The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-05-22

1
way. divorce case. was called for
trial before Judge George s. Purdy In
the Superior court room yesterday
| morning. 1t is a case that has excited
a vast amount OF attention in the
| northwestern part Of the county for
| many months past.
Mr.. Ridgeway is a well-to-do farmer
and cattle man who says he resides in
Benton township close to Lenox, Sus-
quehanna county. The defense says he
| lives in Lenox. His wife is daughter
of Pardon Lewis. one of the Oldest resi-
dents of Benton, and she was married
to Ridgeway at Blnghamton, N. Y,
April 12, 1887. They have no children.
Mr.. Ridgeway asks the divorce on the
ground that his wife was unfaithful
and that she was guilty of cruel and
barberous treatment toward him. She
denies the charges and demanded a
jury trial.
Mrs. Ridgeway married when she
was mere girl and is still very youth
full in appearance. She is slight built,
good looking and was we'll and neatly,
though not modshly attired, yesterday.
There was no trace of annoyance or
resentment in her manner or face when
terday told very damaging things about
her relations with Claude Newton, the
correspondent. On the contrary there
seemed just the suspicion Of mlrth in
the laughing eyes partially masked by
gold trimmed glasses. With the defen-
dant and her gray haired father at the
defendants table sat her attorneys.
r. Fl. Holgate, Joseph O'Brien and NJ.
j. Martin.
AT THE OTHER TABLE.
A few feet away at the plaintiffs
table sat the husband. well-groomed.
well fed man of perhaps 3S years. with
a. brisk. business-like manner and
great directness of speech. His attor-
neys are Clarence Balentine Everett
Warren and c. p. OMalley.
After the case was called the follow
ing Jurors were sworn: w. A. Bird
farmer, Madison; T. NJ. Davis, laborer
Jermyn: Thomas Duffy, school direc-
tor, Minooka; Judson Cook, merchant,
jefferson: II. w. Luce, jr., insurance
agent. Scranton; ]. A. Dolphin. book
keeper, Olyphant; G. w. Gunster,
cashier, Scranton; George Goodrich
farmer, Scott; Joseph Griflths. barber
Waverly; j. P. Sherman, farmer. North
Abingdon: Thomas McGrail, laborer
Archibald; NJ. F. Donohue, machinist,
Scranton.
After the case had been regularly
opened and the evidence of the libel
liant heard. the files in the case were
offered in evidence and it was discov-
cred that there was no order framing
an issue and therefore the case was not
,1ot~1 krio n,, ,,,1f of
large number Of witnesses present
the attorneys for the libellant urged the
court not to continue the case as he
was at first disposed to do, but on the
contrary make an order framing an
issue as of the date when it should
have been framed.
The defense objected strenuously.
but the court finally granted the re-
quest of the libellants attorneys and
made an order framing the issue.
Thereupon the jury had to be again
sworn and the case begun over again.
The defense was asked to allow the
testimony of the lbellant to be consid-
cred as If taken in the second proceed
ings, but the attorneys would not
agree to this and Mr.. Ridgeway
went on the stand and for the second
time told Of his troubles with Mrs.
Ridgeway.
TROUBLES OF RIDGEwAYS.
Prior to the troubles which culmin-
ated in the divorce proceedings Mrs.
Ridgeway and him had separated twice
because Of attentions paid to her by
other men. On July 4, 1900, she asked
nd m nj fn
her sisters, Mrs. Dimmick Lord who
the hands to hitch up a horse and she
drove off with their servant, Miss Mary
Dimmick and her nephew, an eight
year old boy who lived with them.
1t was 4 o'clock the next morning
when she returned. With her in the
carriage was the nephew and one of
the hired men, Claude Newton. He re-
monstrated with her about the lateness
of the hour and allowing Newton to
drive her home and thereafter he ad-
mitted, their relations were not alto
gether pleasant. He was away from
home a great deal of the time during
that summer, coming to this city sew
eral times a week. On Nov. 1 his wife
left him and two days later while in
this city he was arrested on n charge
of desertion and non-support preferred
by his wife and was taken before AL
derman Millett by whom he was held In
bail for his appearance at court. He
admitted that Newton remained in his
employ until November, 1900, and then
left of his own accord. Ridgeway said
he did not then know things that later
came to his attention.
Mrs. Mary LamoreauX, formerly Miss
Dimmick, the servant, is the star wit
ness for the llbellant. She is native
OF Uniondale. is 2a years Of age and
attractive looking and last June mar
ried man named LamoreauX, 45 years
of age. They live at Dundaff.
THE SERVANTS STORY.
She was examined by Attorney Clar-
ence Balentine and testified that she
entered the employ of the Ridgeways
in August, 1899. The family consisted
of Mr.. and Mrs. Ridgeway, the nephew,
and two hired men named Skinner and
Decker, In the following April Claude
Newton also entered the employ of Mr..
Ridgeway. The men slept on the Sec
ond floor and the rest of the household
on the first floor. Her bed room
opeheu oii 'Hal occupieu py MT, ana
Mrs. Ridgeway and to reach 1t she had
to pass through their room.
On July 4, 1900, she went to Hopbot-
tom with Mrs. Ridgeway and attended
a dance at Pratt's grove and also
called on Mrs. Ridgeway's sister, where
they had supper. Afterwards they
went back to the dance in the grove
and there remained until after 10
Dsn tst,if n a,.tA ,t,n