The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-10-22
THREE WIVES ARE FREED
JUDGE OTIS GRANTS DIVORCES
TO "A TRIO OF. ABUSED WOMEN
Court Decides That Wife of Convicted
Felon Is Entitled to Divorce Even
Though Her Husband Is Released
From States Prison Before Action
Is Begun.

Mrs. Annie Helen Closer obtained a
divorce yesterday in Judge Otis court
from William e. CLOSER, whom she
married at Traer, Iowa, in 1898. The
story Of her married life was one OF
the worst the court has been called ON
to hear since the opening of the term.
Mrs. CLOSER testified that for years
portunity to maltreat her and their
two children. Sometimes he would not
speak to her for weeks, and sometimes
he would speak all too often, for his
speech would be nothing but curses
and vile language. Several times he
threatened to kill her and more than
once he amused himself by throwing
the children across the room: When
the suit for divorce was brought he
threatened to blow her brains out If
she revealed the truth on the trial.
This was since their separation in
April last.
The abused wife has been working in
store at $25 month, on which she
had to support herself and pay the
expenses of her children in a children's
home in Minneapolis. The suit was
brought on the ground of nom support.
CLOSER was in court to oppose his
wife's application for alimony, but the
judge made short work of his plea OF
poverty. :. The defendant is a paper
hanger by trade, earning good wages,
and the court ordered him to pay Mrs.
CLOSER SIG a month and the sum of $50
as attorneys fees.
Judge Otis also granted the prayer
of Mrs. Caroline Tuttle for a divorce
from Charles w. futile on the ground
of desertion. The marriage took place
in Cumberland county, Wisconsin, in
1899, and there are no children. Mrs.
Tuttle's maiden name was Unterman,
and this will be restored to her by the
decree.
Didn't Waive Her Rights.
In the divorce suit Of Mary Vail
against Owens B. Vail, tried week
ago, Judge Otis yesterday decided in
favor of the plaintiff on the point con-
corning which he was in doubt at the
time Of the trial. The defendant, short
Iy before the suit was begun, had been
released from the state prison at Still
water, where he served term of six
years for counterfeiting. When he re-
turned to his wife she refused to live
with him, and brought action under
the statute authorizing divorce where
the defendant is a convicted felon.
When the case was tried Judge Otis
reserved decision, being in doubt
whether Mrs. Vail had not waived her
right by waiting till her husband had
been restored to citizenship. After a
thorough examination of the authori-
ties, however, he yesterday filed de-
cision granting the divorce.
Mrs Ruth M. Smith yesterday be-
gan an action for divorce from John
B. Smith, whom she married in Illinois
in 1896. The complaint charges that
the defendant has pursued a syste-
matte course of brutality towards his
wife almost from the first year Of their
married life.
Soon after their daughter was born,
she says, he came home drunk and
kicked her in the abdomen so violently
that she still suffers from the results
of this assault. She also alleges to-
tai failure to support her during long
periods. The complaint demands an
absolute divorce, the custody of the
daughter and permission to resume
her maiden name, Ruth M. Van Cook.
The defendant is now living in Deca-
tur, Ill.