The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-10-17
RECORD DAY FOR
DIVORCE CASES
More LibeIS For Freedom From
Matrimonial Bonds Heard Yes
terday Than on Any One Day in
Worcester County
DEGREES GRANTED IN
THIRTY-THREE CASES

IlitOtiIpNl AliOS5 ONOSt biSii C1iiA iiiii7
deity to the Marriage Vow the
Chief Causes Given in the Petit
tionS--FitChburg Broker Among
LibeIeeS
Thirty-four applicants for relief from
matrimonial bonds were heard in Su-
perior Court, jury waived session, yes
terday, by Judge Frederick W. Law
ton. DEGREES were granted in all save
one case, in which the decree was re-
fused without prejudice. Intemperance
or desertion We're the grounds alleged
in a majority of the libels. The num-
Der of women libelants greatly ex-
ceeded the number of men. Business
was most expeditiously conducted at
the morning session and % cases were
heard Court adjourned until o'clock
this forenoon, when a large number Of
libels as yet unheard, will be taken up.
Assistant Clerk of Courts, w. w. Ma
comber said that it was the largest d.
vorce day in the history of the courts
in this county.
The libel of Emma E. McCarty VS..
Harry w. McCarty was called first in
the afternoon. The libelant testified
to her suffering by reason of her hus-
bands drinking habits On two occa-
sions he was drunk for three days at
time. She often helped him home.
This was true when they resided in
Gardner, and when they resided else
where. Mrs. Mary Tibbitts of Oxford
said mccarthy was drunk two or three
times a week when the couple boarded
with her. Frank Miller, who employed
McCarty, testified that he was dis
charged for being intoxicated.
Decree was granted for gross and
confirmed habits of intoxication. Wood
& Wood for libelant
To Lillian H. Nye of Fitchburg a de-
cree nisi for adultery was granted, di-
vorcing her from Harry S. Nye, who
was a broker in Gardner and Fitchburg.
Maude Pollard of Gardner was named
as correspondent. Letters alleged to
have been written to Nye by Miss Pol
lard were introduced James A. Stiles,
a partner of Judge Pierce of Fitchburg
testified to a conversation with Miss
Pollard. She wrote a letter promising
to see Nye no more.
'She told me-" said the witness, that
Mrs. Nye could not keep him away"
Mrs. Nye said that her husband con-
fessed his infidelity in the presence
of herself and her mother, promising to
do better Chief of Police Warren B.
Allen of Gardner testified to seeing the
Pollard woman and Nye frequently to-
gether, and said the fact created much
comment. Baker & Hall for libelant.
In Mary A. Brosnihan VS.. Cornelius
Brosnihan the libelant testified that her
husband began to drink within a
month after their marriage. He there
after neglected to contribute to her sup
port, and she is and has been caring
for their children. She was granted
decree nisi with custody of the chill
dren, upon ground of gross and con-
firmed habits of intoxication. John H.
Meagher for libelant,
Jane c. Smith of Grafton said to the
court that in eight years, her husband
Albert NJ. Smith, had not stepped
within her doors. She was married in
1888 by the Methodist minister of Graf
ton. She desired to resume her maiden
name of tombstone, which the single
child of the marriage had borne. Will
liam tombstone, Jr., Worcester, corro-
borated the story of his sister. Divorce
nisi with the custody of the child was
granted. Theayer & Rugg for libelant.
In the libel Of Katy Geror of Wor-
cester VS.. Frank Geror the libelant tes-
titled to the conduct of her husband
with one Amanda Peters. She had not
lived with the libelee for five years.
They were married in Vermont, II years
ago. Testimony showing the convic-
ton OF Geror on a charge of adultery
Mary Leroy of Worcester testified that
about two years ago Geror called at
her house with Amanda Peters She
refused to admit him. A decree nisi
was granted for adultery. ]. H. Mea-
CHER for libelant.
According to the evidence in the libel
Adelia Poke VS.. A. w. Poke both of
Spencer, Poke enlisted in the navy
after being accused of unfaithfulness.
According to the story of Mrs. Poke
there was no trouble in the family
until her second baby was born. The
libelee brought home a nurse. and this
nurse said in the presence of Mrs.
Poke and the libelee, Il am just as
much a wife to that man as you are"
Mary Clifford, mother of the libelant,
testified that Poke did not deny the
accusation. At any rate he had not
lived with his wife since the latter
part of 1897 Witness was taking care
of the children. Decree nisi upon the
ground of desertion with custody of
the children to the mother was grant
ed. ]. r. Kane for the libelant
To Margaret Cloonan of Milford a
decree nisi was granted upon the
ground that John F. Cloonan, her
husband, was the victim of habits of
gross and confirmed intoxication The
libelant told the court that Cloonan
had often struck her. Once he cut her
eye and injured its vision. Deputy
Sheriff Henry c. Smell of Milford con-
firmed her story. Sullivan & O'Con-
nell for libelant.
The testimony in the case of Della
J. Fanion of Worcester VS.. George j.
Fanion of Worcester showed that the
Hbelant had suffered greatly at the
hands of her husband According to
her story he was drunk three or four
times a week. He frequently slapped
her and on divers occasions threat
ened to shoot her. She was afraid to
go. upon the street when he was in the
city. They were married Aug. 2, 1894
at Still River. Thomas Manning, a
police officer of Aver, testified that he
had frequently seen Fanion in Aver in
an intoxicated condition. A decree nisi
for intoxication, gross and confirmed
'lqBI9qH LoJ llooS a f 'p9I9lus sBM
Elizabeth Mccullough was granted a
decree nisi for gross and confirmed
habits of intoxication from George Nc
Cullough. The parties are of Clinton.
The wife testified that the libelant once
shot himself while intoxicated, and
while in the same condition jumped
from a second story window. DR.. Per-
ley P Comey confirmed her evidence.
Richard J. Mayberry Of Clinton gave
testimony Of the same nature. Walsh
d Walsh for the libelant.
Serbia Lysh of Worcester asked a
decraa of divorce from Carl IlYsh and