The Washington times., 1901-12-31
WORLD RECORD
FOR DIVORCES.
Thirty seven Petitions Go
On File in One Day.
CLOSING RUSH UNDER old CODE.
Some Think That Today's Bills for
Matrimonial Separation May
Reach Still Higher Figure-De-
sertion the Chief Ground Alleged
Stories Told in the Documents.

bcIIlOll Jll6 SlllSl SlOulAA ahSBSo
Stories Told in the Documents.
Thirty seven petitions for divorce were
fled yesterday in the Supreme Court Of
the District. which smashes to smith
Greens the record made on the 23d inst,
when twelve suits were filed.
II is perhaps a worlds record, for, so
far as can be learned. none of the practi-
TONERS al the local bar can recall SO many
petitions for divorce being filed in any one
court in a single day.
The rush yesterday was not unexpected
The fact that the law permitting divorce
in the District on biblical grounds only
will go into effect tomorrow made it nee
essary that all those desiring a severance
Of their matrimonial ties for other causes
TO file their petitions before that time.
While nearly everyone who had given
the subject any attention expected a great
many petitions TO be fled yesterday. the
number placed on record was far wide of
the widest guess.
MAY BE Exceeded Today
No prophecies are being made as to the
number OF petitions for divorce to be filed
today. Some think that the rush is over
while others express themselves as con-
fdent that an even larger number will go
on record today.
In great majority OF the petitions filed
yesterday desertion alone was made the
ground for divorce. Several of the petit
tioners alleged cruelty. while others add
ed drunkenness and non-support as causes
for asking for legal separation.
Petitioners and Their Grounds.
Following is a list of the unhappy
ones, and the grounds which the petition
ers allege as causes for their petitions:
Charles II. Butler against AIDA Butler;
desertion.
William W. Parker against Nellie Z.
Parker; desertion
Mary Elizabeth Rudden against James
Troy Rudden. desertion.
Paul Grant against Kittie Grant: deser-
ticn.
Charles B. Hemingway against May
X. Hemingway; desertion.
Mary T. Coffin against Ellory T. Coffin;
deseS1ion.
Solomon Basey against Ellen Basey; de-
serJion.
winifred G. Dinguid again-t John T.
Dinguid. desertion
James H. Condor against Marion H.
Condor; desertion.
sfcs y. King Against roseph Ki.s;
FiegeTticn.
Jeanette - C@Vanauzh agains. d hazel
J Cayana cruelty aaa non ipport
r Trif- r
en-
aaries ~. .-gs
deserri0a.
Carrie p. sullivan as4ins, Daniel =
Sullivan: cruelty and desertion.
Jennie z. Howell against Edward 8.
Howell: cruelty and desertion.
Annie +. Webster against John n. Web
ster; cruelty and desertion.
Daisy Moflere against Joseph 7. Mol
lere; cruelty and neglec
Della NJ. Sherman against Gaylor L.
Sherman; cruelty and endangsring her
life
Maggie L. Hammond against Winfield
s. Hammond; desertion.
Eleanor Gardner against Arthur Gard
ner; desertion and endangering her life.
Cruelty and Assault.
Arthur c. Hoilineer against Clara B.
Hollinger: cruelty d assault.
Susan H. Sangley against William E
Sangley; threats against her life.
Charles C. Patterson against Frances L.
Patterson. desertion.
Sarah Russell against William. A. Rus
sell; desertion. drunkenness, and cruelty.
Ada T. Arundel against James T. Arun-
dell; drunkenness. cruelty, and non-sup-
port.
Annie L. Walker against Littleton W.
Walker; cruelty
ErHe +. Elliott against Thomas Camp
bell Elliott: deserticn and cruelty.
Harriet NJ. Watterson against John
Watterson: cruelty and non-suSport-
Sarah n Gates against John C. Gates;
i'll treatment.
lisa Naylor against William i. Naylor;
mental arrangement.
Isaac Dozier against Sarah Dozier,,
another husband living.
Bessie Rosenthal against David Roscn-
thai cruelty and abuse.
Grace Hayes against John W. Hayes:
desertion-
William johnson against Jane Johnson;
desertion.
Mari E. Smith against William Smith;
desertion.
Says wife Went TO Alaska.
In his petition Charles II. Butler alleged
that his wife. AIDA Butler. left him in
1895 and went 10 Alaska. He accused her
OF having violent temper and states that
she frequently slaEhed the clothes off his
back with a knife as a mere amusement
when he came home from work
Mr. Butler further states that his wife
is now conducting a dance hall' at Daw-
son CITY ard asks for a divorce on the
ground Of desertion.
They were married in New York in 1892
by Alderman Horatio S. Harris. Edward
s. Bailey is named as counsel for the
complainant
Alleges Blow With Poker.
Mrs Annie L. walker says her husband,
Littleton W Walker, struck her with a
poker and drove her out of the house.
Now she wants a divorce from him on the
ground OF cruelty. On December q. she
Gays, he broke up all the crockery and
glassware IN the house. At another time.
she states her husband struck her in the
mouth and knocked out some OF her teeth.
Tracy l.. Jeffords Is named as counsel.
Tells of n snlt Cellar Episode.
Mrs. Eaie f. Elliott says her husband
Thomas Campbell Elliott. deserted and
abandoned her in october. 1899. Before
doing so. however, che states that he
hurled salt cellar at her. striking her
behind her left ear. The wound inflicted
was SO severe, Mrs. Elliott declares that
IL was necessary Cor her 10 have the
services OF physician. She also says
that her husband often beat ana kicked
her, and when he was drunk he was giO-
lent and dangerous
Nrg Ellio,t asks Cor divor.a on tho