the custody of his child. because his law
yer said IL would be time enough TO con-
slider that when the case was heard Wit
ness denied he had condoned any OF his
wife's Offences or had forgiven them
save on her promise to do better
Mr. Laprey said for number OF years
his average wages were as now Sl2 "A
week. and admitted because of his wife's
conduct he had cut the allowance for his
wife and child TO 50 cents. Laprey ad-
mitted the doctor recommended Mrs
Laprcy to use beer. but added after that
she was soaked all the time
Mr. Sprague called by Mr.. Laprey
said he never knew of any complaints
against Mrs. LapreY while she tVed I'm
the house on Harrison street. Witness
lived I'm the same house as Mr. and Mrs.
Laprey did
Two other witnesses called by Mrs
Laprey denied they knew ~ ANYTHING Inn
proper IN Mrs l.aprey's conduct